This book was experimental. It was not hand drawn, but generated by computer, using photographed models which were then processed by Adobe Photoshop filters (lots of them).

The "story" is written in verse, and reversed out of the background of each trim to bleed picture, so that the whole book is one massive illustration, with the text integrated for the sake of unity.

This is the story of Nenu, the crocodile, who was loved by nobody, until one day, by the lake, there goes a small dog, dumped by his masters...

The book was published in 2004 by Klabb Kotba Maltin - Paul and Joe Mizzi's groundbreaking publishing firm that is NOT afraid of taking the occasional risk.

An English language version awaits potential publication.

The Hero Crocodile – attractive and innovative new book for children
written and illustrated by Ġorġ Mallia. Klabb Kotba Maltin, 2004. 24pp

Well known cartoonist and children’s books writer and illustrator Ġorġ Mallia’s new book is attractive and innovative in more than one way.

It is the story of a kind hearted crocodile, living by a lake, fearfully avoided by all the other animals there, until one day a little dog nearly drowns, and then Nenu the crocodile comes into his own.

It is a picture book, illustrated lavishly with full page colour pictures throughout. And here the innovations start. The illustrations have been generated by the illustrator from digital graphics, manipulated on computer to form very original, extremely colourful and at the same time warm images that are lush in background and main characters. Mallia manages to animate the imaginatively rendered animals that are the protagonists of the book, against a backdrop of foliage and water, carefully brought out in bright greens and blues.

In the application of the text, Mallia has also used an innovative convention that has been applied quite often in modern picture books from different countries. The text, printed in shadowed white, is incorporated within the pictures themselves, quite stark against the varied colours of the background, so that the story becomes an integral part of the visuals, helping young readers take on board simultaneously both the image and the words.
The story is in the form of a simple poem in Maltese, aimed at mid-primary children.

The book has been added by publisher Klabb Kotba Maltin to its varied repertoire of children’s books and is for sale in all local booksellers and from the KKM stand at the book fair.