FRUITS AND KNOWLEDGE TURNED INTO A BRAND AND THE HIGH PRICE OF EXTINCTION TO BE PAID.
In the heart of the Amazon is an inspiring story that takes the young reader into an adventure that alerts to the importance of being aware about the richness of the diversity in the world they live in and the responsibility we all have as human beings to watch over the natural integrity of the planet we call home.

Animal trafficking is a terrible thing, now imagine what it is like to traffic plants and the knowledge of indigenous peoples simply for capitalist and unscrupulous purposes.
Imagine someone registering the name banana, turning it into a brand and anyone who wanted to use the name banana would have to pay a fee. No one could trade the fruit without paying a fee to the owner of that name.
Unfortunately, this is a reality and it’s called biopiracy. This is the scenario young German Hans faces when his parents arrive in Brazil from Germany to set up an NGO in Manaus – the capital of Brazilian State Amazon – and teach music to children and teenagers.
The German boy finds a culture that is quite different from his own and while taken over by the biodiversity in the forest Hans ends up learning that several species of animals are at risk of extinction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Manuel Filho (http://manuelfilho.wixsite.com/manuel-filho) is an author, actor, singer, filmmaker, public speaker, the designer of and lecturer in a Literature Writing Workshop program that travels Brazil fostering literature to children and teens. He’s had more than 40 books published, has been awarded with the Jabuti Prize – Brazil’s most important award in literature – for the book In the heart of the Amazon.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Anthony Mazza (https://www.behance.net/annmazza) is self-taught. He illustrated his first book at age 18. Anthony is also a cartoonist and is producing a comic book in partnership wih the Italian publisher Oblomov Edizioni.