Bedtime reading to and with children has long been one of the best ways to get children into the reading habit, as early as possible in life. It’s never too early to start enjoying a book − yet only too often that book is an English one, because quality Maltese picture books are hard to find. Merlin Publishers has long been working on increasing the range and variety available, with books by key authors including Trevor Zahra and Clare Azzopardi.

Adding even more to that range, Merlin has just published four new picture books in Maltese, as part of their Id-dinja tieghi range for pre-school and early learning. Stunningly illustrated and with detail-rich stories that stimulate a child’s imagination, these are already proving to be hits.

This new set of picture books serves the dual purpose of being stories to be read to children when they are still extremely young (even at 2 and 3 years of age), as well as to be read by the children themselves as they grow a bit older and start to read their first few sentences. This ensures that the Merlin picture books offer unrivalled value for money as they can be used again and again, and brought back off the shelves a few years later for more fun reading together.

The first picture book in the series is Lupu Lupettu Kull Kulur, and is the simplest of the four. Lupu Lupettu is tired of the way he looks and decides to change his skin colour – and each day of the week he tries on a new colour. This book is a perfect way of introducing, through story, the concepts of colours and days of the week.

Kukku l-Kukkudrill Kantant is the next in the series. Animals, much loved by children of all ages, are the protagonists in all of these picture books, and here we meet the rock star crocodile Kukku, whose upcoming concert is marred by a bout of toothache. The theme here is health and dental hygiene, once again providing an opportunity to talk about dentist visits in a positive non-threatening way.

Next up is Rosetta Banana Tinten jew Tfuh? where Rosetta is faced with her new classmates shunning her and keeping her out of their group. A new friend of course comes to the rescue, and friendship and the acceptance and beauty of diversity are key topics.

Serafin il-Princep Denfil is the lovely story of a young mischievous dolphin whose playing pranks on all his ocean friends comes back to haunt him when he lands himself in a spot of trouble. His friends nobly come to the rescue, and humility and respect are the themes running through this story.

These new Merlin picture books come in sturdy vinyl covers, ensuring that they are long-lasting in the hands of young children.

‘Id-dinja tieghi’ picture books are available from all bookshops or directly online from www.merlinpublishers.com