Kikkerland Jumping Bugs Miss Tanaka
1503  Chico Bicalho was born in Rio de Janeiro and studied at an elementary school where the football field had trees throughout, because the school was against cutting them down. Later he moved to Petropolis, RJ, an area surrounded by the South Atlantic tropical rainforest. He believes in having a spiritual life, in freedom, and in peace. He supports the theory that the earth is one living thing and feels that humans should understand nature, live with nature, and be equal to nature. He received a BFA in sculpture from RISD and MFA in photography NYU. Since 1995, he has been working with a group of friends on reforestation projects replanting native South Atlantic tropical rain forest trees. Chico lives in Rio with his wife, a graphic designer / industrial designer called Isabella Torquato. He wants to keep traveling, making art, and planting trees. Isabella Torquato is an industrial designer and advertising art director living in Rio de Janeiro. Isabella designs from her mythical, ecological aura and firm attitude towards life. In the Fall 2004, Chico Bicalho and Isabella Torquato introduced three delightful Jumping Insects of the Brazilian Rainforest (each complete with its imaginative story) from the memories of their childhoods in Brazil. Legend has it that Miss Tanaka is a dragonfly found in the mountainous rainforests of southern Brazil. She has iridescent, golden wings and a bright blue tummy. She likes to hop from plant to plant on small ponds- just as the sun is getting warm and the water lily flowers are beginning to open. Legend also has it that the other bugs of the forest fall in love with her. To help Miss Tanaka take flight, press her down against a smooth, clean surface until the suction cup on the bottom grabs on to it. Wait a few seconds, and, as the suction cup releases, Miss Tanaka flies off to another place. Please make sure you stay away from Miss Tanaka's flight path as she hops. Keep in mind Miss Tanaka's wings are quite delicate. Designed b