It stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for over a year, was awarded the Caldecott Honor and has sold over 10 million copies. The first book in the series, called “Olivia,” was published in 2000. “I also thought my instincts about the story were, if unpolished, right, and had happened organically with the pictures.” “I am afraid my vanity wouldn’t allow me to relegate myself to ‘illustrated by,’” he said. He turned down publishers who wanted the text be written by an outside author. Family members and friends encouraged him to keep working on the character. Falconer’s “Olivia” books featured a clever piglet with a great imagination named Olivia, a character he developed for his young niece in 1996.įalconer’s “Olivia” books featured a clever piglet with a great imagination named Olivia, a character he developed for his young niece in 1996. Rippy said Falconer died March 7 of natural causes while with family in Norwalk, Connecticut. Author and illustrator Ian Woodward Falconer, known for his “Olivia” book series for children, has died.įalconer’s lawyer and agent Conrad M. She will delight Olivia lovers of all ages. Our doll, dressed in her classic red dress, is full of charm and wit. He wrote and illustrated seven sequels, the last of which was “Olivia the Spy” in 2017.NORWALK, Conn. Olivia is the most famous pig in the world She has a sassy personality and a big imagination, and she has delighted readers for years in the books by Ian Falconer. The first book in the series, called “Olivia,” was published in 2000. Ian Falconer, a wide-ranging artist best known for his picture books about the adventures and antics of Olivia, a bossy, brassy piglet who charmed her way into bestsellerdom, becoming one of.

He was 63.įalconer’s “Olivia” books featured a clever piglet with a great imagination named Olivia, a character he developed for his young niece in 1996. Rippy said Falconer died Tuesday of natural causes while with family in Norwalk, Connecticut. (AP) - Author and illustrator Ian Woodward Falconer, known for his “Olivia” book series for children, has died.įalconer’s lawyer and agent Conrad M.

Olivia by Ian Falconer