'Mrs. Lunch' comes to Colusa

Burchfield Primary School students like story books and pop-ups.

And even though the youngest students visiting with popular children's book author Vivian Walsh in Colusa this week were too young to understand that real people are behind cartoons, they've probably all seen the animated 45-minute-long Christmas television special based on Walsh's most popular book, "Olive the Other Reindeer."

Walsh, who lives in San Francisco, has inspired children for nearly two decades with characters like "Chongo Chingi," an irresistible little penguin with big dreams, and "Mr. Lunch," who, like Olive, was based on her own beloved Jack Russell Terrier.

Walsh also runs a successful summer program to help guide the talent of young emerging authors.

"I've always challenged and pushed myself to come up with story ideas," said Walsh, at a special assembly at City Hall. "Then things start to happen. I can be walking my dog or washing my hands and a good idea comes to me. It's pay off for all my hard work."

Walsh started writing 19 years ago after giving up a career in journalism.

"I got bored with a job where I had to deal with facts," she said. "You can't be a spy or fly into space in a rocket ship."

With the encouragement of a friend, book author Lane Smith, Walsh let her imagination lead her on a successful path as an author, publishing 10 successful books for children 3-to-8-years-old.

The character of her first books, "Mr. Lunch Takes a Plane Ride," published in 1993 and "Mr. Lunch Borrows a Canoe," published in 1994, was based on a Jack Russell Terrier named Dexter.

Her most recent book, "June and August," published in 2009, is a story about a snake and elephant who spend the day together and find they have much in common.

Walsh read exerts of her books to Burchfield students on Tuesday, and explained how the books were printed.

In turn, Walsh students answered questions about their own interests and ideas.

"It helps me figure out what kids like," Walsh said, after the assembly. "There is a lot more involved than flying to New York and taking to an editor. Kids are my inspiration. They let me know what they want to read."

Burchfield Librarian April Kraft said students enjoyed meeting with Walsh and were able to obtain autographed copies of her book.

It's the sort of special event, centered around encouraging children to read, the school tries to bring to students at least once a year.

"This exposes them to the authors of the books that they read in our library," Kraft said. "They are always very excited about that."

Walsh's books are available at most book stores and online.

"Olive the Other Reindeer," with the voices of Drew Barrymore, as Olive; Ed Asner, as Santa; Peter MacNicol, as Fido; and Jay Mohr, as Tim, is available on DVD.