12 x 12 Contributor

Carrie Finison began her literary career at the age of seven with an idea, a box of markers, and her father’s typewriter. She now writes on a laptop, though an old Underwood #5 still sits on her desk. She writes picture books with humor and heart, including Dozens of Doughnuts (Putnam, 2020), a Junior Library Guild selection; and Don’t Hug Doug (Putnam, 2021), an ALA Notable Children’s Book, which received starred reviews in both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. Her most recent books are Lulu & Zoey: A Sister Story (Running Press Kids, 2022), and Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School! (Random House Studio, 2022). Despite hearing plenty of advice to the contrary, many of her stories are written in rhyme. In 2015, Carrie won the Barbara Karlin work-in-progress grant from SCBWI, and in 2016 she won the Peg Davol picture book scholarship from NESCBWI, both with rhyming manuscripts. In addition, her verse has been published in children’s magazines such as Highlights and Ladybug. She joined the 12×12 challenge in 2012, and is thrilled to now serve as a Rhyming Picture Books co-elf, as well as the elf for the Concept Books area of the forum. When she’s not writing, Carrie enjoys reading mystery novels, trying new recipes, and curling up on the couch for family games or movie nights. She lives outside Boston with her husband, son, daughter, and two cats who permit her to write in their cozy attic office.