Six Questions with Kim A. Larson

Kim A. Larson writes humorous and lyrical picture books and more. She’s the author of Doll Trouble (Clavis Publishing, 2026) and Goat’s Boat Won’t Float (The Little Press, 2024). She was honored with the SCBWI Ann Whitford Paul Award, two Minnesota State Arts Board grants, and three Lake Region Arts Council grants. She was also a #PBParty finalist in 2023 and 2022. Kim lives in Minnesota, and when she’s not writing, you may find her gardening or playing Sequence with her husband. Visit Kim’s website to learn more about her and her work, or connect with her on social media via her linktr.ee.

1. What was your favorite book when you were a child? Why?

Curious George books were among my favorites because of all the shenanigans he got into. I also loved the Amelia Bedelia books and how she always took things literally. I enjoyed humorous books. Those funny, character-driven stories were the ones that made me look forward to reading time every day.

2. What kind of student were you? What were your favorite subjects?

I loved school and strove for perfect attendance—and perfect grades too, though I missed the mark on both. Math and art were my favorite subjects. I wasn’t an avid reader, but I did enjoy creative writing assignments. When I decided to become a writer later in life, I had a lot to learn. Thankfully, my love of learning and perfectionist tendencies serve me well.

3. What one piece of advice would you like to give to aspiring kidlit authors?

Don’t be afraid to try different genres, POVs, styles, and formats. Though I mostly write non-rhyming fiction, my first rhyming picture book won the Ann Whitford Paul Award in 2021 (and it had tons of illustration notes). My debut picture book is also an early reader. Never stop learning and trying new things.

4. Where did you get the idea for your newest book, Doll Trouble? What was your inspiration?

As the oldest of five siblings, my toys rarely “lived” to see old age. Between a house full of kids and a particularly destructive brother, I spent a lot of my childhood figuring out how to keep loving my dolls after they ended up with missing limbs or shaved heads. Those early lessons in empathy—loving something even when it isn’t “perfect”—became the heart of this story.

5. Was this always the title for this project? If not, what other titles did you consider and how did you land on this one?

My first working title was Emma and Gemma, which were then the names of the child and her doll. But after I changed the title of another story to Borrowing Trouble, I thought this could be the prequel to those characters, showing when they met. Fun fact: Clavis first published this book in Belgium. The editor said Doll Trouble didn’t translate well into Dutch, so they changed the title to Mijn pop voor altijd (My Doll Forever).

6. If you read this book to a room filled with kids, what message would you want them to leave with?

I hope readers will think twice before making fun of someone or something belonging to another. I’d like them to consider how they’d feel in a similar situation. I’m hoping they’ll recognize the positive impact their words and actions can have on others when they offer kindness and compassion instead of teasing. I also want to alert children to the very real dangers of lawnmowers.

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