Nicoletta Costa facts for kids

Nicoletta Costa, born in 1953, is an Italian writer, artist, and cartoonist. She is well-known for creating books for children. She created popular characters like Olga the Cloud and Julian Rabbit.

Costa's drawings have a special style with clear shapes and bright colors. She has won many awards, including the Andersen Prize [it] three times. Her books have been translated into several languages, such as English, Spanish, and Japanese.

An animated TV show based on Costa's Julian Rabbit (Giulio Coniglio) started on Rai YoYo on September 29, 2017. Nicoletta Costa is one of the most published children's book authors in Italy. Her characters, Olga the Cloud and Julian Rabbit, are very popular with Italian children. Olga the Cloud has been a big success worldwide since the early 1980s. This includes places like China, Russia, Spain, and the United States.

Another TV show based on Costa's characters, called Nina & Olga, started on RAI in the spring of 2021. This show is about Olga the Cloud.

About Nicoletta Costa

Nicoletta Costa was born in Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy, in 1953. She loved drawing from a young age. When she was twelve, she illustrated her first book, called Il pesciolino piccolo. This book was first published in Trieste.

Her Education and Career Start

In 1978, Costa earned a degree in architecture from the University of Venice. After graduating, she worked in her father's office. Costa enjoyed her job, but she soon realized her true passion was writing and illustrating children's books. So, after publishing several children's books, she decided to follow her passion.

Costa began her career as an illustrator two years after finishing college. She has now illustrated and written hundreds of children's books.

Collaborations and Projects

Costa has also worked with different companies to create stationery, toys, and clothes. She worked with UNICEF to illustrate Christmas cards. She also designed baby clothes for Benetton. Costa has even worked with the Italian supermarket chain Coop. Her characters, especially Olga the Cloud, have appeared on Coop's baby products.

A TV show based on Costa's character Julian Rabbit started on Rai YoYo in 2017. Julian Rabbit was already well-known in Italy. After the TV show came out, the character became even more loved by children. Julian Rabbit appears in Costa's books, like Julian Rabbit and the Chicks. He is also the main character of a play written by Costa. This play first appeared in 2010 and was very popular. It returned to Italian theaters the next year.

Nicoletta Costa still lives and works in her hometown of Trieste.

Nicoletta Costa's Works

Costa's drawing style is easy to recognize. It uses smooth lines, black outlines, bright colors, and happy characters. She has created over 400 books.

Popular Characters

Her most famous characters include:

• Olga the Cloud (La nuvola Olga)
• Blue Bear (Orso Blu)
• Catherine the Goose (L'oca Caterina)
• Theodora the Witch (La strega Teodora)
• John the Tree (L'albero Giovanni)
• Margaret the Teacher (La maestra Margherita)
• Mr Kite (Il signor Aquilone)
• Julian Rabbit (Giulio Coniglio)

Olga the Cloud appeared in Costa's sketches when she was in college. Olga is a cloud who lets go of rain she cannot hold.

Julian Rabbit is the main character of the TV show on Rai YoYo. He is described as a bit shy and awkward. However, he loves to be with his friends. He is scared of water and darkness, but he is good at making friends. Around him, there is a group of friends, like any group of kids. There is the awkward kid, the bully, and the know-it-all. Each one has a special personality that kids can easily relate to.

Speaking about the TV show, which teaches about helping each other, Costa has said: "Julian the Rabbit's stories teach kids that you get things done only with the help of friends." Julian Rabbit's stories started in books, then became a play, and later a TV show. In 2014, a magazine about Julian Rabbit reached its 100th issue. In 2018, Julian Rabbit's stories were published in 25 coloring books with stickers. These were sold with the newspaper Repubblica for 25 weeks.

New TV Series and Educational Books

After Julian Rabbit, another TV show based on Costa's characters is now on RAI. The show, called Nina & Olga, focuses on Olga the Cloud. It was released in the spring of 2021.

Costa has also created books that teach the alphabet. She uses her unique style in these books. Italian teachers especially like these books. Costa's books are often used to help kids learn to read in Italy. They have also been used for this purpose in other countries, like in the Italo-American community in Chicago, United States.

Awards and Recognition

Nicoletta Costa has received many awards for her work. These include the Andersen Prize in 1989, 1994, and 2010.

See also

In Spanish: Nicoletta Costa para niños