"Back when Ian Falconer's Olivia was published in 2000, it was evident that the headstrong, creative piglet at its center was based on a real little girl. In interviews, Falconer-a set designer and illustrator for the New Yorker-referred to his niece, also named Olivia, as the inspiration for his character, who went on to appear in almost a dozen books and a hit TV series. Twenty-five years later, I found the real Olivia, Olivia Falconer Crane, no longer a precocious little girl but a grown-up natural resource technician."
"I was the first grandchild on my mother's side, so I was the first niece or nephew for Ian Falconer. He is quoted saying, "Children are like piglets in that they're so clever and smart," although he is also privately, to the family, quoted saying that when I was little, I had an upturned nose, like a little piglet, which I did. Originally, all these little paintings were put together as a present for me, when I was about 3 years old."
Olivia Falconer Crane was the first grandchild on her mother's side and served as Ian Falconer's early inspiration. Ian created small paintings for her around age three and gifted a princess dress that she treasured while her mother was moved to tears. Ian described children as like piglets and noted Olivia's upturned nose; he later adapted those paintings into the picture book Olivia, published in 2000. Olivia Falconer Crane grew up, separated her own identity from the fictional piglet, and pursued a career as a natural resource technician. Family anecdotes reflect Ian's eccentric gift-giving and his close relationship with his niece.
Read at Slate Magazine
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