Three kittens, three different characters, one mission: to find the right new home for each of them. Merlin Publishers are delighted to announce the publication of the Maltese edition of Tliet qtates, tliet stejjer (Three kittens, three stories), by Italian author and pedagogist Camillo Bortolato, translated by Antoinette Borg.

Luna's three kittens - Griżinu, Stellina and Kalzettu - go from being tiny, adorable fluffy bundles to boisterous little kittens bursting with energy and curiosity. When the small family home of Matteo and Nina starts to feel a little too crowded, with scratches on the sofa and unfortunate puddles halfway up the stairs, their parents set the two children a delicate task: finding a suitable new home for each of the kittens.

But this isn't simply a matter of finding someone who wants a cat. Each kitten has a character of its own, and Matteo and Nina have to make sure every one of them ends up with just the right family. Their mission turns out to be a deeply emotional one, as they brush up against themes of responsibility, friendship, growing up, and the bittersweet ache of watching someone you love leave to start a new life.

Across three stories full of feeling and plenty of gentle humour, we follow Nina as she persuades her shy friend Giulia to take in the most easy-going of the three, Griżinu, while adventurous Stellina and delicate Kalzettu also wait for their own new beginnings.

Tliet qtates, tliet stejjer is aimed at children aged seven and over who are just beginning to discover the pleasure of reading on their own. The book follows Bortolato's Analogical method, which draws on children's own intuition and seeks to transform learning into a joyful experience of discovery. In this book, the three kittens' stories are designed to encourage children to see reading as an enjoyable activity, and nudge them to approach books of their own accord.

Borg has been active on the Maltese literary scene since 2016, publishing both original works and translations. She has received the National Book Prize on several occasions, including for her translation of the children's book Maskra ħamra, as well as for her translation of Andrea Camilleri's novel Il-Kelb tat-terrakotta. Her original works include the popular Mela... l-istorja stramba, straordinarja (u sigrieta) tal-ilsien Malti kif ma jgħiduhilekx fil-klassi, which was met with great enthusiasm by Maltese readers of all ages and had to be reprinted within a short time.

For Borg, translating a children's book calls for special attention to how the language sounds to a young reader. "I paid close attention to my choice of words and expressions, so that the Maltese text would feel as natural as possible. Children notice immediately when a story isn't speaking their language." She added that what struck her most about this book is its honesty. "It's light-hearted, simple, and makes you smile, but at the same time it doesn't shy away from the pain of having to part from someone you love. It trusts children to feel that pain, face it responsibly and learn from it."

Tliet qtates, tliet stejjer is another example of Merlin Publishers' ongoing drive to seek out quality books from abroad and bring them to Maltese readers in their own language. In this way, children get to meet stories, characters and ideas from other cultures, while reading and enjoying them in Maltese.

Tliet qtates, tliet stejjer invites children to take their first confident steps into reading by following the adventures of these three adorable kittens, while encouraging adults to help them find their way.

The book is available from bookshops across Malta and Gozo or directly from the publishers at www.merlinpublishers.com