Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543022
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 4 FEBRUARY 2026 CULTURE A best-selling series of books about a tortoise are now avail- able in Maltese thanks to is- land-based publishers BDL Books. Youngsters on Malta can now enjoy close encounters with dinosaurs, a frog, garden bugs and a tortoise character based on a real celebrity reptile. The menagerie of beasties all feature originally in the hit book series ALBERT the tor- toise written by children's au- thor Ian Brown. Ian, a former TV writer and producer who has worked on shows like The Simpsons, has written 9 ALBERT picture- books, 3 Board Books and an Activity Book. More titles are on the way. Six of the series have been picked up and translated in- to Maltese by BDL Books of Malta and the first four stories are now available in their San Gwann bookshop or online. In Maltese, Albert the tortoise has become Bertu I-fekruna. The stories have already proved a hit in English, Korean, Span- ish and Welsh. The original books are published by Welsh indie publisher Graffeg Books. "I'm delighted the Albert – or should I say Bertu – stories are now available in Maltese," said Ian. "It is great to work with BDL Books. The Maltese ver- sions look amazing." In the first adventures avail- able, our tortoise hero finds himself upside down and his garden friends must work to- gether to help him back on his feet. Then he dreams of dino- saurs – before helping his gar- den chums. Next, he ends up locked in a shed and a chaotic rescue mission is launched. In the fourth, a new friend in the garden pond suddenly vanish- es and Bertu learns a lesson about patience and life-cycles. All the books also carry facts at the back about real tortoise Albert, other animals, habitats and food. A journalist before working in television, Ian's TV credits include The South Bank Show, big red book tribute show This Is Your Life, Top Gear and Strictly Come Dancing. He's written or produced for the likes of Harrison Ford, Pierce Brosnan, Michael Caine, The Simpsons, Tom Jones, Martin Kemp, Jamie Oliver, George Michael, Martin Scorsese and George Lucas. Real Albert the tortoise is more than 80 years old and has been a pet in Ian's family more than 50 years. With his own pages on facebook, X, tiktok and a website, Albert has gath- ered thousands of fans around the world and his appeal has grown since the 2021 release of the first book, Albert Upside Down. All the books are illus- trated by Eoin Clarke. Ian is now in talks with BDL Books about visiting Malta ear- ly in 2027 to bring his stories to schoolchildren on the island and also on Gozo. "It would be great to visit and I'm sure it will happen," said Ian. "It will be a return – after quite some time. I came to Mal- ta with my parents as a child. Hopefully the Maltese books will work in tandem with the English versions to help young- sters – or even older readers – with language lessons." Picturebook Albert is not only a hit with young readers, he's taking the celebrity world by storm too. His fans include Jeremy Clarkson. Petrolhead, farmer and former tortoise owner Clarkson said, "I like this book. I like tortoises. What's not to like?" Others praising the adven- tures of illustrated Albert are funnymen Julian Clary and Paul Whitehouse, star of You- tube and Strictly Come Danc- ing Joe Sugg, former TOWIE star Lydia Bright, Game of Thrones and Vicar of Dibley actor Clive Mantle, Allo Allo and EastEnders actress Vicki Michelle and TV veterans John Craven of Countryfile and Mi- chael Aspel. Influencer Lydia Bright post- ed to her 1.2 million followers on Instagram that Albert Up- side Down was a "new favour- ite" book for her daughter Lo- retta. The Fast Show and Gone Fishing star Paul Whitehouse called Upside Down: "Utterly brilliant and charming." Ju- lian Clary, also a children's author, declared it "Beautiful and heart-warming." Country- file stalwart John Craven said "What a treat." Joe Sugg called it "A great story." It's been quite a journey for real Albert. He was rescued more than 50 years ago by Ian's wife Millie when she was a little girl. Ian said, "Albert seems to be taking all this in his stride. We've all been amazed at how his popularity has grown. He has fans across the UK, USA, Japan and Australia. It took me thirty years to get a publish- ing deal, trying in between TV work, but Albert was the inspi- ration I needed. It's a delight to visit bookshops, schools and libraries and share Albert's world. Luckily, they seem to like the stories. Putting words into the mouth of picturebook Albert has been a joy. I hope Bertu proves as popular." The Maltese Bertu books are available from BDL Books in San Gwann or via www.BDL- Books.com and the English Albert the Tortoise books are available from online sites and from www.AlbertTor- toise.com. Best-selling series of books about a tortoise now available in Maltese with BDL Books