A colourful new book about the EU aimed at Year 5 students has been launched at the Pembroke primary school.

Written by Loranne Vella and packed with lively illustrations and graphics by Ġorġ Mallia, Avventura Madwar l-Ewropa (An Adventure Across Europe) introduces children to the EU and explains in a simple manner how it works.

Children are invited to follow the protagonists Tommy and Rosy as they are whisked through various important issues, including children’s rights, democracy, social exclusion, alternative energy resources, treaties and institutions.

Addressing a group of nine-year-olds, Education Minister Dolores Cristina pointed out yesterday that the publication was also an activity book and encouraged students to extend the learning experience by sharing it with elder siblings, parents or grandparents.

Martin Bugelli, head of the European Commission Representation in Malta, said the publication was especially targeted at Maltese children and aimed to present the EU as an everyday reality they inhabited and not as a separate entity.

The book, which is funded and produced by the European Commission Representation in Malta, will be distributed to Year 5 students in government, Church and private schools for the next two years.

There are also plans to produce a similar publication that would be aimed at secondary school students undertaking European Studies.