Hannah Sharples Artist & Illustrator

“I see Seychelles on the seashore…”

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Amiko is not an average 8-year-old girl. She is an experienced traveller and naturalist, despite her young age, and lives on an old sailing yacht. She has visited many countries with her father, Captain Phoenix, who cares for his daughter alone. Amiko’s mother died during childbirth at sea, during a heavy storm, while the old sailing yacht was crossing the waters between England and Japan.

This tragedy is not often discussed, but suffice to say it was obvious from a young age that Amiko would be a child of the sea.

 

She has a keen interest in nature, and an inquisitive mind - always exploring, collecting species for inspection, and making a record of her findings.

She is also often up to mischief! She loves to explore new surroundings. She goes everywhere with her devoted father, from one continent to the next. But the two of them are not alone on their voyage. Amiko is lucky enough to have her own private tutor, Mr Maxwell, onboard who travels with them during term time. His time is paid for by the boat’s owner, Aazam, who is happy to pay for Amiko’s tuition, because it helps out his favourite Captain.

You’ll meet the crew during their voyage to Mahe Island in the Seychelles, and experience the magical journey alongside Amiko and her long-time pen pal (and cousin) Michelle.

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Michelle’s mother works at the local market, so on the days she is busy on the stall, Amiko and Michelle are free to roam the island. Deep in the forest, they suddenly find themselves ever so small - tiny in fact, a little smaller than their furry jungle friend, Callum Caterpillar, who happily carries them wherever they choose to go.

 

During their daily adventures through the forest, they meet other busy characters, but it’s the Mangrove Crab’s ongoing project to collect shells that gives Amiko and her native cousin of the Seychelles most cause for concern. Amiko and Michelle notice how the island’s trade in old sea shells is slowly killing and ruining the lives of local marine life, and they decide to educate them, aiming to help conserve and protect the many local species currently under threat by the ‘shell collectors’.

 

Amiko and Michelle make many good friends in the forest, with different birds, sheath-tailed bats and other life. But the pair are often on their guard too, with the family of menaces known as the Pied Crows, who are always on the lookout for an opportunity to scavenge, feed on turtle hatchlings and bird eggs.

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In further books, Amiko and Captain Phoenix will continue their journey to further destinations including the Galapagos Islands and beyond… and they do hope you’ll join them!