Ian Falconer's pig heroine Olivia, fresh from the success of her second picture book, Olivia Saves the Circus (Atheneum/Schwartz, Oct.), will be featured in two board books set for publication next June. The two board books, Olivia's Opposites and Olivia Counts, will have the same simple color scheme as the previous Olivia books, and will include both new and previously seen artwork. Each will have a first printing of 150,000 copies and will retail for $6.99.
Since publication in fall 2000, Olivia, which was a Caldecott Honor Book, has sold over 600,000 copies in 14 printings and has spent more than a year on children's bestseller lists. This fall's follow-up title, Olivia Saves the Circus, is currently in its sixth printing, with over 300,000 copies sold. Its publication was supported with an event kit that went to 2,000 stores and a floor dispay that was shipped to 2,250 stores.
In other Olivia news, FAO Schwarz (the property's exclusive toy retailer) has sold out of its supply of two kinds of Olivia dolls. However, the dolls will be back in stock after the New Year—when Olivia will be featured in FAO's Valentine's Day windows. Falconer also created the cover art for the store's holiday catalogue this year.
