The Foundation announces that the second book in The Adventures of Katerina series made possible through the Small Initiatives Support Scheme (SIS), will focus on the woodland habitat (il-bosk) and carries the title ‘Darna s-Siġar‘ [English: ‘Trees Our Home’].
The book is written by renowned Maltese children’s authors Clare Azzopardi and Leanne Ellul, with illustrations by Samuel Casha, bringing Katerina’s latest adventure vividly to life for young readers.
The Foundation uses this narrative to encourage children to understand that protecting habitats begins with recognising them as the homes of other living creatures. The story also shows that communities are better able to overcome difficulties when their members cooperate, care for one another and take action when help is needed.
In the story, Katerina visits her friend Ġummara, who lives with her bee colony inside an old oak tree in the woodland. A family of barn owls, including their friend Pirippi, lives higher up in the same tree. During a violent storm, lightning damages the branch supporting the bees’ nest. The barn owls work together throughout the night to prevent the branch from falling while the bees remain asleep inside. When morning arrives, the colony is safely evacuated before the damaged branch finally collapses.
Although the bees lose their home, Katerina comforts Ġummara and helps the colony begin building a new nest. Before leaving, she also shows gratitude and empathy towards Pirippi and her family, who had risked their own safety to protect the bees.
Through this adventure, the book presents woodland as much more than a collection of trees. It is a living community where trees provide shelter, food and nesting spaces for many different species. A single mature tree may support insects, birds and other animals, demonstrating how the loss or damage of one tree can affect an entire ecological community. Alongside woodland conservation, the story teaches:
- proactivity — Pirippi recognises the danger and acts immediately;
- teamwork — the barn owl family works together;
- empathy — the characters recognise and respond to one another’s needs;
- friendship — Katerina supports Ġummara through the loss of her home;
- gratitude — Katerina acknowledges Pirippi’s sacrifice;
- resilience — the colony begins rebuilding after the storm.
By combining storytelling, environmental education and positive social values, ‘Darna s-Siġar‘ seeks to inspire young readers to appreciate Malta’s woodland habitat, understand its importance for biodiversity and recognise the value of friendship and collective action.
The project is being coordinated by Abner Joe Buttigieg and Dylan Farrugia on behalf of the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee.
Disclaimer: This project has been funded by the Small Initiatives Support Scheme (SIS) managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) supported by the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV). This project/ publication reflects the views only of the author, and the MCVS cannot be held responsible for the content or any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
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