R.I.P. Lorna Balian, 87, in Dec. 2016 ("Bah! Humbug?" 1977)

[leno...@yahoo.com]

http://www.wdtimes.com/obituaries/article_f0625642-d691-11e6-b3d8-2fccdf2a46e4.html
(with photo)

First half:

"Born Lorna Juanita Kohl in Milwaukee, Lorna attended the Layton School of Art where she met John Balian, a fellow art student. John and Lorna were married in 1949 and purchased an old schoolhouse south of Hartford, Wisconsin, where they raised their six children. Lorna was a celebrated children’s book author and illustrator. Her popular children’s books have won national and regional awards and have been printed around the world. Lorna was also an exceptional fine artist. She also enjoyed sewing and needlework, and won several national awards for her embroidery. She loved gardening, cooking and was an avid reader. She dearly loved her work as a hospice volunteer for Rainbow Hospice Care. Her friendly disposition and positive attitude endeared her to many people throughout her life. She will truly be missed by all who knew her..."

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1280&bih=587&ei=OiHyWaD6EMrn0gLh1qOwAw&q=kirkus+lorna+balian&oq=kirkus+lorna+balian&gs_l=psy-ab.3...1907.2762.0.3009.6.6.0.0.0.0.108.523.0j5.5.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..1.0.0....0.IHkz9lY9Ook
(some Kirkus reviews)

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/119267.Lorna_Balian
(reader reviews)

https://www.google.com/search?q=lorna+balian&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjNt9aH7o7XAhVhqFQKHcEeBsMQ_AUICygC&biw=1280&bih=587
(videos about her books)

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/rec.arts.books.childrens/bjITF7EhSfg/_ZQZBT2t-LcJ;context-place=forum/rec.arts.books.childrens
(birthday post from 2009 - with booklist)

Excerpts:

Her surname rhymes with "stallion."

Many of her books were re-illustrated by her daughter Lecia Balian.
(Many readers prefer the originals.)

About "Bah! Humbug?":
"Margie writes to Santa Claus asking him for a new teddy bear since
her teddy, Herold, is looking a bit shabby. Her bossy older brother
Arthur believes that Santa Claus is a humbug and he plans to prove it
by creating a trap to catch him. But Arthur might be wrong about Santa
after all."

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=lorna%20balian%20&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=vi
(book covers)


Lenona.