I’m happy to welcome Carrie Finison to the blog today. Her second picture book DON’T HUG DOUG is releasing next Tuesday, January 26th so now is The Perfect Time to order it from your favorite local indie bookstore! Her first book, DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS which made everyone smile, and probably run out to a doughnut shop, was released in 2020. It’s sweeter than doughnuts and I recently read it via FaceTime to my favorite little one. Yes, you should order that one, too.
What were you like at the age of your target audience?
I write picture books so my target audience is anywhere from babies to age 6-7 or so. Some of my favorite memories from the upper end of that range are about the street we lived on at the time, which was full of kids. I was a little bit quiet and reserved (and still am) and didn’t like big crowds or really boisterous play, but I liked to play outside with my friends. We played a lot of pretend games. We had two hideouts in giant yew bushes in a park at the end of the street that we named after the way they smelled – one was the Peanut Butter hideout and one was the Dirty Diaper hideout. I remember having a lot of fun with mud in our yard, hauling it around in my green Tonka dump truck. I also vividly remember some of the books I liked to read at that age: One Morning in Maine, by Robert McCloskey, What Do People Do All Day, by Richard Scarry, The Three Robbers, by Tomi Ungerer, Noisy Nancy Norris, by Lou Ann Gaeddert, and Tell Me a Mitzi, by Lore Segal.
What inspires you?
I get a lot of inspiration from language – words and phrases put together in unusual ways, or repetition that delights me. And rhyme too. The title of my debut book – DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS – came to me just because of the fun of saying that phrase. And my second book – DON’T HUG DOUG – obviously rhymes. The character couldn’t have any name other than Doug! I’m always listening to the things people around me say (especially kids) and thinking about how I can work them into a story concept, or use them as snippets of text or dialogue.
What’s something you hope your readers take away from your book?
DON’T HUG DOUG is probably the most message-driven story I’ve written. It’s very clear from the start, even the title, what is the message. I hope that what readers will take from the book is that it’s OK to not feel comfortable with hugs, to express that to others, and have those wishes respected – or to respect them, if you are the one offering a hug. Since I wrote the book in the second person, it offers plenty of opportunity for the reader to take on the role of Doug and say out loud that they don’t want a hug, and also to practice asking others whether they do or don’t want a hug. Mostly, I hope it will spark some conversation between the adult and child reader about the topic.
Carrie has generously offered to give a copy of DON’T HUG DOUG to one lucky winner. Comment on this post to be entered to win!
What’s next for you?
DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS came out in July, 2020, and DON’T HUG DOUG comes out January 26,2021 so the last six months have been a very busy time of book promotion, and learning how to do all that in a pandemic. I’ll continue to support those books and I hope to ramp up my school visits in 2021, while also (I hope) getting back to a more regular writing schedule. Then in 2022 I have two more books scheduled for release – HURRY, LITTLE TORTOISE, which is about a little tortoise who continually gets passed by her classmates on the way to school, and LULU & ZOEY, a story about two very different sisters.
Check out other posts and launch events with Carrie and follow her on Twitter @CarrieFinison
Laura Roettiger Books 
Congratulations, Carrie! I’m with Doug. No hugs, please. Thanks for writing a book showing kids how to set boundaries.
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This is such an important message for children to understand and feel empowered to express their boundaries. Personally, I’m a hugger but I understand that is not how everyone feels.
Thank you for reading and good luck in the raffle!
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Thank you! As the book says – some people like hugs and some people don’t. 🙂
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Congratulations, Carrie! I can’t wait to read this!
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Thanks for reading! It sounds like a fantastic book and I loved Dozens of Doughnuts so I’m excited too! Good luck in the giveaway!
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Thanks for stopping by, Jenna!
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Wonderful interview, Carrie and Laura! Congratulations, Carrie! This is such an important topic–I’m excited to offer it to my teachers and school counselors (and I’ll encourage them to pair it with my book Mac and Cheese and the Personal Space Invader and Katey Howes’ Rissy No Kissies) 😀
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Jolene! I was thinking how this would be perfectly paired with MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADERS! I’ll need to check out Katey’s book too.
Thanks for reading and good luck in the raffle.
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Thank you, my friend! Katey’s is coming in March, I believe. ❤
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Maybe the three of you can do some coordinated promotions. I’d love to be part of that, just let me know. 😊
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That would be so much fun! Annie Lynn and I are working on a personal space song right now, so Carrie, I might reach out and see if you’d be up for something later this spring (I know you’re busy, busy, busy right now)! Laura, I’ll keep you posted!!
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I can’t wait to read this book. it is such an important topic, and I love books that deliver lessons kindly, via story, instead of some grown up lecturing. Great, thoughtful interview. Please enter me in the drawing for this book! Congrats to all…..and hugs for those who want one.😉🖖🏽
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Thanks for reading! A really important message and opportunity to open the conversation of boundaries with children. Good luck in the giveaway!
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Oh that’s excellent, Jolene! I wasn’t aware of your book – congratulations! There’s definitely room on the shelf for more of these books.
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Agreed! Thank you so much, and congratulations, again, Carrie!
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I love hugs, but I have a son who doesn’t! An important message. 🙂
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Thanks for reading, Cathey! A very important message, indeed. As a reading specialist/teacher, I was often the one children came to when they needed a hug. 😊 Good luck in the raffle!
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Thanks for entering, Cathey! You’re son is lucky to have a mom who understands him.
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This book looks wonderful!
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Thanks for reading, Becky. Make sure to comment on the other giveaway posts If you want to win. There are 4 before today’s.
Good luck!
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Looks like a great book. I’d love to share it with my students.
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It’s really great! There are 4 other posts with giveaways if you want to look at the past 2 weeks. I’ll be doing the first raffle soon. Good luck.
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Lookout forward to reading this book!
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Thanks for reading, it’s such a wonderful book! There are other wonderful book giveaways from the past two weeks if you’re interested. Good luck in the giveaway.
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Such an important message. Thanks for writing!
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Hi Aundra! Yes, it’s a wonderful book with a great way to speak to children about having control of their own bodies. Good luck in the giveaway and feel free to check out the other giveaways from the past 2 weeks.
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Wish this book had been around when I was little. Thinking of all the relatives I was forced to hug when I was small…..Thanks for writing this book, Carrie!
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I think a lot of people have that memory. Carrie’s book is an excellent way to open the conversation and give children a way to express themselves.
As a teacher I had children hugging me all the time when they needed a hug. This book is a good reminder to ask, but I never minded all of the hugs. ☺️
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This is such a great topic— boundaries! For those that have them broken and those that break them. Both types of kids exist. We love dozens of doughnuts and can’t wait for this! Thanks for sharing about your inspiration for the book!
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I love the way you framed that. It’s an good way to explain things to children who need to learn how to respect other people’s boundaries.
Another book that addresses that subject is MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE CASE, by Jolene Gutiérrez and illustrated by Heather Bell. If you look in this comment thread, you’ll see it referenced.
Good luck in the giveaway!
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Especially these days, hugs are almost history. In our large family, to avoid having to hug everyone, we would just do the hugging motion and then say “HUGGA, HUGGA!” and wave goodbye.A great way to avoid sharing colds and such. This book will be valuable to a number of kids. Thanks for writing it.
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Thanks for reading the post. I agree this book will be a valuable addition to any home or school collection. Good luck in the giveaway. Feel free to read previous giveaway posts and comment if you’d like.
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I love the idea behind Don’t Hug Doug. Congratulations! This book will help so many kids and their caregivers when they see themselves in Doug.
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I’m sure so many children will relate to Doug. What a fantastic book Carrie has written. Good luck in the raffle and feel free to comment on other giveaway posts if you’re interested.
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Love that photo of you, Carrie~! Can’t wait to see this book!
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Isn’t she adorable! I’m asking all interviewees to share a picture of when they were their readers age. It’s been really fun. Thanks for reading and good luck in the raffle.
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I work with littles who often have sensory issues, including not wanting to be hugged.I cannot wait to share Doug w/ them & their families! (And I love that you named a hideout Peanut Butter, LOL!) Congrats on your latest & greatest!
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Thanks for reading! I think this book will have a special place on classroom and home book shelves. Good luck in the giveaway. If you haven’t checked out the other ones, take a look and comment if you’re interested.
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Awesome!
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Thanks for reading! Such an important topic.
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