Pinky and Peanut Author Bios

Deena Cook and Cherie McIntosh met in 1997 when they

were hired as teachers at St. Louise Elementary School in

Bellevue, Washington. They became immediate friends and discovered they shared a passion for writing. They would often get together and write down thoughts and ideas for future stories. In 2006, they took those ideas and began writing their first chapter book. They collaborated well during this process while balancing motherhood and writing. This chapter book would later be known

as Pinky and Peanut.

Deena Cook’s passion for writing began when she was seven years old. Her dream of writing a children’s book became a reality in 2007 when her first book Pinky and Peanut: the Adventure Begins was published. Deena is a graduate of Washington State University with a B.A. in Elementary Education. She also has a master’s degree in Educational Technology from City University in Bellevue, WA. She began to develop her ideas and content for the books

while being a second grade teacher. Deena and her husband live in Bellevue, with their three children.

Cherie McIntosh’s love for teaching evolved into a dream of writing a children’s book. This passion helped launch the Pinky and Peanut book series.Along with her co-author, Deena Cook, Cherie promotes Pinky and Peanut by speaking to schools, children’s groups, professional groups and other venues.

Cherie is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Early Childhood Education and an endorsement in Special Education. She has a master’s degree in Educational Technology from City University in Bellevue, WA.
Along with her passion for writing, Cherie taught kindergarten and second grade for 13 years. She resides in Renton, Washington with her husband and
two children.

 

The illustrator, Trina Scruggs Sullivan, attended St. Louise School and was a former student of Cook’s. When Cook and McIntosh needed a good illustrator, who better to mentor than their former student.