The Adventures of Captain Polo: Polo in Brazil follows an outspoken polar bear who tackles environmental challenges and human greed that are fueling climate change while he discovers new ways to heal the Earth. What was the inspiration that created the fantastic journey these characters go on?

The Adventures of Captain Polo: Polo in Brazil is a sequel to Pole to Pole, which ends on an open note as Polo and Penguin escape from Tex Greedyman’s yacht under precarious circumstances. This sets the stage for the new book, beginning in the mid-Atlantic, near the Brazilian coast and the mouth of the Amazon.

Initially, I planned for Polo’s visit to Brazil to be brief, focusing on the Amazon’s environmental issues. However, as I delved deeper into my research, I discovered a wealth of critical topics that I felt compelled to include. This led me to dedicate the entire book to Brazil, ensuring it didn’t solely focus on the Amazon. Brazilian environmentalists often point out that excessive attention on the Amazon overshadows other equally important ecosystems. My goal was to showcase Brazil’s incredible diversity—not just in landscapes but also in its people—while highlighting both environmental challenges and the innovative climate solutions emerging across the country.

To achieve this, I structured the story to allow Polo and Penguin to travel across Brazil, exploring key regions: the Amazon, Rio de Janeiro, the vastly underappreciated Atlantic Forest, and the southern cattle ranching grasslands. My research revealed that each of these locations presents compelling examples of climate solutions in action, which I wanted to illustrate. The southern rangelands, in particular, play a crucial role in challenging common perceptions about climate change. Rather than simply presenting widely accepted narratives, I wanted to encourage critical thinking. The book’s cattle ranching scenes provide an opportunity to explore the often misunderstood role of livestock in climate change. While it’s undeniable that beef and lamb production contribute to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, there is also scientific evidence supporting the role of well-managed natural grasslands, maintained by free-ranging herbivores, as a climate solution. Unfortunately, the nuances of this debate are often lost, leading to the blanket demonization of cattle ranching by well-meaning but misinformed environmentalists. Polo and Penguin’s journey to southern Brazil introduces an ongoing conservation project that protects natural grasslands on private cattle ranches, offering a more balanced perspective on this complex issue.

Of course, Polo and Penguin’s adventure is not solely about education. The story is enriched with secondary characters who add humor and excitement, ensuring the book remains engaging and entertaining while delivering its environmental message.

What educational aspects were important for you to include in this children’s book?

I wanted the book to meet readers’ natural expectation that a story about Brazil would include the Amazon, but I also aimed to go beyond that, showcasing other crucial regions with their own climate action stories. The most important educational goal of the book is to encourage critical thinking, particularly regarding the complex and often contradictory role of cattle in climate change, as discussed in the previous answer.

To truly understand climate issues, it’s essential to look beyond surface-level narratives and recognize deeper connections. For example, I hope readers will be shocked not only by the Amazon’s environmental destruction but also by the human rights abuses occurring alongside it—an aspect that is often overshadowed, particularly for children, who despite their tender years deserve to know the truth. Similarly, I want them to recognize how everyday consumer choices, sometimes made on the other side of the world—whether it’s buying a hamburger (potentially driving deforestation and monoculture farming) or a new cellphone (fueling mining, often illegal)—can have far-reaching consequences.

Tex Greedyman’s downfall on a deserted island also carries an important message: his wealth and power instantly become meaningless in his new circumstances. This serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of consumer-driven lifestyles and the illusion of material security.

Of course, for a children’s book, the overall message must be one of hope. Another key educational aspect is showing that real solutions exist—right now, countless people are working hard to combat climate change and broader environmental challenges. Kids need tangible, real-world examples of these efforts, and the book provides them, offering inspiration and empowerment alongside its cautionary lessons.

What was the most challenging part of writing this book and what was the most fun?

The biggest challenge, as always, was balancing educational content with an engaging, entertaining storyline. Writing an educational comic book comes with the added difficulty of limited space for text—speech bubbles must be concise, and pages can’t be overcrowded with dialogue, as too much text can overwhelm readers. This challenge was heightened by the need to include technical terms, which I consider essential for educational value, as well as the deliberate use of Portuguese phrases throughout the book—while not strictly necessary, they add authenticity and cultural depth.

The most fun part was illustrating and writing the dialogues for scenes that weren’t tied to educational content. The airplane sequence at the beginning, for instance, was inspired by my own experience flying in that exact plane, with the very same pilot. Likewise, Willy’s unexpected encounter with red ants while cutting down a Cecropia tree comes from a personal experience (I have worked for decades in the Amazon as a field biologist) that has stuck with me for years. These moments of humor and adventure added an extra layer of enjoyment to the writing process.

What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?

I am the King of all Plotters! And necessarily so. I learned early in my career that if I don’t plan my comics meticulously, I end up wasting time, energy, and far too many sketchbook pages.

For me, planning isn’t just about research (though there’s plenty of that to ensure accuracy). It’s also about carefully structuring the book’s layout. Every speech bubble must be placed in the right order, which dictates its position within the frame. Some frames need to be larger, differently shaped, or arranged to emphasize key visual elements, set a mood, or enhance the pacing of the story.

The script requires just as much precision. I have to strike the perfect balance between educational content and entertainment, making sure neither overpowers the other. The story itself has to feel like a roller-coaster ride—fast-paced and engaging enough to keep readers flipping pages, all while seamlessly delivering knowledge and insights along the way.

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