Gilad Soffer was born in New York in 1968. He holds degrees in Psychology and Visual Communication and is a graduate of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Israel’s premier art institute. He has illustrated critically acclaimed books, including three by David Grossman –JONATHAN THE EFFECTIVE DETECTIVE, WHO WANTS A PIGGYBACK? and RACHELI'S SECRET FRIEND ­– as well as Yonathan Yavin’s OH, BROTHER which won the Israel Museum’s Ben Yitzhak Award for children's book illustration. DUCK’S VACATION is Gilad’s first book as both author and illustrator. The book was an instant bestseller in Israel and has received rave reviews.