Captain and Publisher’s Log
Fakarava, Tuamotus, French Polynesia
My husband, eight-year-old son, and I have just crossed 3,000 nautical miles of the Pacific Ocean via our 42-foot sailboat, traveling from Mexico to the islands of French Polynesia. These islands are some of the most remote stretches of land in the world.
As Blue Dot Kids Press approaches our fifth anniversary of creating award-winning books that empower the next generation of global citizens, I wanted to really walk our talk, or as I said in an earlier PW article, unfurl our sails, in support of our mission to “publish stories that connect us to each other—and to the home we call Earth.” My family and I are doing exactly what we hope our readers do after they turn the last page of each of Blue Dot’s books: get inspired and then act on that learning. That’s why we have Set Sail for Science, as we are calling this adventure.
I have found that being at sea is absolutely connected to our mission at Blue Dot Kids Press. In fact, I believe that when you think about your own meaningful experiences with nature, you share some of exactly what I’m experiencing: awe, humbleness, peace. I have gotten very in tune with the daily rise and fall of the sun and the stages of the moon. The rhythms are soothing.
My family’s primary activity—outside of the big task of surviving in ever-changing conditions—is conducting citizen science. In that role, we join individuals from all backgrounds to capture and share data with professional scientists. So far, we have collected data related to plastic pollution and biodiversity and because French Polynesia has a lot of biodiversity, this is a wonderful place to do that work.
While on land, my family and I still make time to have a lot of fun, including with other sailors, by playing games and having bonfires on the beach. Plus, even in the middle of an ocean, you’re hardly alone, if you open your mind and heart. We have seen some incredible creatures:
- Humpback whales and their babies
- The “wall of sharks”: dozens of blacktip reef sharks swimming together along the coral wall. I love all animals, yet the idea of actively looking for and swimming with these powerful creatures took some courage.
- Wonderfully colorful fish such as lagoon triggerfish and Moorish idols
- Beautiful arrays of small giant clams. Isn’t that a great name?
Many people can’t imagine being co-captain, crew, and passenger of their own ship and certainly not for a full year. Yes, this is a unique undertaking. I suspect I’m the only publisher to be running her company often hundreds of miles from land! While I can be online most days due to Starlink, a folding chair, and a portable desk (with a view of the sea!), thankfully I also have a great team back on land that continues to keep our publishing program on track.
So far, this trip has been nothing short of inspiring for the types of books I want Blue Dot Kids Press to continue to publish. One book that aligned with this voyage before we even left Mexico is Kai’s Ocean of Curiosities (Apr.), in which deep-sea diver Kai leads a whimsical underwater adventure in her yellow submarine. My Dear Sea, which celebrates a day at the beach and includes tips on ocean conservation that kids can practice onshore and in the waves, is coming next spring.
In fact, all Blue Dot Kids Press books include resources for small or large action that stretches beyond the written word. A lot of kids are worried about the planet, and what it will be like when they’re grown up. That’s why the tips and activities at the end of each book and in the teachers’ guides exist: to empower our readers with ideas for positive action. We want every child to know that every action, however small, can have a big impact.
Stay tuned at Blue Dot Kids Press News, where I’ll continue to post. Next up: the islands of Tonga, before we reach our destination of New Zealand in December!
