Kikeo and The Whale is a beautiful story that submerges first readers in a sea of adventure.

The oceans sustain all life on Earth. It gives our children, and us, half of the oxygen we breath and the seafood we eat, it regulates our climate, and captures much of the carbon pollution we put in the atmosphere - and it also allows us to have fun, learn and explore. Overfishing, pollution, and climate change are the main threats to ocean life. In the same way our Pristine Seas project works to inspire governments to create large protected areas, other conservation efforts are happening around the world, led by writers, photographers, artists and scientists.

Kike Calvo, a talented photographer and conservationist, has written a beautiful bedtime story of an encounter between Kikeo, a fictional young explorer and photographer, and a baby whale and her mom. The adventure unfolds with a clear message on the importance of preserving our oceans.

Kikeo’s adventures teach our children some key lessons in tolerance, conservation and respect to the environment. As the character describes itself, “we should never lose that little kid who will always be in our heart.”

Hand-in-hand with the author, young ones will discover inspiring illustrations, superb underwater whale photographs by Kike, along with the story in this special edition written in English and Spanish.

This children’s book comes at a time when the pressure on our ocean resources is unprecedented and accelerating. Therefore anything we can do to inspire and teach future generations is crucial.

Enric Sala
National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence
Executive Director, National Geographic Pristine Seas