About the Series
The Story Behind the Stories
Felipe & Macio’s (pronounced “Mah-see-oh”) Adventures began the way all the best stories do—with a real adventure.
In Spring 2025, our family took a trip from Phoenix, Arizona to Europe. We visited Amsterdam, Paris, and London. Our son Felipe—9 years old at the time—brought his favorite stuffed elephant, Macio, along for the ride. Macio has been Felipe’s constant companion since he was 2 years old.
Watching Felipe experience the world with Macio by his side—showing Macio the view from the airplane window, tucking him into hotel beds—we set out to capture every one of these moments. Truth is, the kids had decided before we even left Phoenix that this trip should become a book — not just photos, but stories other children could share.
Each book in the series follows the real journey our family took, told through Felipe’s eyes. The wonder of his first trip to Europe. The thrill of a high-speed train. The taste of a fresh stroopwafel. The comfort of having your best friend—even a stuffed one—right there beside you.
These books are for every child who dreams of exploring the world, and for every parent who wants to share the magic of travel with their kids.
About Five Explorers Press
Five Explorers Press is a family publishing project based in Phoenix, Arizona. The name comes from our five-person family — two parents and three kids: Felipe, Sofia, and Isabel.
Felipe & Macio’s Adventures is our first series, built around a real Spring Break trip we took from Phoenix to Amsterdam, Paris, and London. The story is told through the eyes of 9-year-old Felipe, who brought his floppy gray stuffed elephant, Macio, along for the ride. Along with big sisters Sofia (12) and Isabel (17), Felipe rode trains under the English Channel, climbed the Eiffel Tower, slept in a 100-year-old church-turned-hotel, and watched the King’s Guard at Buckingham Palace.
What you’re reading wouldn’t exist without Isabel. Across every leg of the trip she kept a meticulous travel journal on her phone — every place, every train, every meal, every funny thing Felipe said. When we got home to write the books, her notes became the spine of every chapter. Sofia helped fill in the moments Isabel missed and reminded us which details Felipe and Macio were most excited about. Without those two, Felipe’s story would’ve stayed in our heads. Now it’s a series.
Every place, every meal, every train, every “wait, look at that!” really happened. We started writing because the wonder in our kids’ eyes wasn’t just about the famous landmarks — it was about everything. We wanted to bottle that feeling and share it with other families who dream of exploring the world together.
We believe travel is the best classroom, and that every journey — whether halfway around the world or just down the road — is an adventure worth telling.
Meet the Real Macio
Macio is the Portuguese word for “soft” — a perfect name for the floppiest, most lovingly under-stuffed elephant in Phoenix. (Pronounced “Mah-see-oh.”)
Yes, Macio is real! He’s a well-loved, floppy gray stuffed elephant who has been on every single adventure in this series. He’s a little worn, a little understuffed, and absolutely perfect. On this Spring Break trip alone he visited 3 countries, flew on 4 airplanes (Phoenix → San Francisco → London → Amsterdam outbound, then a direct London → Phoenix home), rode 2 high-speed trains, took a ferry (and rode it back and forth more times than anyone counted), and served as co-captain with Felipe of an electric boat through the canals of Giethoorn — that boat shows up in Book 2. And before any of this, Macio had already been to Singapore and Brazil with Felipe. By now, he’s done more things than most elephants ever will.