Author/artist Skip Hofstrand sent me a copy of his juvenile eco-fiction book Tears for Nanertak .

What Happens When Your Home Disappears? For most of us, it’s hard to imagine our home vanishing. But for Nanertak, a polar bear cub, the melting of her Arctic homeland means that she has nowhere to live. She and her mother, Nanuck, are forced to escape. Their exit by iceberg is full of danger – the beginning of an incredible journey of survival. Many tears are shed along the way, but there is unexpected hope for Nanertak’s future…along with a solution to the problem of her disappearing Arctic homeland. Join Nanertak and Nanuck as they search for their new home in this beautiful story that is both educational and inspiring for children and adults alike.

When this book arrived my children got one look at the cover and elicited a promise to read it to them before I even finished opening the mail…with good reason. The artwork is stunning. I’m completely in love with it. I’ve always appreciated water-colours and Mr. Hofstrand has a spectacular talent. Plus, how cool is it that a book written with the intent of highlighting the plight of Arctic animals in the face of global warming has been illustrated with water from the melting Greenland Ice Cap. It forms a satisfying circle. There is an awful lot of blank space in the book though. I’m not sure if it is supposed to be a visual reminder of the white landscapes of the Arctic or just odd formatting.

The message in the book is a simple one, the next generation must be taught now to be responsible wardens of animal habitats. But I fear it might be lost on the primary audience (children). I don’t think it is particularly explicit and would likely need to be explained. However, the book could easily be used as a talking point to broach the subject of climate change with youngsters. Either way, it’s worth reading just for the artwork.