The latest local children's book to hit the shelves this Christmas, will probably be the first ever to be translated into Danish.

'Humphrey Goes to Bermuda' by Danish dental assistant administrator Gitte Brandenburg will go on sale in Bermuda on December 21. It is published by Atlantic Publishing House, and illustrated by Bermudian artist Lindsey George, who also recently worked on 'On This Island the Natives' for author and Government Social Rehabiliation Minister Dale Butler.

"Humphrey is a juvenile humpback whale who visits Bermuda on his long journey from Canada to the West Indies," said Miss Brandenburg on Wednesday.

"In Bermuda he befriends Rocky the Rockfish and together they explore the reefs and waters around Bermuda and exciting things happen."

The book's strong environmental message won it an environmental grant from the Ministry of the Environment.

She was very grateful for the government assistance she received, because it was difficult to find a sponsor for the book.

"I was unable to do 'Humphrey' without financial assistance," she said. "But the Ministry of the Environment led by Nelethea Butterfield believed in the story, and awarded my project the 2007 environmental award. I want to thank the Ministry for believing in 'Humphrey Goes to Bermuda'."

She said she had a deep passion for the environment, animals and the marine life all over the world.

"It saddens me to see how people are neglecting the earth due to lack of education and care," she said.

"We know too little about how to take care of the environment and how to protect it. By reading 'Humphrey' the children will learn about the local marine life and understand the beauty of the reef and the importance of saving it, and at the same time read about a wonderful whale and his adventure in Bermuda."

Her interest in the environment was one she shared with illustrator Miss George. Miss George said she was an avid snorkeller and her knowledge of local marine life helped Miss Brandenburg. She graduated from the Savannah College of Art & Design in 2004 cum laude with a bachelor of fine arts.

"I had problems with the parrot fish," Miss George. "The parrot fish in the book is female, but female parrot fish are not traditionally very attractive. So I drew her over and over before I was happy."

"Lindsey would say to me, what kind of grouper, what kind of parrot fish," said Miss Brandenburg. "I never thought of that when I was writing the book. I was very pleased when Lindsey agreed to do this project for me.

"Humphrey was drawn on the computer and I am very happy with the way she made my characters come to life on the paper. The children will have great pleasure looking at the 16 wonderful illustrations in the book. I think by looking at Lindsey's pictures the children will want to read the book.

"We need to get children reading again and get them away from the television and computer games. I believe reading stimulates and develops the brain and takes them away from the violence they see on television. "

'Humphrey Goes to Bermuda' is for ages three and up. Miss Brandenburg thought it would be a great story to read aloud to children.

"On Thursday, I am going to read it to children at the grand library opening at Elliot Primary School in Devonshire," she said. "I am really excited about that."

Miss Brandenburg was asked to read at the school event along with several other local authors including Dale Butler, who was the main speaker, Shaun Goater, Elizabeth Mulderig, and Daron Lowe.

It took Miss Brandenburg a year and a half to write the book.

"In terms of Atlantic Publishing House I had the best support you can wish for," she said.

"This was my first book and I needed all the advice I could get and I got it. There was a long way from my first notes on a writing pad to completing the story, and having it edited and illustrated, and then having the book designed and finally printed.

"Luckily, I have some good friends who inspired me and helped me every time I was not sure if my English grammar was correct."

She said she would love to write more Humphrey books. 'Humphrey Goes to Bermuda' is dedicated to her niece in Denmark, and she has just finished translating the book into Danish. Miss Brandenburg said the book had to be changed slightly for Danish audiences. "I had to put more explanation about where Bermuda was, and things like what a reef was," she said. She hopes to begin working on finding a Danish publisher.

Locally, Miss Brandenburg said 'Humphrey Goes to Bermuda' would be a good souvenir for tourists to take home.

She will be having two book signings. One will be on December 21 at late night shopping at the Bermuda Bookstore from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the second will be at Brown & Co. from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on December 22.