On Monday, the Times of Malta referred to a children’s book “about a Maltese family who nurses a shot flamingo back to health” as a “new book on hunting”.

As is to be expected, both the newspaper and the author fail to distinguish between legal hunting and the deplorable act of harming protected birds.

What was written “in a fit of anger” against hunting, when allegedly “a few flamingos flew over Malta and vanished within hours” is now supposed to serve as an aid for children to “love and empathise with the vulnerable”.

Young minds are the most vulnerable because they form their opinion on what they read or what certain adults want to pass on to them. This story is based on an illegal act which is condemned by all law-observing hunters, yet, our vulnerable little minds are kept unaware of this fact.

Do our young minds know hunters were part of those lobbying for harsh penalties including imprisonment against those abusing? If, indeed, the purpose of such books aimed at the most vulnerable is to educate and not simply indoctrinate, then all facts should be made clear.

Informed, unbiased opinions, especially dealing with controversial issues, are formed when a mind is mature and capable of reason. Publishing material written in a fit of anger only serves to promote such anger and certainly distances the reader from understanding any issue.

Would one publish a children’s book on a hit-and-run incident to emphasise the plight of pedestrians at the hands of drivers? This publication does nothing short of that.

The reason for writing any book that is intended for sale is commercial. Perhaps the author and publisher intend to contribute the profits made towards combating illegalities of the sort mentioned.

I sincerely doubt that and, while clearly understanding the author’s intentions, fail to see how a reputable publisher cannot distinguish between educational material and an angry outburst meant to influence vulnerable little minds. Clearly, for some, professionalism comes after profits.