23rd Chronicle Book Fair

Join us at the Chronicle Book Fair on Sunday, November 4th at the Queensbury Hotel, Glens Falls, NY.

We will have available our newly released book, Jan Balet: Living Art, along with two of Balet’s republished children’s books, Amos and the Moon and The Five Rollatinis.

Jan Balet: Living Art - explores the life and work of artist, Jan Balet, a renowned mid-century New York art director and graphic designer and throughout Europe as a fine artist and lithographer. Essayists for the new publication include former gallery director and professor emeritus of SUNY Adirondack Dr.  Sheldon Hurst, Professor Norman Taber of SUNY Plattsburgh, and Professor Di Kivi of SUNY Adirondack. Each of the essays speak to a different aspect of the artist’s genre. Included are an overview of his life and work by Dr. Hurst, a look at Balet’s years as an award-winning graphic artist and art director in New York City by Professor Taber, and a piece on the artist as a children’s book author and illustrator by Professor Kivi. The full-color, soft cover book also contains more than seventy examples of Balet’s watercolors, paintings, lithographs, and mid-century commercial art

Amos and the Moon - Chock-full of charm and whimsy, this 1948 title tells a simple, endearing tale of a curious little lad on his search for the moon come daylight. Originally intended as a Christmas present for his son, Balet’s book became a gift to many more children; and now in its reissue edition, this vintage title will surely delight a new generation of young readers worldwide.

The Five Rollatinis - With no room remaining to ride Wonder Horse Ammonia with the rest of the Rollatinis, little Bambino must find another way to contribute to the family business. But performing apart from the others leaves the sixth and youngest Rollatini feeling lonely and left out, even as he flies with the acrobats, rubs elbows with the elephants, and teaches the dancing bear to bicycle.

Not only a charming story of a small circus talent finding his place in the troupe, THE FIVE ROLLATINIS also contains a colorful collection of hand-drawn illustrations to practice counting. Young readers will tally lions, tigers, clowns, and many more as they enjoy vibrant images from within the big top.

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Holiday Beginnings – Jan’s First Children’s Book

Holiday Beginnings – Jan’s First Children’s Book

Christmas time is very special to me. That is partly because of a truly unique gift I received from my father, Jan, when I was little.  I like to think that I inspired his foray into writing and illustrating children’s books because his very first one – Amos and The Moon – was written for me.

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Announcing the Jan Balet: The Artist & His Works Website

Announcing the Jan Balet: The Artist & His Works Website

For those of you who don’t know much about Jan Balet, you are not alone. His fine art, much celebrated in Europe, never got the same recognition in the U.S. because here, Jan was a commercial illustrator. Those that know his work from Harper’s BazaarGood HousekeepingVogue, and Saturday Evening Post in the ‘50s and ‘60s may think that’s all there is.

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