Karen Richards Toothaker

Karen Richards Toothaker is an early childhood educator, community organizer, Life Is Good Playmaker, and children's book author. The Rag Doll Gift, based on a family tradition, is her debut picture book. Karen is a live long Mainer, growing up in rural Maine surrounded by siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and lots of cousins. She received her BA from the University of Maine Farmington. For over 40 years she has had the joy and privilege of teaching in Pre-school classrooms. She has first hand experience with the effectiveness of picture books to stimulate the mind, open conversation, offer emotional support, and provide us all with the fundamentals of understanding ourselves and others. Karen loves to play, be outside, dance, read, garden and explore creative arts.