Olivia for Christmas

This story originally appeared in Children's Bookshelf on Mar. 23, 2006 Sign up now!

-- Publishers Weekly, 3/23/2006

Atheneum Books for Young Readers will publish Ian Falconer’s next Olivia book, Olivia’s Christmas, in October 2007, with a 500,000-copy first printing. The deal was negotiated by Rick Richter, president and publisher, S&S Children’s Publishing, and Conrad Rippy of Levine Plotkin & Menin, LLP.

Olivia’s Christmas will be co-edited by executive art director Ann Bobco and executive editor Justin Chanda. Falconer’s previous four Olivia picture books were edited by Anne Schwartz under her imprint at S&S; Schwartz most recently worked on Olivia Forms a Band (June) through a special arrangement with S&S after she left to go to Random House.

The book will feature the things Olivia loves most about Christmas: family spirit, decorating, caroling, but mostly the presents. Falconer said in a statement, “I thought it was about time Olivia did Christmas. And of course we all know she will be a big ‘HELP’ to her mother getting through the holiday season!”