Book Birthday: DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS (and Win a Signed Copy!)

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Fresh from the frying pan, DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS launches today—July 21! Launching a debut picture book is more exciting than having a whole PILE of doughnuts all for myself (although, LouAnn, the main character in the book, might disagree).

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Illustration by Brianne Farley

In the story, LouAnn is frying up a doughnut feast as a late-fall, pre-hibernation treat for herself. YUM! But just before she takes her first bite, the bell rings—ding-dong! Her friend Woodrow drops by. LouAnn is happy to share her doughnuts, but as soon as they sit down to eat—ding-dong! Clyde is at the door. One by one, LouAnn’s friends come over until it’s one big party. LouAnn makes batch after batch of doughnuts, always dividing them equally among her friends. (Yes, there’s some math involved.) But LouAnn makes one BIG miscalculation: She forgets to save any for herself!

Here's a quick video I made to share more about the book:

There are many firsts and surprises when launching a picture book. Perhaps one of the most surprising aspects, given the mental image we all have of a writer scribbling away alone in an attic somewhere, is how many people touch the book in some way, both pre- and post-publication. I have DOZENS of people to thank! In semi-chronological order . . .

First, my children, my husband, and my mother for both the inspiration and the time away from day-to-day responsibilities to pursue this dream of writing for children. THANK YOU!

Second, to my critique partners and groups — my International PBWriters, the Poets’ Garage, the Writers’ Loft and my local critique partners, the 12x12 Challenge group, and so many more who helped polish and shape the manuscript over the course of years. THANK YOU!

Third, to my agent, Linda Epstein, who kept asking, “What about that doughnut book? I like that one,” and then shepherded it masterfully through the submissions and acquisitions process. THANK YOU!

Fourth, to my editor, Stephanie Pitts, the art director, book designer, and the whole team at Putnam Books who have lavished their talent and attention on the book in ways that are clearly visible and in many ways that no one ever sees. THANK YOU!

Fifth, to illustrator Brianne Farley, who added the “picture” part to our picture book, and brought LouAnn, her friends, and world to life visually with skill and passion. THANK YOU!

Sixth, to my many writing friends and groups, especially the Soaring ’20s, who have helped launch the book with their good wishes, reviews, library requests, book purchases, and more. THANK YOU!

Seventh, to the book bloggers and podcasters who have invited me to share about the book’s journey on their sites, and to the kind reviewers who are singing the praises of the book much farther and wider than I can myself. THANK YOU!

Eighth, to the librarians and teachers who are purchasing the book to add to their libraries and share with their students (however that looks during the coming school year). THANK YOU!

Ninth, to the booksellers who are open in spirit, if not physically open right now, and who are stocking the book on their shelves and finding ways to help get the word out. THANK YOU!

Tenth, to my extended family and friends near and far who have sent their good wishes, and flooded my local bookstore with preorders that far exceeded my expectations. THANK YOU!

Eleventh, to Belmont Books, who is hosting, and to everyone who will join me for my launch party TONIGHT (see below for details). THANK YOU! 

Twelfth, to the READERS, who are willing to join me in this charming woodland world full of doughnuts and who will (I hope) enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it. THANK YOU!

If you’re reading this, then YOU’RE INVITED to my virtual launch party and doughnut celebration which takes place TONIGHT at 6:30 pm Eastern. Please click here to register ASAP to get the link to the event:

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I’ll read the book aloud, share some behind-the-scenes secrets, do some doughnut math, and answer your questions. BYOD (Bring Your Own Doughnut)!

And now for a giveaway:

Two months from today, on September 21, I’ll draw a winner from all my newsletter subscribers for a free signed copy of DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS. Just subscribe to my newsletter and you’ll be entered! Here’s the link to subscribe: https://www.carriefinison.com/newsletter

Book Details

DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS

by Carrie Finison, Illustrated by Brianne Farley

Pub Date: July 21
ISBN: 978-0-is 5255-1835-8
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Carrie Finison writes picture books with humor and heart, including DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS and the forthcoming books DON'T HUG DOUG (2021) and HURRY, LITTLE TORTOISE (2022). She lives in the Boston area with her family. Connect with her online at www.carriefinison.com or on Twitter @CarrieFinison, Facebook at carrie.finison, or Instagram @carriefinison.

So You Want to Create a Recipe for Your Picture Book…

By Carrie Finison

PREORDER GIVEAWAY

NOTE: During the month of June, I’m running a special giveaway for people who preorder DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS, which publishes July 21. Everyone who preorders gets something, and can also win a special pretend-play prize pack for your classroom or for a little baker in your life: an adorable apron just like the main character, LouAnn, wears; a dozen fleece mini doughnuts to play with; and doughnut hand stamps & stickers. Use this link to enter by June 30: https://www.carriefinison.com/giveaway

When my daughter was about four, we read the fantastic picture book Bee Bim Bop by Linda Sue Park. My daughter was intrigued, not only by the lively rhythms of the text, but also by the recipe in the back of the book. Of course, we had to try it! There’s something about reading a picture book about food that can entice even the pickiest eater to want to try something new, and it’s extra fun when a recipe is included.

As I worked on writing DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS, I knew I wanted to develop a doughnut recipe to go with the story. But I had no idea where to begin. I’ve always enjoyed baking, but only as a home cook. Would I need to take a Johnson and Wales correspondence class before I could put a recipe in my book?

After talking with writer friends and researching online, it turns out that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel (or the recipe for doughnuts) in order to develop a recipe to go with your book. Below are some tips based on what I learned along the way.

1. Recipes can’t be copyrighted.

According to the US Copyright Office, the list of ingredients for a recipe cannot be copyrighted. However, the explanation and exact wording of the directions can be, so it’s important not to plagiarize and to restate things in your own words. Here’s the statement from Copyright.gov:

“A mere listing of ingredients is not protected under copyright law. However, where a recipe or formula is accompanied by substantial literary expression in the form of an explanation or directions, or when there is a collection of recipes as in a cookbook, there may be a basis for copyright protection. Note that if you have secret ingredients to a recipe that you do not wish to be revealed, you should not submit your recipe for registration, because applications and deposit copies are public records. See Circular 33, Works Not Protected by Copyright.”

Here’s a link to an article with more detail about copyright and recipes: https://www.davidlebovitz.com/recipe-attribution/

2. Look online and in cookbooks for several variations of your recipe.

There are MANY doughnut recipes out there. Some doughnuts are made with yeast and some are more cake-like. Some are fried and some are baked. I searched many recipes online and in classic cookbooks like The Joy of Cooking to come up with five to six different recipes to try.

3. Consider your audience.

I wanted my recipe to be kid-friendly. That’s hard to do with doughnuts, which are somewhat difficult to make, especially when deep-frying is involved. I thought baked doughnuts might be safer and easier. However, after testing MANY recipes for baked doughnuts, I realized they just don’t hold a candle to the fried version. Baking doughnuts also requires special equipment: a doughnut pan, which most people don’t have. Fried doughnuts (with the help of an adult) seemed more approachable. It’s also what my main character, LouAnn, does, so it’s more true to the book.

Here’s one attempt at baking doughnuts. I even tried making doughnut muffins.

Similarly, yeast doughnuts require a long rise time—difficult for children with their short attention span. I wanted a recipe that could be made quickly without rise time. Ultimately, I settled on cake-like doughnuts that are fried in a small amount of oil.

Here’s a good guide I found to kids’ cooking skills at different ages: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/guide-cookery-skills-age

Fried doughnuts are the way to go!

4. Think about variations.

These days, many kids have allergies or special dietary concerns. If your recipe contains a common allergen, especially tree nuts or peanuts, consider recommending a substitution.

Here’s a website that can help you find substitutions for common food allergens in recipes: https://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/recipe-substitutions.aspx

5. Put your own spin on it.

Even though copyright law allows you to copy someone else’s ingredient list, I wanted to put my own spin on my doughnut recipe. That meant making many batches with a variety of spices, and changing up some of the liquid ingredients. My family didn’t seem to mind! And in the end, having a recipe that’s truly my own makes me feel better.

6. Give credit where it’s due.

If you use a source for your recipe, give credit to the original source. I found my base doughnut recipe on the New York Times website, so I put the simple line, “Adapted from NYT Cooking” on my recipe.

7. Be aware of your page count.

Most likely, you’ll need to keep your recipe simple enough to fit on one page (or a spread at the most) at the back of your book.

As it turned out, my book, even at 40 pages, did not have enough space in the back for a recipe. But, I was able to salvage that work and now plan to use the recipe as a giveaway.

And so, without further ado, I’m sharing LouAnn’s doughnut recipe below. I hope that you and your kids enjoy making them as much as I did. If you do end up making some, hop over to my website and use the contact form to let me know. I’d love to see your creations!

Click on the image for a printable PDF.

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Carrie Finison writes picture books with humor and heart, including DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS (2020) and the forthcoming books DON'T HUG DOUG (2021) and HURRY, LITTLE TORTOISE (2022). She lives in the Boston area with her family. Find her online at www.carriefinison.com or on Twitter @CarrieFinison.  

The Soaring '20s Celebrate (EVEN MORE) Teachers!

Thank you, teachers! We’ve been celebrating you all week long for your tireless dedication, enthusiasm for your subjects, and care for your students. 

There’s still time to enter our Teacher Appreciation Week giveaway. Visit @soaring20spb on Twitter to enter by midnight PST tonight!

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Celebrating Our Favorite Teachers

Lindsay H. Metcalf

My first-grade teacher, Deanna Garlow, has been a reassuring constant. Beyond the basics, she created community. Our class phone book was a lifeline — my first real opportunity to build friendships outside of school. Now Mrs. Garlow’s voice is piping through my fourth-grader’s Chromebook in the dining room, helping his class navigate the uncertain world. 

Mrs. Garlow and Lindsay Metcalf, first grade, 1988

—Lindsay H. Metcalf, author of BEATRIX POTTER, SCIENTIST, illustrated by Junyi Wu (Albert Whitman & Co.), and FARMERS UNITE! Planting a Protest for Fair Prices (Calkins Creek); and co-editor, with Jeanette Bradley and Keila V. Dawson, of NO VOICE TOO SMALL: Fourteen Young Americans Making History, illustrated by Bradley (Charlesbridge)

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Larissa Marantz

The teacher who had a major impact on my creative growth as an artist was Don Lagerberg at CSU Fullerton. His energy and charisma in the class was motivating and inspiring. He saw the potential in me, encouraged me to go beyond my comfort zone, and became a model for me as an educator in the classroom. 

Keith Marantz

My favorite teacher in school was my chemistry teacher in eleventh grade. His name was Joachim Pfitzner. Imagine if Latka Gravas and Jake Gyllenhaal had a baby! He was outlandish and had a large obsession with German pogens, which he would politely coerce students to bring to him. That was an exceptional way to get on his good side if you weren’t. I’ll never forget him.

—Larissa and Keith Marantz, illustrator and author of CLYDE GOES TO SCHOOL and CLYDE LIKES TO SLIDE (Penguin Workshop)

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Candy Wellins

When most people think back on their high school days, they don’t remember trigonometry class fondly. But I do. And it’s all because of my teacher, Mr. Dale. His lessons were like stand-up comedy routines, complete with props and songs. If we were working out a problem and wound up with a zero as a denominator, he’d bring out a kid’s toy siren and call in the math police. When we were learning how to graph parabolas, he created a song (sung to the latest big hit “Macarena”) called “Hey, It’s a Parabola” and had us all sing along. Mr. Dale’s lessons were so fun, we often forgot we were learning complex math equations (and really enjoying math class). I hope everyone has a few Mr. Dales in their lives (especially when they’re taking trigonometry).

—Candy Wellins, author of SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA, illustrated by Charlie Eve Ryan (Page Street Kids)

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JULIE ROWAN-ZOCH

Julie Rowan-Zoch on her way to class at FIT, circa 1984 (Total extrovert, just didn’t like having her photo taken!)

Eli Kince pushed our design class extremely hard. Tears flowed often, but I adapted. My output soon garnered consistent praise, so I was really floored when my final grade was a B. When confronted he said, while I had performed well my work had not grown in comparison to my classmates. I brooded for a long time. Couldn’t he have challenged me more in class? What I eventually absorbed is what really made me grow: I have so much to thank him for, but I had placed too much value on a grade and the opinion of one person, professional or not. Getting floored and getting back up was a profound lesson, one for my entire creative life.

—Julie Rowan-Zoch, illustrator of LOUIS, written by Tom Lichtenheld (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

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JOANA PASTRO

Joana Pastro and her mother

I was lucky to have many wonderful teachers, but today I’ll honor the very best one: my mom, Maria da Penha Pedrosa! While we lived in England she taught me the Brazilian curriculum at our kitchen table every day after school. Thanks to her love and dedication, when we returned home I achieved perfect scores on my report cards and was able to start fourth grade right away. Thank you, Mum!

—Joana Pastro, author LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS, illustrated by Jhon Ortiz (Boyds Mill & Kane)

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THANK YOU, TEACHERS! For more Teacher Appreciation stories, be sure to check out our posts from Monday and Wednesday. And if you haven’t already, please tell us about a special teacher in your life in the comments.