'Gowl! 1: Kick-Off'

Written by Luigi Garlando

Illustrated by Stefano Turconi

Translated into Maltese by Mark Camilleri

Publisher: Merlin Publishers

Pages: 160

Imagine a world where the best football team is not the one that lifts the trophy, but the one where everyone - whoever they are, whether talented or not - finds their place and gets the chance to play. This is the idea at the heart of Kick-Off, the first book in Luigi Garlando's much-loved Gowl! series, now available in Maltese translation by Mark Camilleri, thanks to Merlin Publishers.

Originally published in Italian as Calcio d'Inizio, this book kicked off a series that would grow into an extensive and hugely popular collection of sports-themed books for young readers, attracting thousands of fans not only in Italy but around the world.

Gowl! 1: Kick-Off tells the story of eight children, all of them mad about football. When Gaston Champignon, a former French international footballer who has since become a chef, sees Tommi showing off his skills with the ball, he immediately recognises a special talent. At the same time, he seizes the opportunity to fulfil his long-held dream of setting up a team where everyone can play and have fun - not just the fastest, the strongest or the most talented, but anyone who loves football and wants to enjoy playing it.

And so the Ċipolline are born - a motley group of children, each with their own personality and style. There is Tommi, the talented striker and team captain; Dante, the bespectacled playmaker who brings mathematics, physics and history into his tactics; Spillo, the goalkeeper who likes chocolate a little too much; twins Lara and Sara, who leave classical dance behind to devote themselves to defending; Becan, the Albanian winger who often has to help his father at work; Joao, the left-footed winger from Rio de Janeiro; and Ciro, the tall boy from Naples who can play almost anywhere. Together, these children form a team that celebrates differences rather than demanding excellence.

Although the story opens with a cup final, the real game at the heart of the book is about friendship, inclusion and the joy of taking part. Through his unconventional approach, Gaston shows that sport is at its best when competition does not come at the expense of respect and team spirit. In one scene, for example, Gaston is upset when he sees a coach berating his goalkeeper after conceding a goal. For Gaston, children should play football to have fun, not to be humiliated.

The book is full of warm humour and memorable characters. Gaston himself was once an excellent midfielder, but his appetite eventually got the better of him, prompting him to leave professional football to devote himself to cooking. His restaurant, Fjuri fil-Borma, serves unusual dishes flavoured with flowers, while his grey cat, Pentola, has one particularly curious habit: it likes to sleep in a cooking pot! It is in this slightly strange and thoroughly endearing world that a friendship grows between Tommi, Gaston and the rest of the team.

Garlando, born in Milan in 1962, is a well-known Italian journalist with La Gazzetta dello Sport and the author of numerous books for children and young people. Among his best-known works is the novel Per questo mi chiamo Giovanni, about magistrate Giovanni Falcone.

Translator Camilleri is best known for his work in crime fiction, through the character of Inspector Victor Gallo, the protagonist of a series of novels published by Merlin Publishers. Football, however, is another subject close to Camilleri's heart, and he describes translating Kick-Off as a delightful but intensive experience, particularly given the challenge of using technical football vocabulary while keeping the story flowing and the language accessible to children. "Having grown up without a single football book for children, my wish is that children and readers will come to love this group of adorable characters as much as I have, and understand that football can be played by everyone, boys and girls, and that stories about it are universal, no matter where you live."

Gowl! 1: Kick-Off is suitable for readers aged eight and over. For children who love football but are not particularly keen on reading, this book could be the ideal bridge to reading in Maltese, through their passion for the game.