Celebrating the life of acclaimed children's book author and illustrator, Ian Falconer, creator of Olivia.
In a sad turn of events, the author and illustrator of the beloved Olivia book series, Ian Falconer, passed away on March 7, 2023, at the age of 63.
Falconer's creation, Olivia, the energetic piglet, has captured the hearts of countless children and adults alike since the publication of the first book in the series, simply titled "Olivia," in 2000. The book was inspired by Falconer's niece and quickly became a critical success.
The book received the Caldecott Honor in 2001, recognising its distinguished illustrations. It also won the Parent's Choice Gold Award in 2000 and was named one of the Nick Jr. Best Books of 2001. Furthermore, it appeared on several "best books" lists such as the American Library Association (ALA) Notable Children's Books in 2000 and 2001, the Los Angeles Times Best Books of 2000 & 2001, and Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2000 & 2001.
Over the years, Falconer wrote a total of eight books in the Olivia series, each one as beloved as the last. "Olivia Forms a Band," "Olivia the Spy," "Olivia and the Fairy Princesses," "Olivia Helps with Christmas," and "Olivia Goes to Venice" are just a few titles that have added to the series' charm.
The acclaim extends to adaptations. The Olivia TV series, based on the books, won a silver Parents' Choice Award for its positive storylines and characters. The character's popularity was also affirmed by the U.S. Postal Service issuing "Favorite Children's Book Animals" stamps featuring Olivia in 2006.
In addition to the Olivia series, Falconer wrote a book called "Two Dogs," published in 2022, which is not part of the Olivia series.
Born in Ridgefield, Connecticut on August 25, 1959, Falconer studied art history at New York University and painting at the Parsons School of Design in New York before completing his degree at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. He designed thirty covers for the New Yorker magazine.
The photo source for this article is Simon & Schuster. The news source for the article is the New York Times on March 8, 2023.
[1] Falconer, I. (2000). Olivia. Simon & Schuster. [2] Olivia (TV series). (2007). Silver Parents' Choice Award. Parents' Choice Foundation.
Read also:
- Urban Tales: Winged Hedgehogs and Gridiron Mascots Highlight Our Legendary Series on TGC+!
- Amidst India's escalating climate crisis, transgender individuals continue to persevere
- Love, Work, and Friendship Harmonies between Aries Signs
- In New York, a previously vegan restaurant has resumed offering meat in its menu.
