Balian, Lorna

Lorna Balian, nee Kohl, was born December 14, 1929 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She studied at the Layton School of Art from 1948-1949 and later worked as an artist at the American Lace Company in Milwaukee and as a freelance artist. In 1964, she illustrated an adaptation of John Godfrey Saxe's poem An Elephant, and in 1965 wrote and illustrated Humbug Witch, a humorous story about a little "witch." Over the next few decades, she published many books, including others with a holiday theme such as Humbug Rabbit (1974), an Easter story, and A Sweetheart for Valentine (1979). Critics have praised her works for their "entertaining illustrations" and "imaginative settings." Lorna Balian's books have a "droll sense of humor" and her plots reflect a "childlike imagination." Lorna Balian's sense of humor also "shines through in imaginative tales based on everyday events" as in The Sweet Touch (1976), the story of a wish and an inexperienced genie that results in too many sweets. Lorna Balian's six children occasionally served as her models and she has worked in a variety of media, including pen and ink, pencil, and watercolor wash. Lorna Balian has received awards for her work including the University of Wisconsin's Little Archer Awards and the Colorado Children's Book Award. Biographical Source: Something About the Author, vol. 91, pp.14-17.

From the guide to the Lorna Balian Papers, 1962-2005, (University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections [clrc])

American author and illustrator of children's books ; winner of the University of Wisconsin's Little Archer Award and the Colorado Children's Book Award.

From the description of Humbug rabbit : production material, ca. 1972-1974. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62680620

From the description of An elephant?: production material, ca. 1962-1964. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62494603

From the description of Leprechauns never lie : production material, ca. 1979-1981. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451465

From the description of Humbug witch : production material, ca. 1964-1984. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62443749

From the description of A sweetheart for Valentine : production material, ca. 1978-1980. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62443755

From the description of Where in the world is Henry? : production material, ca. 1971-1980. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62494605

From the description of I love you Mary Jane : production material, ca. 1965-1970. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62494604

From the description of Papers, 1962-1985 (bulk 1964-1980). (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62443748

From the description of Sometimes it's turkey, sometimes it's feathers : production material, ca. 1971-1973. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62443752

From the description of The aminal : production material, ca. 1967-1973. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62680619

From the description of The sweet touch : production material, ca. 1973-1985. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62680621

From the description of Bah! Humbug? : production material, ca. 1976-1985. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62406049