In Memoriam: "Olivia" Author Ian Falconer

Ian Falconer, best known as the illustrator and author of the beloved Olivia children’s book series about a spry and smart young pig, died on Tuesday in Rowayton, Conn. The author, illustrator, theatrical set and costume designer was 63 years old.

Initially created as a Christmas gift in 1996 for Falconer’s then 3-year-old niece Olivia, the first Olivia book was published in 2000.

The author went on to illustrate and write seven sequels, culminating with Olivia the Spy in 2017. The series has sold more than 10 million copies, stayed on the New York Times Bestseller List for over a year, and won numerous awards.

About the Author
Ian Woodward Falconer (August 25, 1959 – March 7, 2023) was an American author and illustrator of children’s books, and a designer of sets and costumes for the theater. He created 30 covers for The New Yorker as well as other publications. Falconer wrote and illustrated the Olivia series of children’s books, chronicling the adventures of a young pig, a series initially conceived as a Christmas gift for his young niece. Born in Ridgefield, Connecticut, Falconer graduated from The Cambridge School of Weston, studied art history at New York University, and studied painting at Parsons School of Design and the Otis Art Institute.

KPL has created a collection in his honor.