Sam Machado is an artist, cartoonist, and writer whose work explores identity, politics, and social justice issues. With his wife Cynthia Sousa Machado, Sam creates a range of illustrations and artistic work, including the cartoons "I Got This" and "If I Don’t Get Pants." Sam and Cynthia's editorial cartoons have been found in the Guardian, The New Republic and Redbook and their webcomic Cyberbunk can be found on Webtoon. Sam lives and illustrates in Miami, FL.
Happy has lived at the Bronx Zoo for most of her 48 years, and for more than a decade has remained largely isolated and lonely. Like all elephants, Happy has a complex mind and a deep social, intellectual, and emotional life; she desires to make choices and has a sense of self-recognition. But like all nonhuman animals, Happy is considered a thing in the eye of the law, with no fundamental rights. Due to a series of groundbreaking legal cases, however, this is beginning to change—and Happy’s liberation is at the forefront.