Meet Some of Our Dragonfly Ambassadors

Over the years, our Dragonfly Ambassadors have helped carry the Little Explorer, Big World™ mission forward in many different ways and at different moments in our journey. Some have brought books into communities, while others have contributed their art, expertise, connections, or support. Each has left a meaningful mark on our story, and we celebrate their contributions with deep gratitude.

We are currently updating this list and know that some wonderful people who have been part of our journey may not yet appear here. If we have missed you, please know that your contribution has not been forgotten—we are working to make this recognition as complete as possible.

The Ambassadors Beyond the List

Every book carried became a bridge to a new world.

Before the names that follow, we want to recognize the hundreds of travelers—many known to us, and many we may never meet—who have quietly become part of the Little Explorer story. They have purchased our books in a myriad of languages, carried them in their luggage across borders, and placed them directly into the hands of children in remote communities around the world. We may never know every name or every destination, but each journey has helped our mission travel farther.

Meet the Dragonfly Ambassadors

Thomas E. Lovejoy, Ph.D. · United States

In Memoriam

Renowned conservation biologist and National Geographic Explorer-at-Large Thomas E. Lovejoy was a generous mentor and champion of Little Explorer, Big World™from its earliest days. He wrote forewords for our books, introduced Kike to people who could help move the mission forward, and offered thoughtful guidance whenever it was needed. Despite an extraordinary career and countless demands on his time, Tom had a remarkable way of making himself available—often answering Kike’s emails within minutes. His encouragement, generosity, and belief in the project left a lasting mark on Little Explorer, Big World™ team and remain deeply missed.

Gilberto Santa Rosa · Puerto Rico

Internationally acclaimed singer and six-time Grammy Award winner Gilberto Santa Rosa brought both his voice and his generosity toLittle Explorer, Big World™ by writing a heartfelt foreword for The Magical Music Journey. That an artist of such stature took the time to support a small educational project speaks volumes about his character, generosity, and belief in the power of music and storytelling to inspire children.

Barbara Barrett · United States

Diplomat, business leader, and former U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett has supported Little Explorer, Big World™with both generosity and genuine humanity. She wrote the foreword to Water Girl, helping carry our mission to a wider audience, and later joined Kike for a deeply personal interview about her life and experiences. At an especially difficult moment, when Kike learned of his mother’s passing, Barbara offered words of wisdom and compassion that he—and all of us at Little Explorer—have never forgotten.

Wade Davis · Canada

Anthropologist, author, and National Geographic Explorer Wade Davis wrote the foreword to Kike’s Corpus Christi in Atánquez, a visual anthropology project documenting the traditions and people surrounding this extraordinary celebration in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Hundreds of copies of the book were later donated to many of the key participants and cultural guardians in Atánquez and across the Sierra. Wade’s generous words describing Kike as “a fresh voice in visual anthropology” offered meaningful encouragement and helped reinforce the spirit of cultural respect, documentation, and storytelling that would later become central toLittle Explorer, Big World™.

Enric Sala, Ph.D. · Spain

Marine ecologist, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, and founder of Pristine Seas, Enric Sala supported Little Explorer, Big World™ before it even had a website—when it was still little more than a dream. By writing the foreword to Kikeo and the Whale, he gave early encouragement and credibility to a project just beginning to find its voice. That gesture of belief at such an early stage remains deeply meaningful to us.

Sam Ham · United States

Professor Emeritus at the University of Idaho, author, and internationally recognized pioneer in environmental interpretation, Sam Ham was one of Kike’s professors during his early years in the United States, when a scholarship opened the door to studies that helped shape many of his environmental communication skills. Decades later, they reconnected when Kike presented The Power of Creativity at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts in 2026. Since then, Sam has continued to share his knowledge, offer thoughtful guidance, and connect Little Explorer, Big World™ with key people who can help carry the mission forward.

Carl Safina · United States

Ecologist, author, and founder of The Safina Center, Carl Safina has spent his career exploring the relationship between people, wildlife, and the natural world. As Little Explorer, Big World™ was taking shape, Carl provided guidance, encouragement, and inspiration during Kike Calvo’s time as a Safina Center Fellow, helping strengthen the vision behind a project rooted in storytelling, conservation, and curiosity.

Joanna Roche & Maria Mitchell Association · United States

Joanna Roche, Executive Director of the Maria Mitchell Association, discovered Kike Calvo’s work and welcomed him into the Association’s remarkable Nantucket community. Through her invitation, Kike was featured in the Association’s Science Speaker Series at the Nantucket Atheneum, presenting The Power of Creativity: A Journey Through Storytelling, Exploration, and Hope and sharing the story and mission of Little Explorer, Big World™. He was also welcomed to the Association’s Stargazer Gala, its signature annual fundraiser celebrating science, curiosity, and exploration. We are deeply grateful to Joanna for finding our work, believing in its message, and creating such a meaningful space for it to be shared

Grace O’Malley · United States

Photographer Grace O’Malley specializes in portraits of nature and people, always seeking to build genuine relationships with those she encounters. A close friend and longtime supporter of Little Explorer, Big World™, she carried some of our earliest books on her own travels to Egypt, Jordan, and Thailand, and has joined us on many journeys where books were hand-distributed—including a transition camp for former guerrilla members in Colombia. Beyond the field, Grace has continually shared her entrepreneurial insight, creativity, encouragement, and thoughtful ideas as the project has grown.

Valarie Van Cleave . United States

Oceana leader, ocean advocate, and philanthropist Valarie Van Cleave supported Little Explorer by writing the foreword to The Moon Is Made of Dreams. She also surprised Kike with a world map and pins to mark the countries reached through travel and storytelling—a deeply personal gift that we still cherish as a symbol of curiosity, exploration, and the journeys yet to come.

Andy Sabin · United States

Businessman, philanthropist, and passionate conservationist Andy Sabin has supported environmental and community initiatives around the world. A generous longtime supporter of Little Explorer, Big World™, he has helped advance numerous endeavors over the years—including bringing bilingual books, educational supplies, and solar panels to remote island communities in Melanesia—helping our mission reach places far beyond traditional distribution networks.

Patricia C. Wright, Ph.D. · United States

Primatologist, conservationist, and CEO of the Institute for Conservation of Tropical Environments, Patricia C. Wright has played an important role in helping Little Explorer, Big World™deepen its connection with Madagascar. Through her guidance, advice, and introductions, she helped open the door to the fruitful collaborations that shaped our Madagascar Coloring Series and strengthened our educational and conservation work on the island.

Fernando Trujillo, Ph.D. · Colombia

Marine biologist, founder of Fundación Omacha, and Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year, Fernando Trujillo has devoted decades to protecting Amazonian river dolphins and the ecosystems and communities of the Colombian Amazon. He has generously shared his knowledge of Colombia, opened doors through his extensive network, and has always been willing to lend a hand. Through Fundación Omacha, he also helped Little Explorer, Big World™ bring books and educational materials into remote Amazonian communities, helping our stories reach children along the rivers of the rainforest.

Shannon Wild · South Africa

Wildlife photographer, filmmaker, and founder of Wild In Africa, Shannon Wild created a special Adventures of Pili charity bracelet to support Little Explorer, Big World™. Half of each purchase helped fund the project, while every bracelet was tied to the donation of a children’s book and the planting of a tree in Colombia—uniting conservation, education, and creativity in a wonderfully tangible way.

Brian Boom, Ph.D. · United States

Botanist and Curator Emeritus at the New York Botanical Garden, Brian Boom has devoted his career to plant science, conservation, and tropical botany. He supported Little Explorer, Big World™ by writing the foreword to Strange Flowers, sharing his scientific expertise, and recording educational videos that helped young readers better understand the extraordinary plants featured in the book.

Enzo De Rosa · Canada

Italian pianist and composer Enzo De Rosa helped give Little Explorer a musical voice by elevating Kike’s original song, Un recuerdo para el mañana—the official song of Little Explorer, Big World™—into a seven-minute composition for piano, violin, and cello. Through his artistry and creative partnership, Enzo transformed a simple melody into a richer musical piece that became part of the project’s emotional identity.

Anne-Isabelle Bonifassi · Haiti

Executive Director of Haiti National Trust, Anne-Isabelle Bonifassi has been personally involved in helping Little Explorer, Big World™develop French–Creole books featuring the remarkable species of Haiti and Hispaniola. Through her guidance, local knowledge, and connections with organizations and supporting brands, she has helped turn those books into meaningful educational actions and extend their distribution into remote communities across Haiti.

Alicia Campastro · Argentina

In Memoriam

Musician and educator Alicia Campastro played a deeply meaningful role in shaping the musical side of Little Explorer. She helped transcribe Kike’s original song, Un recuerdo para el mañana—first created for his daughter Pili and later adopted as the official song of Little Explorer, Big World™—and generously shared ideas for integrating music into the project, including educational content for Water Girl: The Girl Who Saved the Planet. She also created a series of simple piano lessons offered as free educational content on our YouTube channel, helping children discover music in an accessible and joyful way. Her creativity, kindness, and belief in the project remain part of its story.

Sari Mira · United States

Storyteller at the Arab American National Museum, Sari Mira helped Little Explorer reach new audiences by presenting The Adventures of Pili in New York in an English–Arabic storytime. Through her voice and cultural connection, she helped our stories cross language barriers and introduced the Little Explorer, Big World™ mission to children and families in a meaningful new way.

Jean Decort · Panama

Panamanian designer Jean Carlos Quijano, creator of Jean Decort, draws inspiration from the culture, colors, and biodiversity of Panama. He created a special piece for Little Explorer, Big World™, contributing his distinctive artistic vision and helping connect fashion, creativity, and cultural identity with the project’s mission.

Panamanian artist and designer Jean Decort,
holding the special piece he created for Little Explorer, Big World™.

Lesia Dashko · Ukraine

Ukrainian translator Lesia Dashko helped expand Little Explorer, Big World™’s bilingual mission by translating The Adventures of Pili in Colombia into Ukrainian. After the war began, her work became part of a broader effort to distribute free digital books to children and families in Ukraine, using stories and language as a small source of connection, learning, and hope during an extraordinarily difficult time.

Anelia Slavova · Bulgaria

Anelia Slavova supported Little Explorer, Big World™ by writing the foreword to Fire Girl: The Girl Who Saved Traditions and helping connect the project with the iconic Surva Festival in Pernik. Through that partnership, hundreds of bilingual books reached children in remote communities across Bulgaria, helping preserve cultural traditions while expanding access to stories and learning.

Bill Vantine · United States

A lifelong reader, former aerospace executive, intrepid traveler, and devoted advocate for young readers, Bill Vantine helped conceptually co-create and support the production of Little Explorer, Big World™’s three-book A Book of Animals series. His curiosity, generosity, and belief in the importance of reading—captured in his mantra, “Read what you enjoy—but just read”—helped bring the series to life.

Ron Haviv · United States

Photojournalist and VII Photo Agency co-founder Ron Haviv has spent his career documenting conflict, human rights, and communities around the world. As a Dragonfly Ambassador, he helped carry the Little Explorer, Big World™ mission into the field by bringing our books to an orphanage in Rwanda, sharing stories and curiosity with children far from our traditional reach.

Orphanage in Uganda. Photo Courtesy Ron Haviv for Little Explorer, Big World™

Antonio Lobo-Guerrero · Colombia

Historian and social-project evaluator Antonio Lobo-Guerrero has devoted years to rural and Indigenous initiatives. Through his knowledge, generosity, and connections, he has helped Little Explorer, Big World™ reach communities and build meaningful partnerships.

Mario Saldaña · Panama

Panamanian artist Mario Saldaña is known for vibrant paintings celebrating the pollera, nature, and the cultural traditions of Panama. Through his generosity and art, he contributed original work to support Little Explorer, Big World™, helping bring creativity, culture, and visual storytelling into our mission.

Panamanian artist Mario Saldaña, holding the special
piece he created for Little Explorer, Big World™.

Lisa LaPointe · United States

Photographer, naturalist, captain, and photography instructor Lisa LaPointe travels the world sharing her passion for nature and wild places. As a Dragonfly Ambassador, she carried Little Explorer, Big World™ books all the way to the Gobi Desert, helping our stories reach children in one of the world’s most extraordinary landscapes.

Gobi Desert. Photo Lisa LaPointe for Little Explorer, Big World™.

Juan Pablo Crespo · Colombia / Spain

Born in Colombia and now based in Seville, Juan Pablo Crespo was one of the early office assistants behindLittle Explorer, Big World™. During the project’s formative years, he contributed ideas, administrative support, and extensive research, helping build many of the foundations that allowed a small emerging project to grow and move its mission forward.

Carolina Villegas · Amazon Region, Colombia

Photographer Carolina Villegas has maintained a deep connection with the Amazon since her first journeys there in the 1990s. She regularly brings educational materials to children in communities along the Atacuari, Loretoyacu, and Amazon rivers, helping stories reach places far beyond conventional distribution routes.

Walter Carzon · Argentina

Illustrator Walter Carzon helped bring one of Little Explorer, Big World™’s earliest projects, The Adventures of Pili, to life through his distinctive artwork. Beyond illustrating the books, he helped develop Chimichurri, Pili’s loyal companion, and even created a real plush-toy prototype of the character. His experience, creativity, and wisdom about the craft of making books helped shape the series during an important stage in the project’s beginnings.

Did You Know?

Kike once had the idea of sending Chimichurri, one of the few plush prototypes created for The Adventures of Pili, on a journey around the world. The plan was simple: each family would host Chimi for a while, take photos of his adventures, and then pass him on to the next family.

We loved the idea—but Chimi’s journey came to an unexpected end on only the fourth handoff, somewhere in Georgia The family who received him never acknowledged his arrival or passed him along, and the little traveler was never seen again.

We still smile about the dream behind it: one tiny character, traveling from family to family, connecting children around the world through stories and imagination.

Luis Soriano · Biblioburro · Colombia

Luis Soriano created Biblioburro, the traveling library carried on the backs of his donkeys, Alfa and Beto, bringing books to children in rural communities across Colombia’s Caribbean region. His remarkable story has inspired children’s books of its own and perfectly embodies the spirit of the Dragonfly Ambassadors™: taking stories wherever children are waiting to discover them. Luis also wrote the foreword to Nighthawk: The Tale of a Flightless Mosquito, a story Kike first wrote at age ten as a school project, and has helped Little Explorer, Big World™ distribute books in remote communities.

Luis Soriano sharing Little Explorer, Big World™ books with children in a rural community in Colombia.

Adek Guainora · Panama

Indigenous Emberá-Wounaan artist Adek Guainora draws inspiration from the landscapes, wildlife, colors, and cultural traditions of his native Darién. He generously contributed original artwork to the early creative world of Little Explorer, Big World™, bringing Indigenous perspective, art, and a deep connection to nature into the project.

Piece created by Indigenous Emberá-Wounaan artist Adek Guainora.

With Gratitude to Our Supporters

We are also deeply grateful to the donors and supporters whose generosity has helped make this work possible and allowed our stories to travel farther.

Pamela and Edward Taft were among the very first supporters of Little Explorer, Big World™, believing in the project when it was still finding its wings and giving Kike the encouragement and support that helped us lift a little higher. They opened their home to Kike, generously shared their network, and helped connect him with an opportunity to present the project as a keynote in Los Altos. Their kindness, trust, and early belief in what we were trying to build have never been forgotten. Both remain deeply appreciated and respected by all of us at Little Explorer, Big World™.

David and the WordPress.com Design Team

At a moment when we were struggling to find the right visual direction for Little Explorer, Big World™, David and the WordPress.com design team stepped in to help shape our website while Kike was working in the field. Their creativity, guidance, and attention to detail elevated the way our project is presented to the world. We are especially grateful for the extra care they took to make us look our best and for the genuine support they showed for our mission.