Ben Sanders shares the joy of doing nothing in Pincho

About Author

Doing nothing IS possible says Pincho, the laid-back capybara who stars in Ben Sanders' new picture book, Pincho: Nothing IS Possible. ReadingZone finds out more.

Ben Sanders hasn't stopped drawing since he was a kid. Decades later he still draws . . . and he's still a kid. Ben lived in the High Andes of Bolivia for several years but his studio can now be found somewhere in Australia. He really dislikes beetroot, so please don't offer him any.

Interview

August 2026

Ben Sanders introduces capybara Pincho in Nothing IS Possible

Life is very chilled for Capybara Pincho who LOVES doing NOTHING - even when a chirpy bird with an abundance of inspirational quotes tries to prove that the real joy is in being busy. But with an unexpected twist in the tale, Pincho proves that doing nothing really IS possible - and fun!

Pincho: Nothing IS Possible: Pincho is a capybara who never hurries and never worries. He is calm. Content. Chill. But today is a new opportunity just waiting to be seized, and one little yellow bird is determined that Pincho will seize it. There will be a to-do list, endless activities, and even a breathtaking escape from the jaws of danger . . . !

"Through colourful illustrations, engaging characters and a clever play on the phrase "nothing IS possible", Sanders delivers an important message about wellbeing, mindfulness and the value of slowing down." - Review by Louise, ReadingZone

Meet capybara Pincho and enjoy a draw-along with Ben Sanders

Q&A with Ben Sanders: Celebrate the joy of being still with Pincho in Nothing IS Possible

"I see Pincho as a life coach who de-motivates us to the point of contentment."

1. Hello Ben, thank you for joining us on ReadingZone. Can you tell us what got you started in picture books and what kinds of picture books do you enjoy creating?

I'd say it all started when I was a kid, reading picture books. Although, my picture book career really began many years later, with a simple poem I wrote after a visit from my Uncle Ivan. He visited me in his van, with personalised number plates - IVAVAN. I thought this was hilarious! I wrote the line "I've an Uncle Ivan, who's drivin' a pie van . . ." Not the best line ever written, but that's the moment I began writing children's books. I've an Uncle Ivan became my first published book and I didn't expect it would lead to so many more.

I like creating humorous picture books. I like them to have some kind of twist, an interesting plot and a memorable character. If the story isn't funny, I can't write it. If the characters are too complex, I can't draw them. If I can't include a twist, I'm not interested. I have probably painted myself into a corner.

2. What happens (or doesn't happen!) in Nothing Is Possible?

Well, as far as Pincho is concerned, NOTHING should happen, but a plucky little bird has other plans for Pincho's day. No matter how hard the bird tries to motivate and cajole Pincho into doing ANYTHING, he still does NOTHING. In the end, the tiniest gesture from Pincho saves the day. The book is action-packed, but from Pincho's point of view, not much actually happens.

3. Do you enjoy creating animal characters? Why did you feel a capybara would be the perfect character for this story?

Capybaras are famously contented and chill. Unbothered. That is why they have such a following. People love their relaxed attitude. They are the antidote to an over-stimulated, over-motivated, stressed-out world. Maybe the character could have been a sloth? But then he would have been perceived to be slow, or even lazy.

No! Pincho is relaxed and mellow. He could buy into the hype, do more, be more, achieve more. But that's not him! He's cool and calm. He doesn't feel the need to tick unnecessary boxes. And that's why Pincho had to be a capybara.

4. Is putting fruit on capybaras' heads really a 'thing' (see above)? What else will children find out about capybaras in the book?

Yes! There is a whole capybara 'thing' going on in Japan. Capybara cafés where you can pat and feed capybaras while they lounge around. Capybaras chill out in pools filled with yuzu fruit. You can put fruit on them and they are unfazed. That's what makes them so likeable.

There's actually lots of things that are peculiar to capybaras, which is why there are several pages at the start of the book that introduce us to the unusual lifestyle of the world's largest rodent. So, unless you're already a capybara expert, you are likely to learn more about the chill-est of all the animals.

5. We love the bird's hilarious self-help, aspirational quotes. What gave you the idea to include these? And is there one piece of advice that you would actually take into your own life?

The character and the quotes came BEFORE the story, actually. I see Pincho as a life coach who de-motivates us to the point of contentment. He's the antidote to the "Greatness is not born, it is made", "All in or nothing" and "Impossible is nothing" mantras that you see in advertising, on gym shirts, designed to make you feel like a failure if you're not "seizing the day", or constantly working towards some unattainable goal. So, I flipped it on its head with "Nothing IS Possible" and all the other de-motivational lines that sum up Pincho's laid-back and friendly attitude.

"Happiness is loving what you're doing (especially if you're doing nothing)." is the quote I can identify with the most. You have to love what you're doing, of course. That makes sense. But how great is it when you can be happy just doing NOTHING! There's not a lot of people who are comfortable with actually doing nothing.

6. Lots of the humour in the story stems from the little bird's attempts to get Pincho to follow a long 'to do' list, contrasted with what the reader sees actually happen. What's your favourite moment?

I have always found the idea of a Laughter Journal hilarious. The bird is soooo frustrated with Pincho not using it that she angrily screams at the top of her lungs, "Take laughter more seriously! Laughter is no laughing matter!"

My favourite page, though, is Pincho being asked to greet the morning with a BIG smile. It takes him so long to muster up a tiny grin that the bird loses patience with Pincho, and decides it's a waste of time. But Pincho is not in a hurry.

7. Are capybaras challenging to draw?

Pincho is a very simple set of shapes. Like most of my characters, there are minimal components to work with. Pincho is two rounded rectangles that connect to make the head and body. A few sticks for legs and some circular shapes to make eyes and nostrils. The focus is the eyes. You can read his mind by looking at his eyes, and his little smirk. I try to simplify the character's shapes to maximise the character's character.

8. Other than a funny story, what would you like children - and their parents! - to take from Nothing is Possible?

Nothing.

9. Do you have any other picture books on the go - and are there any more plans for Pincho? Where do you create your stories?

I always have more picture books on the go. I can't talk about all of them, but there are more Clive Penguin stories that Huw Lewis Jones and I have been working on. Clive Penguin is in need of a hug in his next advanture. Hopefully I can create more adventures for Agent Harrier sometime too.

There are plans for Pincho, of course, but I have some of the projects mentioned above to create first. I enjoy the variety and switching from world to world. By the time I get back around to the next Pincho project I'll be very excited and ready to go!

10. What kinds of 'nothing' do you, like Pincho, enjoy not doing in your spare time?

I don't set an alarm in the morning. I don't have unnecessary goals. I stopped making New Year's resolutions years ago. Funny though, because I achieve lots, I create books and I do plenty of enjoyable things. I drink coffee on my deck. I talk to friends and family. I get bored and enjoy it. I love to travel. But I'm happy to miss out on things that other people are doing. I don't suffer from FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), but I have a bad case of JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out).

School Visits by Ben Sanders: I enjoy school visits, mostly around the region I live in Australia. I start with a reading or two, and my favourite part is live drawing with the help of students. It's unpredictable, but so much fun!

About Author

Interview

Author's Titles