For children's author Taylor Tomlinson, expanding her “Goodnight” series to Chicago’s North Shore wasn't just a strategic move. It was personal. Raised in Green Oaks, Tomlinson says the newest book felt like "a joyful walk down memory lane," shaped by childhood recollections of places that anchor family life today. The result reads like a love letter to the North Shore, blending nostalgia with the rhythms of community.
Tomlinson’s approach to choosing each town is rooted in lived experience. She gravitates toward communities she knows well and places her own family genuinely explores. With an “active toddler” in tow, those weekend adventures across Chicagoland often spark the next book idea. “The neighborhoods we spend time in naturally start to feel like the right fit,” she says.
A hallmark of the series is the inclusion of historical vignettes alongside soothing bedtime rhymes. Tomlinson selects landmarks that have endured—places families instantly recognize and are likely to visit for generations. While researching the North Shore, she was especially struck by Fort Sheridan. “I’d heard of it,” she says, “but learning its history gave me a whole new appreciation for how much story is tucked into places we drive past.”
That sense of story is what readers respond to most. Parents often tell Tomlinson her books become part of their nightly routine, with children eagerly pointing out pages and saying, "I've been there." One grandparent shared buying a “Goodnight” book helped bridge generations, allowing grandchildren to connect with the hometown their parents grew up in.
The series is illustrated by a design studio in Indonesia, discovered on Etsy after extensive research. Looking ahead to 2026, Tomlinson will release her most personal title yet, “Goodnight, Mama,” co-written with her sister in honor of their late mother, with a portion of proceeds supporting cancer research. Additional “Goodnight” titles are also on the way, continuing to tuck local love into bedtime rituals. More at taylordtomlinson.com.