Hello, my friends!
You may have noticed that today is Thursday, which is not a usual post day for me, and yet, here I am in your inbox!
This is because apparently, we’re just throwing our regular schedule to the dogs the last couple weeks with extra Tuesday Debuts on Fridays and no Perfect Picture Books, and now a cover reveal/learn about a new book/giveaway post today, on a Thursday of all things! What madness! 🤣
But it’s for a good cause. And it’s fun!
So let’s just think of this as a celebration of a new book and of the kick-off of the little blog vacation I’m about to take for a few weeks after this post.
Should we have cake? Ooh! Maybe cookies! Something summery!
Help yourselves! They’re delicious! 😊
PLUS, for extra celebration, we have goodies to give away! (A side effect of throwing the schedule to the dogs is that I lost track of all the giveaways and forgot to post the winners of Amber Novak’s on Tuesday! 🤣) Although today is the last blog post for about 5 and 1/2 weeks, there will be giveaway winners to announce from Jessie Atkin (from Tuesday) and Kim Larson (from today) so someone give me a swift poke with the electric cattle prod if I don’t get those posted at some point!
Amber offered 2 winner’s choices of either a signed copy of her fabulous book, THE HULA PAINTED FROG, OR a Picture Book Manuscript Critique (non-rhyming)!!!
And the winners are. . .
Kim Larson!!!
(how’s that for serendipitous when she’s on the blog today!)
and
anakellyinla!!!
Congratulations, Kim and anakellyinla! Please email me at your earliest convenience so I can get your prizes to you!
AND, for even more wonderfulness, there is a new giveaway!
Giveaway Details
Clavis Publishing is offering a copy of Doll Trouble (US & Canada only) to one lucky winner! Comment below for a chance to win. Leave a comment by Monday July 20th at 3 PM Eastern and you’ll be in the running to be thr randomly selected winner of Kim’s book!
Bonus Giveaway
Subscribe to Kim’s newsletter by August first for another chance to win (US & Canada only). You’ll also receive a PDF copy of her first published book of short stories and poems: Love, Laughter, and a few Happily Ever Afters.
Now, kick back with your cookies and get ready to enjoy a glimpse of this brand new book, coming July 21st, from Kim Larson (whom you may remember from her Tuesday Debut of GOAT’S BOAT WON’T FLOAT back in October 2024!)
It is my pleasure to introduce you to DOLL TROUBLE!
Title: Doll Trouble
Written by: Kim A. Larson
Illustrated by: Nataša Vertelj
Publisher: Clavis Publishing, July 21, 2026
ISBN#: 979-8890631220
Suitable For Ages: 3-8
Emma takes her beloved doll Mia everywhere she goes. They play, laugh, and cry together, but one day something happens that makes Mia look less than perfect. The children in the neighborhood tease Emma about her broken doll, so she hides Mia and plays with her new, beautiful doll instead. But no matter how hard she tries, Emma can’t forget Mia. When she meets Sophia, who doesn’t have a doll, Emma suddenly knows what to do.
Author Kim Larson has taken the time to put the ABCs of Doll Trouble together for us to enjoy!
Ready?
The ABCs of Doll Trouble
A is for Accident. A split second in the yard changes Emma’s beloved doll, Mia, forever and sends Emma on a journey toward true bravery.
B is for Best Friend. Emma and Mia go everywhere together.
text copyright Kim A. Larson 2026, illustration copyright Nataša Vertelj 2026, Clavis Publishing
C is for Courage. After being teased, it takes a lot of courage for Emma to show her imperfect doll to the world.
D is for Dutch. Doll Trouble was first published in Belgium in the Dutch language.
E is for Emma. The main character, Emma, must figure out how to be brave when things go wrong.
F is for Friends. Old friends, new friends, and doll friends—this book is all about the people (and dolls) who stick by us.
G is for Giving. When Emma sees a girl who has no doll, Emma knows what to do.
H is for Hugs. Emma gives Mia all-her-might hugs to help them both feel better.
text copyright Kim A. Larson 2026, illustration copyright Nataša Vertelj 2026, Clavis Publishing
I is for Illustrations. The wonderful artwork by Natasa Vertelj brings Emma and Mia’s world to life.
J is for July. Doll Trouble makes its U.S. debut on July 21!
K is for Kindness. Sophia shows us how one kind word can change someone’s outlook.
L is for Lawn Mower. Mia falls out of Emma’s backpack while Dad is mowing the lawn.
M is for My Doll Forever. This is the beautiful title of the book’s Dutch edition (Mijn pop voor altijd.)
N is for New. Sometimes new is hard to accept when you’re still missing the old.
text copyright Kim A. Larson 2026, illustration copyright Nataša Vertelj 2026, Clavis Publishing
O is for Owies. Mia gets quite a few of them, but Emma is there to patch them up.
P is for Park. Emma faces her biggest fear at the park.
Q is for Quiet. Emma and Mia spend quiet moments snuggling during scary storms.
R is for Retracing Steps. Emma retraces her steps to find the scrap of Mia’s dress after the accident.
S is for Siblings. Being the oldest of five meant I learned early on that toys rarely stay perfect!
T is for Teresa. This is the name of my favorite childhood doll.
Photo of sister Elicia with my favorite Doll, Teresa
U is for Ugly. That’s what the mean boy calls Mia, but Emma learns that ugly is just a matter of opinion.
text copyright Kim A. Larson 2026, illustration copyright Nataša Vertelj 2026, Clavis Publishing
V is for Voice. Finding your voice to stand up for your friends can be hard, but it’s always worth it.
W is for Writing. I’ve been blessed to write full-time for fifteen years, with the last eight of those writing for children.
X is for eXtra special. Mia isn’t a perfect doll anymore—but she’s irreplaceable.
Y is for You. Every book needs a reader to bring its story to life!
Z is for Zipper. Emma’s backpack could use a new zipper to keep Mia from falling out!
Wow! What fun! Thank you, Kim, for sharing all those fun details about your book with us. I’m sure I can speak for everyone when I say we’re all looking forward to reading it! (Except me. I’ve already read it so I can recommend it! 😊)
Kim A. Larson writes humorous and lyrical picture books and more. She is the author of Doll Trouble (Clavis Publishing, 2026) and Goat’s Boat Won’t Float (The Little Press, 2024). She was honored to receive the SCBWI Ann Whitford Paul Award, two Minnesota State Arts Board grants, and three Lake Region Arts Council grants. 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 linktr.ee.
And now, my friends, I’m off to do some summery things like visit my kids and grandkids, work on cleaning out my attic and basement, hopefully finally finish updating my class so I can get it onto the new platform (I know! I’ve been saying that for AGES, so we’ll see!), and work on my own writing.
Have a wonderful summer and I will see you at the end of August! ❤️
Susanna Leonard Hill 