Costa, Nicoletta

Nicoletta Costa (Italian pronunciation: [nikoˈletta ˈkɔsta]; born 1953) is an Italian writer, illustrator and cartoonist, famous for her works of children's literature. She is the creator of characters Olga the Cloud and Julian Rabbit. Costa is renowned for her distinctive drawing style, distinguished by "characterized forms and bright colours." She is the recipient of many awards, including three Andersen Prizes. Her books have been translated into several languages, including English, Spanish, and Japanese. An animated TV series, based on Costa's Giulio Coniglio and authored by Costa, debuted on Rai YoYo on September 29, 2017. Costa is one of the most published authors of children's books in Italy. Her characters Olga the Cloud and Julian Rabbit (Giulio coniglio) are considered two of the most popular characters among Italian children today, alongside Pimpa and Peppa Pig. It has been stated that Olga the Cloud was "a worldwide editorial success since its conception [in the early 1980s], not only in Italy, but allover the world, particularly China, Russia, Spain, and the United States." After Julian Rabbit, another TV series by Costa is currently in production. Nina & Olga, centered on Costa's Olga the Cloud, is set to debut on RAI in the spring of 2021.