I’ve wanted to write for as long as I can remember. I was an avid reader from an early age and loved getting lost in a new world within the pages of a book. I want to create that love of reading and exploring in kids, especially in this busy, technological world we live in today.

Bedtime Kisses was originally born years ago as I tucked my youngest into bed. He always wanted just one more kiss, drink of water or story and had oodles of stuffed animals around his room. We started tucking in his friends before saying good night one night after numerous tuck ins, stories, etc. and, thus, a story was born.

I had the privilege of pitching Bedtime Kisses to Vivian Zabel, President of 4RV Publishing, during the Muse Online Writers Conference a few years ago. She asked that I submit and, after edits, it was accepted for publication and released in April 2014. Ginger Nielson’s wonderful illustrations really brought my story to life, and I couldn’t be more pleased.

I have another children’s picture book, The Little Bug, under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing currently awaiting illustrator availability.

When not chasing kids, working (I am a speech/language pathologist) or writing, I love to read and travel with family and friends.

Bedtime Kisses is a lively bedtime counting story of routine and simplicity. Pulling at the heartstrings of the reader and child, charming times together will enrich all that partake in Karin Larson’s debut children’s book, Bedtime Kisses. Children love to believe their stuffed animals have feelings and want to kiss them goodnight. So begins a different type counting book for little ones. “It’s time to go to sleep now. Mommy will be here really soon. But first I’ll plant some kisses on my friends around the room.”

What reviewers are saying about Bedtime Kisses:

“Bedtime Kisses is a cute counting story especially suited to help little ones get ready for bed. This is an endearing way to help children learn to count to ten while modeling values of love and kindness.” ~ Penelope Anne Cole, award-winning children’s author of Magical Matthew and Magical Mea

“Karin Larson’ s debut children’ s book is sure to delight your young muses from the onset. Come along for a unique bedtime counting ritual that will soon become a classic routine in your home.” ~ Donna M. McDine, award-winning children’s author of The Golden Pathway and A Sandy Grave

Bedtime Kisses, by Karin Larson, illustrated by Ginger Nielson, is a cute counting story especially suited to help little ones get ready for bed. This is an endearing way to help children learn to count to ten while modeling values of love and kindness.

While waiting for mommy to come and tuck her into bed, the little girl goes around her room and counts out kisses for each of her stuffed animals and dolly. The little girl in the story is unnamed— she could be any and every child who wants to be like mommy and give bedtime kisses to all her special toys.

The artwork by Ginger Nielson is dreamy, frothy, and enchanting. The girl’s room is a feast for the eyes. As each special toy is given their kiss and kisses, pink hearts help count out the number of kisses they receive. The little girl and the toys are warmly drawn with sleepy eyes and sweet smiling faces. Everyone is ready to be kissed and tucked into bed. After she kisses all her critter pals, our sleepy-time girl gets her own bedtime kisses from her mommy, and everyone goes happily to sleep—tucked in together all warm and cozy.

This is a darling, precious book. Children will enjoy the charming illustrations as they practice counting kisses until they fall asleep. It is a book they will want read again and again. I see it easily becoming part of their bedtime ritual—a lovely and loving way to learn to count to ten.

Reviewed by ~ Penelope Anne Cole, award-winning children’s author of Magical Matthew and Magical Mea

Karin Larson’s debut children’s book is sure to delight your young muses from the onset. The whimsical connection many toddlers have with their stuffed animals is endearing to not only themselves, but to the adults in their lives. The simplicity of loving their stuffed animals as if they are real pulls at the heartstrings. Come along for a unique bedtime counting ritual that will soon become a classic routine in your home.

The illustrations by Ginger Nielson provided a rich backdrop to Larson’s clever counting story.

Reviewed by ~ Donna M. McDine, award-winning children’s author of The Golden Pathway and A Sandy Grave

This sweet book is a must for little one’s…. it blends precious stuffed animals, counting, and bedtime kisses mixed with the love and security all young children need to feel.

The simple text is great for beginner readers and a story that younger children will want parents to read over and over again. This is a tender sweet story that encourages parent and child interaction and the illustrations by Ginger Nielson definitely enhance the reader’s experience.

Reviewed by ~ Terri Forehand, author

If you have a little one who always wants to stay up “just for five more minutes”, then this just might be the perfect book to encourage them to go to bed on time, if not earlier.
Every child has at least one favourite toy, but this may help teach them to look after, love and value ALL their toys, but don’t expect them to keep their toys as tidy as the little one in the story!

The illustrator has done an exceptional job on the colour drawings, making it easy for the young reader (or listener) to relate to the gentle rhyming words. This book could easily become a favourite and much loved ‘toy’ as well.

Reviewed by ~ Chris Graham The Story Reading Ape Blog – Author Promotions Enterprise

This sweet little picture book consists of cute illustrations and a sentence to go along with nearly each of the illustration.

It is a story of a little girl who bestows kisses on her stuffed toys before she herself is kissed and lovingly tucked in for the night by her mother. The number of kisses that she plants increases by the toy and boy does she have a variety of the stuffed toys!

Most of the illustrations are cute but I liked the grouchy hog’s illustration the sweetest of the lot. Another thing that I liked about Ginger Nielson’s illustrations is that she has not

gone out of her way to make the little girl look beautiful, her focus has been on the toys and the affection that the little girl has for them.

The book portrays the affection that the child has for her toys and her sweet nighttime ritual. I would say it is more of a girls’ book. It is a picture book that can also be used for practice reading.

I had to check out a few of the animals for myself that make up the little girl’s stuffed toys, because I was not so sure about them. The book not only expands the kids’ knowledge about the animals but also augments the vocabulary of the reader as the author has used adjectives for few of the animals.

The author, Karin Larson is a children’s author and a freelance writer, also
a speech/language pathologist. She is a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature.

Ginger Nielson is a full-time children’s book illustrator and author. I found her short introduction different and also interesting.

The target age group of the book is 0 to 5 years.

Reviewed by Zealot Readings ~ professional book reviewer

About the Author: Karin Larson is a children’s author, freelance writer and speech/language pathologist living in Mitchell, SD, with her husband and three children. Larson is the author of Bedtime Kisses, published by 4RV Publishing, and The Little Bug (under contract – Guardian Angel Publishing). She enjoys reading and traveling with family. Larson is a member of SCBWI and a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature.

Please visit me at any of the following:

Website – Blog – Facebook – Pinterest – LinkedIn – Goodreads

Book available at:

4RV Publishing – Barnes & Noble

Amazon:

UK – USA – Canada – Australia – India