Young readers from all over Malta and Gozo should shortly be receiving through their primary or secondary school, a personal copy of a colourful 12-page newsletter entitled Animal Magic, an animal awareness newsletter edited by Janice Chetcuti and produced by the Education Division's Democracy and Values Education section, led by executive officer Josephine Vassallo.

The newsletter's leading piece is an interview with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who gave the young interviewers his views on pets and animals.

An article about the Malta Aquarist Society should be of interest to children who would like to have a pet but live in homes where animals cannot be kept. The front page features a dolphin: this year is dedicated to dolphin welfare. Dolphins are also the subject of an article by the Biological Conservation Research Foundation (BICREF) and a message from Jessica Feghali Brown from the UK's Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS).

Animal rights is the subject of the editorial as well as an article on an exhibition on animal testing and farming with dignity set up at Lorenzo Gafà Secondary School, Vittoriosa.

There are features on the work of various NGOs, including Noah's Ark of Mellieha, the SPCA, Streetcat Rescue, and the Sharemalta Foundation, which offers support for homeless animals, research and education. Insects are focused on in an interesting article by Edward Mifsud. There is also information about the Maltese Rottweiler Club led by Robert Spiteri, the Tree For You campaign, and the animal awareness-related activities organised during Skolasajf, the summer school organised by the Education Division.

There is also a photo of a group of students from De La Salle Sixth Form, Cottonera, who last year won the Young Enterprise best company of the year award for their canine cleaning kit.

HSBC Cares for Children Fund is the main sponsor of Animal Magic.