Last summer, award-winning author Doug Snelson was hard at work on his next book, Everybody Deserves a Hug. With the coming release date of Aug. 1, little did Snelson know how appropriate that title was going to be considering how the pandemic, combined with social unrest, has brought about trying times for many people.

“My aim was to present a timeless, universal message embracing love, kindness, and understanding,” he said. “It’s what the world needs now more than ever.”

Working in collaboration with his illustrator/designer daughter, Renée Snelson, he said the book consists of rhyming…