Channel Button

About me - Maria Tussing

I'm a journalist by training, a mother by chance and a writer by choice. I love the outdoors and sharing them with my children. I'm working transitioning from a contract graphic design career to a freelance writing one. I work from home with my three kids

+ more bio information
Parenting & Pregnancy > Children's Activities (Other) Books to share with your kids
1 of 12

As a lifelong bibliophile, one of my greatest fears was that my kids wouldn't share my love of reading. Luckily, that fear was never realized and my kids have found the magic in books since they were big enough to turn the pages of board books.Unfortunately, our tastes often diverge, with their preferences tending toward fami... More..

Creative Writing > Memoirs My unusual garden story about weeds or pests
11 of 65

The sun baked the dirt into pebbles, each step grinding them into my bare feet. The row of onion sets stretched out before me like the trail through purgatory. Judging from the expressions on my brothers' faces, their thoughts were following a similar path."While you weed the onions you can think about how you can get along,"... More..

Arts & Humanities > Children's Literature Great children's books about trees
2 of 11

The summer sun sifts through the leaves, pooling shade on the ground like a length of watered silk. A decade or two ago, this setting would have been irresistible to practically any child. It would beckon with the promise of a treehouse, a tire swing, an imaginary pirate ship or just a cool, shady place for a summer's dreams.... More..

Arts & Humanities > Children's Literature Writing children's books: Getting started
2 of 9

"'Gin." "You want me to read it again?" A sleepy nod was the reply. I opened the dog-eared book for the ninth time (literally) and we snuggled in for another round of "Stranger in the Woods." I turned the pages mechanically, reciting the words from a place that didn't require any active part of my brain. And this was a boo... More..

Arts & Humanities > Children's Literature How books affect children
13 of 39

"Once upon a time..." The very words are magic. Long before I could read I learned that the most magical words are neatly encased between the covers of books.Growing up in the modern age of the 1980s without a TV, my brothers and I learned that reading was a choice. And with my mother carefully selecting the first books we he... More..

Creative Writing > Essays Essays: Parenting
28 of 44

The nightmare lingered through the day. At 4:30 this morning I got up, got a drink of water and stood in my daughter's doorway. The nightmares had started when Elisa started sleeping through the night. I didn't think I'd miss the thudding of footie-pajamaed feet at three a.m., but I'll take the endless stroking of the sleepy ... More..

Arts & Humanities > Children's Literature Great children's books about springtime
5 of 7

Rain. Growing things. Baby animals. Blooming flowers. Spring brings to mind a lot of things, and some great books bring spring to mind. Here are some good reads that bring the sights, sounds and feel of spring to paper any time of the year.1. "Raindrop Plop" by Wendy Cheyette Lewison, Illustrated by Pam Paparone. "One little ... More..

Arts & Humanities > Children's Literature A look at Chris Van Allsburg's children's books
4 of 5

Before The Polar Express chugged its way to the North Pole with skeptical children aboard, it was just an idea in Chris Van Allsburg's head. Van Allsburg, a sculptor by training, has been creating captivating, mysterious and more-than-a-little-eerie books for nearly 30 years. Van Allsburg may not be exactly a household name, ... More..

Arts & Humanities > Children's Literature Are fantasy books good for children?
26 of 31

Cinderella had a fairy godmother. Snow White fell under the spell of the Wicked Witch. The Wizard of Oz, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia-the list of well-known and well-loved fantasy goes on and on. From time immemorial people have made up stories for entertainment, escape and to teach... More..

Arts & Humanities > Children's Literature Children's books: A look at the works of Dr. Seuss
17 of 19

For a man who lost his editorial position on the Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern for hosting a drinking party during Prohibition, Theodore Geisel managed to leave an innocent legacy. Geisel, better known by his middle name, Seuss, is remembered as the author of nearly fifty beloved children's books.Most parents can recite at least p... More..

What is Helium? | Buy Web Content | Contact Us | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA | User Tools | Help | Community | Helium’s Official Blog | Link to Helium

Copyright © 2002-2009 Helium, Inc. All rights reserved.

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA