Welcome aboard — and thanks for being curious enough to check out what this whole Captain PillowBelly thing is about.
Right now, we’re deep in the middle of one of the most exciting (and honestly, terrifying) phases of our journey:
The launch.
Or rather… the almost-launch.
In just a few short weeks, we’ll be releasing our very first Captain PillowBelly children’s book — and it still feels a bit unreal to type that.
What Is Captain PillowBelly?
At its heart, Captain PillowBelly is a series of cozy bedtime stories about a cuddly koala who sails around the world on his ship, the Beluga. Each book is inspired by places we’ve actually visited as a family — from Vietnam to Switzerland, from Japan to Chile — turned into sweet, imaginative stories for young readers.
Captain PillowBelly doesn’t just visit countries.
He learns how to say hello in different languages.
He tries new foods.
He explores nature and cities.
He meets kind, funny, curious new friends (just like our own kids have over the years).
And most of all — he always finds time for a nap.
These are gentle, happy, bedtime-friendly adventures — designed to spark curiosity about the world, while also helping kids wind down and feel safe before sleep.
Turning Our Travels into Stories
We’ve been lucky to live and travel as a family in many places — and over time, our bedtime routine became full of “made-up” stories based on real-life adventures.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa became a playground.
A hike in the Vietnamese countryside became a jungle expedition.
A cup of tea in Istanbul became a magical moment shared with a friend.
Eventually, those stories became a character.
That character became a series.
And that series became Captain PillowBelly.
Where We Are Right Now
We’re currently working on the final touches for the very first book in the series — and if we’re being honest, we’re both excited and a little bit scared.
Here’s what we’re feeling:
- What if no one buys it?
- What if the reviews aren’t kind?
- What if we work so hard and… it just disappears into the digital void?
We’ve read that Amazon’s algorithm depends a lot on early momentum — especially getting reviews within the first two weeks. And that’s scary when you’re starting from scratch, with no big publisher behind you, and no marketing team. Just a small crew (that’s us!) and a boatload of stories.
How We’re Handling the Nerves
Here’s what we’re learning to remind ourselves of, especially in this pre-launch phase:
- Every book starts as a tiny idea — and it’s normal to be nervous.
- The first readers are the most special ones — they’re the ones who help us grow.
- Small steps matter — even if only five families love the first book, that’s already a beautiful win.
- Showing up every day is the only way forward — whether it’s writing, posting, or formatting one more page.
We’re choosing to focus not on what we can’t control (algorithms, reviews, sales)…
But on what we can:
- Creating beautiful stories
- Publishing them with care
- Staying consistent
- And always keeping the magic of bedtime at the center of what we do
What’s Coming Soon
The very first Captain PillowBelly book is nearly ready to set sail.
It features one of our favorite places — with colorful illustrations, sweet surprises, and a simple story your little ones can enjoy again and again. It’s designed for ages 2–6, but honestly, we’ve heard from plenty of slightly older kids (and parents!) who love them just as much.
We’re planning to release a new story every week — building a global collection of adventures, one bedtime at a time.
You’ll soon be able to:
- Browse our books on Amazon
- Download free printable story maps
- Explore where Captain PillowBelly has been
- And maybe even grab some pajamas or plush toys in the future (yes, we’re working on that too!)
Thank You For Being Here
If you’re reading this — especially before the first book is even live — we just want to say thank you.
We’re still learning, building, and figuring this out as we go. But we believe in the magic of bedtime stories, the importance of gentle curiosity, and the power of shared moments with our kids.
And if Captain PillowBelly can bring your family even one peaceful night, one giggle, one curious question about another part of the world — then this will have all been worth it.
Thanks for coming aboard.
– The PillowBelly Family
Captain Pillowbelly's Adventures 