“I NEED IT NOW!”
FALCONER, Ian. Olivia and the Missing Toy. New York: Anne Schwartz-Atheneum, (2003). Slim quarto, original pictorial paper boards, pictorial endpapers, original dust jacket.
First edition of the fifth Olivia book, inscribed in the year of publication on the copyright page, "For dear Chris with love, Ian 11-11-03," and additionally signed on the title page by Falconer.
In an interview with young readers, Falconer was asked if he, as does Olivia, ever had a "best toy" as a child. "Yes," he answered, and I still have it—a little stuffed monkey puppet, which is in my bureau drawer… [It never got lost], but I had another favorite toy—a hand puppet that was made by an aunt of mine. I called it Skrog (it was a cross between a skunk and a frog). It disappeared long ago" (Simon & Schuster).
A fine inscribed copy.