Helen Wing facts for kids

Helen Wilkie Wing (born February 7, 1892 – died December 19, 1981) was an American author, composer, and pianist. She was born in Polk, North Carolina. Helen lived most of her life in Chicago, Illinois. She also performed music in Michigan and Wisconsin.

Who Was Helen Wilkie Wing?

Helen Wilkie Wing was a very creative person. She wrote many books, especially for young children. She also composed music and played the piano. Her work helped entertain and educate kids for many years.

A Talented Creator

Helen often performed music with Grace Holverscheid Tallman. They sang duets and Helen played the piano. Together with Grace and her husband, Richard Dean Tallman, Helen also owned a restaurant in Chicago called Normandy House.

Writing for Young Readers

Helen loved writing for children. She wrote poems and songs for Child Life magazine. She also wrote at least 25 books for young children. Eight of these books were part of the popular Rand McNally Junior Elf series. Her books were published by companies like the Wetmore Declamation Bureau in Sioux City, Iowa. This company provided plays and music for children. Another publisher was Clayton F. Summy in Chicago, who sold spoken-word pieces to performers.

Composing Music

Besides writing books, Helen also composed many songs. Her songs were enjoyed by many people. She sometimes wrote songs with other talented people, like Mildred Plew Merryman and Grace Holverscheid.

Sharing Her Talents

Helen also shared her musical knowledge by teaching. She taught at the Bliss School of Music in Oak Park, Illinois. Through her teaching, writing, and composing, Helen Wilkie Wing left a lasting mark on children's literature and music.

Books by Helen Wilkie Wing

Helen Wilkie Wing wrote many books for children, including:

• Animal Alphabet (illustrated by Racey Helps)
• Animals at the Seashore (illustrated by Racey Helps)
• Animals' Boat Ride (illustrated by Racey Helps)
• Animals' Tea Party (illustrated by Irma Wilde)
• Billy Whiskers' Twins
• Georgie Porgie
• Happy Animals' ABC
• Happy Twins
• Kitten Twins (illustrated by Elizabeth Webb)
• Little Boy Blue's Horn
• Little Duckling (illustrated by Lucy Ozone)
• Nursery Nonsense of Now-a-days
• Old Woman Who LIves in a Shoe
• Play ABC With Me (illustrated by Racey Helps)
• Pony Twins (illustrated by Marjorie Cooper)
• Tubby Turtle
• Squirrel Twins (illustrated by Elizabeth Webb)

She also wrote these books for the Rand McNally Junior Elf series:

• Butterball the Little Chick (illustrated by Mary Jane Chase)
• Hickory, Dickory Dock (illustrated by Eleanor Corwin)
• Jack Sprat (illustrated by Anne Sellers Leaf)
• Little Bo Peep (illustrated by Mary Jane Chase)
• Playtime Poodles: A Real Live Animal Book (photographed by Jack Schmidling & Albert G. Westelin)
• Puppy Twins (illustrated by Ruth Bendel)
• Tie My Shoe (illustrated by Sharon Cane)
• Volksy: The Little Yellow Car (illustrated by Mary Jane Chase)

Songs by Helen Wilkie Wing

Some of the songs Helen Wilkie Wing composed include:

• "Chink, Chink, Chinaman"
• "Circus"
• "Company"
• "Eskimo" (words by Mildred Plew Merryman)
• "Gingerbread Boy"
• "If"
• "Lilac Time"
• "Mother's Only Boy"
• "My Thoughts"
• "Nancy Sue"
• "Parasol"
• "Root for Rotary" (with Grace Holverscheid)
• "When I Am Very Old"
• "William"

Theatre Works

Helen also contributed to theatre:

• Miracle of Christmas (music by Phyllis Fergus, text by Wing)
• One-Act Play