Vivian Walsh

for the New Zealand aviator, see Vivian Walsh (aviator)

Vivian Walsh 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 special was produced by Matt Groening, creator of the Simpsons.

Biography

Ms. Walsh states that when she lived in New York City, her picture book heroes, like the people around her, 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 rocket ships 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 books 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 who become housemates. In June and August a snake and elephant spend the day together, they don't have anything in common except a fondness of star gazing, and by the end of the book, each other.

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". She inspires children with her books and school visits.

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 (2002), Harcourt Children's Books
• Little Lit: It Was a Dark and Silly Night edited by Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly (2003), Joanna Cotler
• Olive, My Love (2004), Harcourt Children's Books
• June and August (2009), Abrams

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"]

External links

• Personal website
• Vivian Walsh on IMDb