Vivian Walsh
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- for the New Zealand aviator, see Vivian Walsh (aviator)
Vivian Walsh (born 1960) is a children's book author. Her best selling book Olive, the Other Reindeer is based on her real life Jack Russell Terrier. The dog, Olive, was later portrayed (with the voice of Drew Barrymore) in the animated version of the picture book. The TV show was produced by Matt Groening, creator of the Simpsons.
Vivian Walsh's deep imagination touches young people. Her books are unconventional, funny and for the more sophisticated reader.
Walsh states that when she lived in New York City, her picture book heroes reflected the ethic of the city; they were all workaholics. The Mr. Lunch series begins with this line, "Mr. Lunch was very good at chasing birds, in fact he was a professional." Mr. Lunch is a hard working dog who runs a bird-chasing office. Monkey Business is about the monkey that was sent into space before humans were sure that the rocketships were safe. This picture book catches up with the monkey when he is a middle-aged industrial mogul.
When Vivian Walsh moved to San Francisco her book took on the theme of a diverse community, of everyone getting along despite their differences. In the book Gluey this ethic extends to a bunny and a snail; the fastest and the slowest animals in the meadow become housemates.
Walsh has collaborated with the illustrator J. Otto Seibold. The two have teamed up on books such as Penguin Dreams, which was considered a New York Times "Best Illustrated Book".
[edit] Books by Vivian Walsh
- Mr. Lunch Takes a Plane Ride (1993), Viking Penguin,
- Mr. Lunch Borrows a Canoe (1994), Viking Penguin
- Monkey Business (1995), Viking Penguin
- Free Lunch (1996), Viking Penguin
- Going to the Getty (1997), Getty Books
- Olive, the Other Reindeer (1997), Chronicle Books
- Penguin Dreams (1999), Chronicle Books
- Gluey: A Snail Tale (2002), Harcourt
- Olive, My Love (2004), Harcourt
- June and August (2009), Abrams
- "It was a Dark and Silly Night" in Little Lit, edited by Art Spiegelman & Francoise Mouly (2003) HarperCollins
[edit] Television
Olive, the Other Reindeer (2003) Fox Films, see IMDb Monkey Business (1993) One minute shorts, Japan, part of a show called "Go Go Dancers"]
