Mack van Gageldonk is an author, graphic designer, and illustrator from the Netherlands. He was educated at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, where he began drawing funny and educational cartoons about animals. Mack is a regular illustrator at the Royal Zoo of Rotterdam and is the author of several children’s books, in which animals often are the lead characters.

Sometimes the desire to play is more important than anything else that needs to be done in a day.Billy the elephant just wants to play with his friends although his mother wants him to have his lunch. Friend after friend that Billy encounters wants to play but first, they want to eat. Eventually Billy heads home to his waiting mommy. VERDICT: Meeting young children right where they are, this title encourages a healthy balance in daily living. Endearing illustrations.– John Scott; School Library Journal Reviews