Interview with Corey Manning

Q: Why did you decide to write a children’s book?

A: When my kids were growing up, they had a lot of questions about life, loss, fitting in, and making friends. I wanted to be able to answer their questions in a way that validated their feelings and gave them a safe space to talk about these things.

Q: Tell us about The Adventures of Pee Wee and Tinfoil…what’s it about?

A: The Adventures of Pee Wee and Tinfoil is about two unique characters finding friendship and comfort where you least expect it. Pee Wee is a lonely worm who has a chance encounter with a yellow finch named Tinfoil. After sharing their struggles of feeling loneliness, grief, and not belonging, they quickly realize that they are not so different and begin an unlikely friendship.

Q: How do Pee Wee and Tinfoil find common ground and develop this friendship?

A: Pee Wee and Tinfoil are each struggling to fit in and feeling lonely. They discover that they both love to read and it’s something that brings them together, showing that even though we might seem very different on the outside, oftentimes we have things in common if we can open our minds and our hearts. Reading is a great way to establish these bonds!

Q: You use animals to tell your story…why not use actual kids?

A: My family and I live on a working farm, so we get to observe lots of different animals and how they behave and interact with each other. By giving animals human-like characteristics, I create characters that children can easily identify with and empathize with, regardless of their own experiences or cultural backgrounds.

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Book Title: The Adventures of Pee Wee and Tinfoil
Author Name: Corey Manning
Pub Date: May 22, 2024
Book Category/Genre: Children’s Fiction
Page Count:25
Publisher: Book Baby Publishing (self-published)

Website: https://www.peeweeandtinfoil.com/

About the Author:

Corey Manning is life-long musician and passionate storyteller who believes in teaching the power of empathy and understanding. Drawing from personal experience, Manning crafts heartfelt children’s stories that explore universal themes including loss, grief, friendship and belonging. 

As the father of five and an active farmer, Manning has observed first-hand the relationship between children, animals and the natural world. By focusing on the unique personalities of animals, his stories not only entertain, but provide a way for parents to have difficult conversations, and a safe space for children to explore their feelings while learning valuable coping skills.

When not writing, Manning can be found on his farm in Sonoma County, California with his wife Emily, his daughter Grace, and their two dogs and four cats.