'L-Eletrumbetta' / 'The Eletrump'

Written and illustrated: Naomi Gatt

Publisher: Merlin Publications

Pages: 24

Have you ever heard of an elephant with a trumpet in place of its trunk? No, this isn't a joke, but the beginning of a fantastic adventure for young Maltese children who will soon have the chance to meet Ellie, a friendly creature full of sounds and joy, better known as L-Eletrumbetta or The Eletrump.

The simultaneous publication of two books, L-Eletrumbetta and The Eletrump, created by artist Naomi Gatt, is an innovative initiative by Merlin Publishers offering the same delightful story in either the Maltese or English edition. This will allow children to experience the magical tale in their preferred language, or even both if they wish.

Ellie is an eletrump, a unique and extraordinary creature that combines the sweetness of an elephant with the capabilities of musical instruments. If you stroke her ears or tap her tail, she begins to play beautiful melodies. Ellie can create music with her feet, ears, tail, and even her nose - each part of her produces a different sound, each more beautiful than the last!

L-Eletrumbetta and The Eletrump are touch-and-feel board books. The hardcover and thick pages are specially designed to withstand the enthusiastic handling of young children, the illustrations are large and clear, and the text is positioned to facilitate reading together with little ones. Children can also touch the pages to feel different textures representing the various parts of the eletrump, adding an extra layer of discovery and enjoyment during reading.

These books, intended for children from birth to four years old, feature simple text with a rhythm that encourages direct participation in the story. They provide a multi-sensory experience, where children are encouraged to touch the pages and attempt to mimic the different sounds that Ellie makes, thereby developing creativity and imagination while also strengthening their language skills.

Author and illustrator Gatt, whose book M għal Malta (Merlin Publishers, 2023) recently won the National Book Prize for best book production and presentation, shares that the idea for this story came from a dream. "I woke up with the first few verses still playing in my head, so I quickly wrote them down before they faded," she said. "The rest of the story just followed naturally." Her illustrations, with their soft colours and delicate lines, perfectly convey the joy and magic of music through Ellie's character.

This new publication is the latest addition to Merlin Publishers' growing collection of innovative and engaging books for young children. L-Eletrumbetta and The Eletrump further demonstrate this publisher's commitment to providing interactive, high-quality reading experiences in Maltese for young readers.

These books are ideal for children who love music, adventure and imagination, as well as for parents wishing to introduce their children to both of the country's official languages from an early age.

'L-Eletrumbetta' and 'The Eletrump' are available for purchase at all bookshops in Malta and Gozo, as well as online at www.merlinpublishers.com