Ellen and Ed Zacko met while playing in the orchestra of a New York musical and hatched a scheme, to build a boat in their back yard and see the world.    For more than thirty  years they have sailed  their Nor Sea 27 sloop “Entr’acte”  about the world, crossing the Atlantic four times, the Pacific once and traversing the French Canals from North to South and East to West.  Ed is currently a contributing editor for “Good Old Boat” magazine, writing “How To” articles drawing on his vast sailing knowledge.  When they aren’t sailing, Ellen and Ed are very active Jazz musicians performing in Arizona and throughout Europe. Enjoy this children's sailing book

These courageous adventurers loved what the sea had to teach them.  Each day presented new challenges with problems to solve.   The joy of sailing with the wind at their backs and the world  ahead kept Mike The Moose, Charlie The Bear, Baby G The Gorilla and Bori the Chef on their chosen course..

Robert McKeon (Bob) spent the first half of his life as a full time graphic artist eventually owning his own design studio in 1971. Bob won 11 ADDY Awards regionally and nationally for various clients in outstanding graphic design projects. Among Bob’s accomplishments was co-authoring, illustrating and producing 2 books on bamboo fly rods Best of The Planing Form, volumes 1 & 2 (by R.J. Barch and Robert McKeon). He has also illustrated 2 books for Orvis Outdoor Outfitters: “The Caddisfly Handbook” and “Trout Stream Insects” 

(An Orvis Streamside Guide, by Dick Pobst).  Bob won the 1993 and 2006 Bollinger Award (Outstanding newsletter nationally through Trout Unlimited) while serving as editor for the Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited chapter. Needless to say, one of  Bob’s passions is fly fishing and he’s currently editor of the Desert Fly Casters newsletter in Phoenix.   Reinventing himself in his second life, along with illustrating, Bob and his wife, Margo, are active musicians on the Jazz scene in Phoenix. It was through music that Bob connected with Ed and Ellen Zacko and their “little loved ones.” Believe it or not, Bob was found many times talking to Mike, Charlie, Baby G and Bori while at the drawing board or in front of his computer. Bob says it’s an honor and fun to illustrate these little guys in this first book of Mike and the Boys' adventures.