Ian Falconer, author of the children’s book Olivia, has died.

Falconer’s Olivia books feature a smart, imaginative little pig named Olivia, a character she created for her young granddaughter in 1996.

NORWALK, Connecticut. Author and illustrator Ian Woodward Falconer, best known for his Olivia series of children’s books, has passed away.

Falconer’s attorney and agent, Conrad M. Rippy, said Falconer died of natural causes Tuesday while staying with his family in Norwalk, Connecticut. He was 63 years old.

Falconer’s Olivia books feature an imaginative, smart little pig named Olivia, a character he created for his young granddaughter in 1996. He was encouraged by family members and friends to continue working on the character.

He rejected publishers who wanted the text to be written by an outside writer. “I’m afraid my vanity won’t let me classify myself as ‘illustrated’,” she said.

The first book in the series, titled Olivia, was released in 2000. It remained on the New York Times bestseller list for over a year, won a Caldecott Honor, and sold over 10 million copies.

He has written and illustrated seven sequels, most recently Olivia the Spy in 2017.

In 2022, he released a new children’s book called Two Dogs. She told National Public Radio last year that the characters, a pair of dachshunds named Perry and Augie, were inspired by her grandchildren.

Falconer has also been a production and costume designer for ballet and opera companies around the world, including numerous productions of the New York City Ballet. He also created 30 magazine covers for the New Yorker.

Born August 25, 1969 in Ridgefield, Connecticut, Falconer studied art history at New York University for two years before joining the Parsons School of Design as an artist. He moved to the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles and began working with artist David Hockney, helping him with his theater projects.

Falconer is survived by his mother Sandy and sisters Tonya and Tori, as well as grandchildren Olivia, Jan, August, Perry and Will.

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