Min Jien?

Author: Marisa Ben Hadj Khalifa

Illustrations: Nicole Diacono

Publisher: Merlin Publishers / 2023

Pages: 24

Following the success of X'Ġurnata hi? and X'ħin hu?, Marisa Khalifa returns with another picture book in the same format: Min Jien?

When planning the first book, Khalifa, a kindergarten teacher, was very aware of the relative lack of rhyming books in Maltese for very young children and therefore, together with her colleague Maria Francalanza, she began to jot down some verses. For the themes of her books, she let the children in her class influence her, who she admits are her source of inspiration in much of her creative endeavours.

Apart from attracting children with their vibrant illustrations full of vivid colours, the books in this series aim to teach children basic concepts of daily life in a fun way.

For example, for young children, it is not necessarily obvious that the day has a beginning and an end and a precise sequence to it, or that an activity needs to finish for the next one to commence. This is the aim of the first book X'ħin hu?

On the other hand, thanks to the follow-up X'Ġurnata hi?, children understand that the week is not made up of one long neverending day, but that it is split into seven days, and each day has a morning, afternoon, evening and night. Basic concepts which need to be explained and taught - and there is no better way than the use of a picture book to explain them in an enjoyable way.

Min jien?, the newest book in this series, aims to explore different occupations that children encounter on a daily basis. This, through a riddle quiz format - again, focusing firmly on the concept of fun while reading a book.

Thanks to a number of hints, the children try to guess what is the profession of the mysterious person - and so they meet the dentist, the baker, the seamstress, the doctor, the grocer, the postman, the teacher and the policeman.

In simple, rhyming text, children learn about different everyday occupations that are part of our Maltese way of life, as well as learning a number of key basic words linked to these jobs and therefore adding to their vocabulary.

Hidden in the lovely illustations by Nicole Diacono, children will have lots of fun seeking out and finding some tools associated with the various professions. Parents or teachers might want to highlight these in order to continue the discussion and also add to the game element.

Aimed at children between three and six years of age, this book can be read to and with children, both at home and at school.

Min Jien?, X'Ġurnata hi? and X'ħin hu? are available for sale from all bookshops or directly online from www.merlinpublishers.com