The Adventures of Captain Polo: Polo in Brazil- Author Interview and Giveaway

This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Alan J. Hesse. All opinions are my own.

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Book Information

​The Adventures of Captain Polo: Polo in Brazil
Written and Illustrated by Alan J. Hesse
Ages: 8–13 | 61 Pages
Publisher: Alan J. Hesse (2025) | ISBN: 978-9942489579
Publisher’s Book Summary: Adventure. Comedy. Climate change. A race across Brazil that could change everything. When Captain Polo, the world’s most determined polar bear, continues his journey south from the open-ended mid-Atlantic finale of Pole to Pole, Antarctica finally seems within reach—until ruthless oil tycoon Tex Greedyman sets a dangerous plan in motion to exploit the Amazon. Polo and his ever-practical sidekick Penguin are pulled into a race against destruction that sweeps them across one of the most dynamic countries on Earth—from shark-filled waters and electric-eel rivers to burning forests and vast southern ranchlands. Blending humor, high-stakes adventure, and real environmental science, Polo in Brazil brings big global challenges—deforestation, fossil fuels, Indigenous rights, and climate action—to life in a vivid, page-turning story.
Themes: Climate change & the environment • Deforestation & the Amazon • Indigenous rights • Fossil fuels & clean energy • Geography of Brazil • Conservation & climate action

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Author Interview

​Why is writing about climate change important to you?
As a conservation biologist I am already deeply invested in nature conservation and
environmental issues that include climate change. From my perspective living and traveling
mostly in the Global South I know that global warming already impacts daily life, from
extreme weather to forced human migration to rising costs and constant public discussion,
a lot of which is often miscommunicated. Children are growing up with this reality, often
alongside confusion and misinformation, so helping them understand what climate change
means and what can be done about it feels essential. Young people are inheriting this
future, and they also have the power to influence others and shape tomorrow’s decisions.

What was your writing process for a story that continues over several books?
My writing process throughout the series is centered on reaching that sweet spot between
non-fiction educational and technical content, and fiction storytelling loaded with road trip
adventure, colorful characters, and humor. This combination is designed to make learning
about climate change, the natural environment, geography, social issues and different
cultures fun and easy. Having the story and characters develop over several books gives me
space to cover a lot of technical content in a way that isn’t too intense, weaving it into an
entertaining fiction plot.

What is your favorite part about writing books for kids?
The fact that I am free to explore deeply technical, often tough and very real subjects using
fiction loaded with crazy humor and adventure. This is reflected in both dialogues and
illustrations, and I find this creative freedom very liberating.

What are you working on now?
Promoting ‘Polo in Brazil’! It took me about three years to research, write, illustrate, edit
and publish this book and it’s also up to me to give it the visibility it deserves. At some
point however, I know I will once again feel the creative itch to start planning Book 6, the
sequel to Polo in Brazil and the third book in this second trilogy. That book will probably be
called ‘Antarctica’, and it will see Polo and Penguin finally reach Penguin’s home. I will
probably continue the series to explore other parts of the world Polo has not been to yet.
Every location has a story to tell.

What is your favorite book?
My current favorite is ‘Polo in Brazil.’ From a storytelling perspective I consider it to be my best
work so far, because for the first time I really invested in further developing new characters
such as Tex Greedyman and Connor O’Connor. I also learn new illustration techniques with
every new book I work on, and I experimented along those lines quite a lot in this book, to what
I think is to good effect.

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Giveaway

Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of five paperback copies of The Adventures of Captain Polo: Polo in Brazil! One lucky grand prize winner will receive paperback copies of all five books in The Adventures of Captain Polo series. Perfect for young adventurers, graphic novel fans, and readers curious about the world around them!