Life with Oscar

Life with Oscar

Maltese Heritage Fun Activity Story Book - 5

Life with Oscar

While travelling the world, Oscar’s life changes when he loses his friend and ship in a storm and is saved by Bertu the boatman, discovering a happy life with his new friends

Meet the Characters

Oscar the colourful fun parrot

Camellia the Inquisitor’s parrot and Oscar’s friend

Bertu jolly boatman and Oscar’s new friend

Eduardo Oscar’s old friend

Josephine the

kind

bookkeeper Filomena the singing innkeeper

Mikiel the artist

Salvu the master valet of the Inquisitor

Anġlu guardian of the guard tower

dog

Ahoy there! I am Oscar, the parrot. I live in the Grand Harbour, but I come from a faraway land called the Americas.

North America

South America

Atlantic Ocean

Many years ago, my old friend Eduardo and I set out to sail on a ship. We travelled around the world together! But one day, we sailed through a terrible storm in the Mediterranean Sea. That day, I lost my friend and the ship…

Start from number 1 to follow the places Oscar travelled to around the world

Arctic Ocean

Luckily, I was saved from drowning by Bertu, a kind and jolly boatman. He took me to his home and now calls me Oscar. I like my new name Oscar, it sounds important! And I like my new home with Bertu. He has many friends. During the day, he works hard rowing his boat to the ships and back to the shore. And I go with him everywhere!

This morning, Oscar wakes up very early. Bertu is still sleeping and Oscar is hungry. So, he flies out to find something to eat. “Ah, yes, there is the Guard Tower! I will go to Anġlu, he is Bertu’s best friend and always has something good to eat for breakfast. It is Ċikku, his dog, who I do not like very much!”

“Hey, he is still asleep!” Oscar is disappointed.

“Woof woof, woof woof” Ċikku suddenly barks. Anġlu startled from his sleep, jumps up with his sword ready for battle and cries out “Attack!” Oscar, is terrified. He flies out and away. “Come back, Oscar,” Anġlu shouts from the tower. But Oscar is too frightened, “Anġlu never did this to me before!”

“Ah, there is Bertu whistling, it is time to go!” Oscar flies to Bertu in the boat. He is getting ready for work. Salvu, is chatting with him. “What do you have for the Inquisitor today?” Salvu asks. “A bag of special coffee. I can bring it to the Palace later,” answers Bertu. “Good!” replies Salvu.

Oscar flutters down onto Bertu’s shoulder. “Good morning,” Oscar greets them. “Ah, there you are, Oscar,” Bertu smiles and gives him a biscuit to eat. “Good morning, Oscar” replies Salvu, “Bertu, bring Oscar with you to see Camellia,” Salvu laughs. “Camellia, Camellia!” Oscar shouts.

As Bertu rows out the boat, he starts to whistle a tune. Oscar whistles along with him.

When they reach a ship, Bertu shouts out to the sailors, “Ahoy there”. “Ahoy!” replies a sailor, “do you have biscuits and wine today?” “Yes, here they are,” Bertu replies, putting them in the hanging basket. The sailor pulls up the basket. Oscar calls out, “Put the money in the basket, please!” Laughing, the sailor puts some coins in the empty basket.

After a long day visiting many ships, Bertu and Oscar return back to the shore. “Come, Oscar, we must take the coffee to Salvu,” Bertu says. Salvu meets them at the door of the Palace, “Leave the coffee in the kitchen and come out to the garden,”

he tells Bertu. Salvu takes Oscar on his hand. “Come Oscar, Camellia is waiting to see you.”

Only the cats, Antonino and Cesco, are not happy to see Oscar, as they are locked up in a room!

After leaving the Palace, Bertu stops at Josephine’s shop. She is kind and always helps Bertu to count his coins. “Good evening, Bertu!”, she greets him. The two walk to a corner of the shop to work. Oscar flies to the two children writing at a table, “Ah, there are my little friends.”

“Hello!” Oscar greets the children. “Hello Oscar,” they reply. The children love the parrot and like to teach him new words. They laugh at his chatter. “A, B, C, 1, 2, 3,” Oscar sings. He does not realise that he spills the inkpot and steps in the puddle, leaving his footprints all over the table. “Oh no, Oscar!” the children laugh. Bertu whistles, “Come Oscar, we better go!”

Here are some words Oscar learns. Write the words under the pictures in the boxes matching the number. In the shaded boxes, find the name of the shop.

4. CORKSCREW

10. CORK

6. CANDLE

11. PAPERS

5. COINS

8. GLASSES 1. BOTTLES 9. BENCH

3. BARREL

2. SHELVES

7. TABLE

As Bertu walks the streets with Oscar, they hear a voice singing. Oscar flies into an open window singing along “Halleluia, Halleluia!”. “Hello Oscar!” smiles Filomena, the innkeeper. She always sings while she cooks and everyone loves her good food.

“What are you cooking, Filomena?... it smells so good!” Bertu asks, as he pops his head through the window. “Your favourite, Bertu! Pork stew,” replies Filomena, “come in and have some.”

Next morning, Oscar patiently waits for Bertu on the boat. Bertu is chatting with some friends on the shore. A man comes to sit near their boat and scatters some seeds on the ground. Oscar is suspicious and thinks “why is this man looking at me?”

At the end of the day, Bertu rows the boat to go home. Anġlu is with him. “Shall we go to eat at Filomena’s this evening, Bert?” Anġlu asks as they reach the wharf. “Yes, of course,” agrees Bertu.

Anġlu is munching an apple and gives a piece to Oscar. “Are we friends again, Oscar?” Anġlu asks. “Thank you,” Oscar replies. “Woof!” Ċikku barks. “Bad dog!” Oscar tells Ċikku.

That evening, Bertu and Anġlu meet their friends to eat and drink at Filomena’s tavern. “Ċikku, Ċikku” Oscar calls out. “Do not worry, Oscar,” Anġlu laughs, “Ċikku is under the table.” “Sing to us, Oscar!” Bertu says.

At that moment, Filomena brings the food on the table. “Hallelulia, Hallelulia,” Oscar sings. Everyone laughs and sings along with Oscar.

The next day, Bertu is not feeling well. He is still in bed. The sun is already up and Oscar is very hungry now. “I can go to Anġlu to eat,” he thinks, but then he remembers what happens with Ċikku. “I know, I will go to visit Camellia instead!” Oscar decides. So out he flies from the window…

Help Oscar find his way to Camellia’s garden...

Oscar sees Camellia in the garden. “Good morning, Camellia!” Oscar says as he hops onto the stand next to her. “Hello Oscar” Camellia replies, “Tell me more about your adventures. What did the giant lizard with the big teeth do?!” “You mean the crocodile,” Oscar says. “Yes,” Camellia replies excitedly, “and the giant cat you flew away from!” “Ah yes,” Oscar smiles “the tiger.”

Salvu brings some fruit and seeds for the parrots. “Look, a pineapple!” Oscar squawks, “That fruit grows in my country and it is delicious!”

There are 3 parrots and 5 other birds in the tree. Can you find them all?

Oscar says goodbye to Camellia. Flying over the harbour, he hears a familiar whistle, but it is not Bertu’s whistle. It is coming from a ship slowly sailing out.

Oscar flies closer around the ship, and sure enough, he sees his old friend Eduardo! Oscar flies straight to him, “Eduardo, Eduardo!” he squeals with happiness!

Eduardo is also very happy to see Oscar. “Where have you been all this time, my little fellow?” Eduardo strokes Oscar’s feathers. “I thought you were lost in the storm!”

Oscar hears Bertu’s whistle. “I see you have found your life here,” Eduardo says. “I am leaving the island now, but I will come to see you again. Goodbye my little friend for now.” “Goodbye, Eduardo!” says Oscar, as he flies back to Bertu.

SHIP AHOY! Find the words in the puzzle

Oscar loves his new life with Bertu. He enjoys happy times singing with his new friends. To him the harbour life, watching ships sailing, boats rowing and people around him, is the best. Oscar also looks forward to seeing Eduardo again.

Find 2 identical boats in the picture

Life with Oscar

Oscar is a colourful Amazon parrot who, during his world travels, finds his way to the islands of Malta. The story is inspired by 18th-century life in Birgu, Bormla and Isla influenced by the maritime and military lifestyles, as well as the commerce such a life brings with it. The sprightly parrot is enhanced with other fictitious characters typically found within a harbour life, full of interest and history.

This is the fifth title in a series of fun activity story books on Maltese Heritage.

Publication Details

Textual & Visual Narrative: Margaret Abdilla Cunningham

Illustrations: Kimberly Azzopardi

Series Editor: Godwin Vella

Setting: Pierre Balzia

Technical Support: George Agius, Chilion Mangion, Fiona Vella and Marketlink LTD

Printing: Poultons Ltd

ISBN: 978-9918-619-01-6

Acknowledgements: Heritage Malta’s Board of Directors, CEO, COO, and staff members in the Conservation, Curatorial, ICT & Corporate Services, and Projects Divisions.

Produced by Heritage Malta Publishing © 2022 Heritage Malta. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Oscar, is a colourful parrot who leads an adventurous life, and when he finds new and special friends in the harbour life, it may well be why he makes his home on the islands.

including 24 stickers & cut-out craft