p and p

Pinky and Peanut meet a new friend named Sleepy Bear

2012-01-17T17:20:00.000-08:00

As you know, Cherie and I attended Bookfest this Fall with Pinky and Peanut. While we were there, we had the honor of meeting author and blogger Kathleen Hunter. ( www.kathleenhunterwrites.com ) Cherie and I would love for you to go to this site. Kathleen does a great job giving literacy tips to parents and educators.
Not only is Kathleen an author and blogger, but Kathleen has two very special friends who love to review books for her. Both Moosey Moose (Travel stories) and Sleepy Bear (book reviews for ages 6-10 ) take the latest books and tell their readers and friends what they thought about these new stories.

GUESS WHAT???

We were extremely honored when Kathleen asked us to meet Sleepy Bear and share our stories with him. According to Sleepy Bear as he began reading our adventures, "this is the best day to stay inside and stay warm with my puppy, hot cocoa with goo-gobs of whippy cream, and cookies to nibble on". How wonderful while reading our books. Thanks Sleepy Bear!

Sleepy Bear is a very smart bear. He's a little shy but he has a very big heart. And he loves to read! Each month he hosts a book club for kids. He likes to get ideas for books to read from kids who write to him. So, send him your comments and suggestions atSleepyBearWrites.blogspot.com.

Happy Holidays from Pinky and Peanut

2011-12-17T08:40:00.000-08:00

Cherie and I wanted to wish all of you a very happy holiday. Thank you for supporting us this past year. We have met so many wonderful readers, parents, publishers, authors as well as many countless others. We wanted to thank you for the support of The Seattle Ronald McDonald House. It was so special to drop off books and a check to them Friday morning. As always, we do this in your name.
As we look forward to 2012, we easily count our blessings and you are one of them. We look forward to sharing new adventures with you in 2012.

Stay warm, stay safe and always follow your dreams!

Deena Cook
&
Cherie McIntosh

Pinky and Peanut attending the Northwest Book Fest October 1st & 2nd

2011-09-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

NORTHWEST BOOKFEST

October 1 & 2, 2011, 10am – 6pm.

Peter Kirk Park, 202 Third Street, Kirkland, WA.

Over fifty author panels, hundreds of authors, writing and publishing workshops, family programs and more! FREE!

We will be there selling and signing!

Click on the link below to download a schedule and map of this event!

http://www.northwestbookfest2011.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NW-Bookfest-2011-Days.pdf

Pinky and Peanut will be attending Girlfest

2011-09-21T11:02:00.001-07:00

Cherie and I will be at Girlfest this Saturday celebrating everything good about being a girl. Stop by and say hello.

Girlfest

Century Link Fieldhouse

http://www.girlscoutsww.org/girlfest

Book signing at JJ Books this Saturday, September 17th

2011-09-15T06:43:00.000-07:00

We will be at JJ Books in Bothell from 11-2pm on Saturday signing Pinky and Peanut books. Please come by and say hello. So excited that the Fall book signings kick off in two days!

6530 31st Dr SE, Bothell, WA, 98012-6086

The owners of JJ books, Jason and June

A fabulous book for your children

2011-07-13T04:20:00.000-07:00

Cherie and I recently met the author of What children Need to learn to Read at the Washington Homeschool convention in Puyallup in June. After taking this book home to read and review, Cherie and I were impressed with the activities and descriptions within this book. This book is full of wonderful ideas to encourage a love of reading in your child. The ideas and songs work hand-in-hand to create fun and interactive activities for children. We both have read this book and highly recommend any parent, family member or teacher to try this book out and see exactly what we see: a book that will help and propel your child into a life-long-love of learning.

Review

How different would your life be if you couldn't read or write? I bet the difference would be dramatic. For one thing, you wouldn't be looking at this page of seemingly meaningless characters. For another, you'd be way less connected to and informed about the world around you. And no matter what you were seeking in life, your options would be dramatically limited. But what about the other end of the spectrum? What if you could read and write and communicate with clarity and confidence? You would have the opportunity to connect at a deeper level with your community and the world around you. And in doing so, your ability to achieve the life of your dreams would be greatly enhanced. If you are interested in providing your child with these powerful tools that lead to a lifetime of success, then you are holding the right book in your hands. Michelle Vallene's book "What Children Need to Learn to Read" is the perfect way to start your child's journey to literacy. The fun and educational activities in this book are a great way to ignite your child's love for reading. Talk about quality time with your child! The activities in this book will enhance your relationship with your child, stimulate their self-confidence, and foster a life-long appreciation for reading and writing. Have fun! --Foreward by Derek Munson, Author of the award-winning children's book, Enemy Pie:

Product Description

Your Child's First Reading Teacher Is ... YOU! "What Children Need to Learn to READ" is the ultimate resource for parents and other adults who want to encourage literacy in young children. Packed with age-appropriate tips, techniques, fun activities, checklists, and common-sense suggestions, this one-of-a-kind book will answer your questions, boost your confidence, and prepare you for one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do!! You'll learn: What works best for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary school students. How to make reading a FUN and familiar part of everyday life. Where to find the best children's books, magazines, games, websites, and more.

Pinky and Peanut will be attending the WHO convention

2011-06-11T06:47:00.000-07:00

Please come and visit our booth next weekend!

Friday, June 17th - 9:00 - 6:00

Saturday, June 18th - 9:00 - 4:00

Puyallup Fair & Events Center
110 9th Ave SW
Puyallup, WA 98371

Thank you Juanita Elementary

2011-06-11T06:44:00.000-07:00

Thank you for inviting Pinky and Peanut to your school to be a part of your Art Explosion evening. Although Deena was home with her new baby, Cherie and Trina raved about the wonderful time they had. We enjoyed meeting teachers,parents, students and friends at this event.

Pinky and Peanut; No Boys Allowed is a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner!

2011-03-09T09:55:00.000-08:00

Cherie and I are over the moon! No Boys Allowed has just been picked as a winner of the 2011 Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards. Thank you for all of your support and encouragement. We couldn't do this without all of you!!!!!!

Keep dreaming everyday!

Deena and Cherie

An exciting charity event March 6th

2011-02-09T10:30:00.000-08:00

Book signing this Saturday, February 5th at Creative Mom Toys

2011-02-01T18:15:00.000-08:00

Come and join Cherie and I this Saturday, February 5th, from 3-6pm at Creative Mom Toys in Renton, WA. We will be signing our books and helping celebrate the grand opening of a new fabulous store for the Eastside.

Creative Mom Toys Blog:

Local authors, Deena Cook and Cherie McIntosh, will be signing their children's chapter book series, Pinky and Peanut on Feb. 5th . This children's book series highlights characters that children can relate to. It emphasizes the delight and significance of childhood while teaching and entertaining young readers. The main characters, Pinky and Peanut, value the gift of this friendship. With a clubhouse, a journal , a scruffy dog and a bothersome brother, Pinky and Peanut learn that using imagination makes anything possible. Ages 5-9.

Creative Mom Toys

840 North 10th PL STE. A

Renton, WA 98057

Book Three is Here!!!

2010-12-01T18:12:00.000-08:00

Hello to all of our readers. Thank you for being patient as you waited for the release of book three. Pinky and Peanut; No Boys Allowed is available today for purchase through our website; http://www.pinkyandpeanut.com/. With the holidays here, this is the time to get your copy ordered and signed for your young reader. In addition, we are continuing our tradition of donating money for every book sold to the RMH of Western Washington.

Thank you as always for your support. We look forward to hearing from you all.

Sincerely, Deena and Cherie

Introducing...

2010-05-20T06:17:00.000-07:00

We would like to announce the upcoming release of Pinky and Peanut; No Boys Allowed, Fall , 2010! Thank you to all of our supporters from our families to our pen pals. Cherie and I have had a wonderful experience writing this new story. For those of you with boys who have enjoyed Scott and his antics, watch out! Scott is back and he has plans. Don't forget to spread the word this summer!
Dream Big!
Deena Cook

"Mom and Dad, I have something really important I would like to discuss with you..."
Oh no, Peanut thought. When Scott acted like this, it could only mean trouble for her.
"Great," said Dad," save it for dinner. It will be our family discussion tonight."
If there was one thing Peanut and Scott could agree on it was that this could NOT wait until dinner.
"Can't I just tell you Dad?" Scott whined.
"Scott," Mom said, "wait until dinner."

Don't miss out on this new journey as Pinky and Peanut continue on their awesome adventures! What will happen when Scott decides he has a new brilliant plan? Will the girls love this plan or will Pinky and Peanut have to work together to solve a new problem. Coming Fall, 2010

Julie and Julia... Their dreams... and ours

2010-03-28T13:31:00.001-07:00

Happy Spring to all of you. I hope the Winter weather is making it's goodbye promptly to you so that you may now enjoy the cherry blossoms, tulips and daffodils making their appearance.

I'm not sure how many of you have seen the movie, Julie and Julia starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. In a nutshell, this is a story about Julie a 30 year old struggling writer who attempts to create every dish within Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. As this beautiful story is weaved, the viewer watches the struggle of not only Julie as she works toward creating a fan base for her blog but also Julia Child as she struggles to publish her now world famous book. It doesn't matter how many times I have seen this movie, I cannot help but feel a strange and helpful connection to both ladies.

Cherie and I have been told countless times that lightning strikes on an author and that is how a strong author emerges. Hard work, passion and love of the art of writing all play into becoming the author a person wants to be... but there is more. For every author who has made it big, there needs to be one, just one person from the publishing world to see the shine of the manuscript. The day in and day out of reaching this goal can be daunting and yet it's not to us.

Cherie and I have felt the gift of these books a million times over. We chose the unconventional path of self publishing because we knew we needed to get our story out to the children. We knew in our heart of hearts, the passion for keeping children children as long as we could in this fast paced society was a must. We realized early on that our road to a big publishing house would take time. We also realized that if we hadn't followed this path, we wouldn't have experienced the amazing things we have on our Pinky and Peanut journey. From the letters from children talking to the characters Pinky and Peanut to the heart filled letters from moms and dads sharing reading success with their children. This journey has been one filled with amazing hope and success.

Cherie and I are still waiting for lightning to strike. We look forward to the day that in addition to being able to order our books from any vendor, we will be stocked by most stores . We look forward to second and third additions as well as being able to attend more speaking engagements. For now, we will continue producing our stories and reaching out to our readers. We will continue to support the Ronald McDonald House because this is our passion. (this will never change)We will continue on our path without veering once because we have the hope and know without a doubt lightning will strike and we will share this journey with all of you. You are what has made our journey what it is. The support of Pinky and Peanut makes everyday on this journey amazing to us!

Until the next time. May all of your dreams be filled with fun and amazing journeys and may all of those dreams come true.

Deena Cook

The Importance of Reading Books to Children

2010-02-16T13:55:00.000-08:00

The Importance of Reading Books to Children

Please take a moment to read this wonderful article. The link is above.

As all of you know, Cherie and I are obsessed with getting children to read. In this fast paced society, the importance of slowing down and using your imagination is a MUST! Of course we want our children to succeed in this world. Who wouldn't? Who doesn't want the best for them? We want our children to experience each and everything life has to offer. Whether this be through sports, the arts, or technology. Somewhere along the line though we are getting lost in the shuffle. All running, no down time.

I watch children running from activity to activity each day. Sometimes more than one in a day. I am all for being healthy and active. But what is all this running costing our children? Before we know it, our children will be grown. What will the memories be? Will the memories be of car rides while watching TV or playing the DS? Will it be drive through s and homework in the car? Or will your child remember times when imagination was a best friend. An adventure outside where anything was possible? Traveling to far off lands was normal and saving the princess was a must. So how do we bridge this gap? We don't want our children to be sheltered from the world. But do we want them to be sheltered from themselves?

Reading provides a place where imagination goes wild. Where a story is weaved into a child's head. A story that starts conversations between parents and children. A story that starts a game on the playground. A story that let's a child enjoy the magic of childhood.

So my blog is this today. Allow your children to grab life and run with it. Enrich them with many experiences that will round them out as a well spoken, well traveled, well educated adults. Just remember in all this running that childhood is fleeting. There won't always be time for make believe and story reading. Don't forget to enrich your child's life through books. Don't forget to allow your child to be a child and just...slow...down.

I hope today is a wonderful day for you filled with wonderful memories, family game times and story sharing. I wish you happiness and dreams coming true!

Deena

Greatness

2010-02-07T20:30:00.000-08:00

What an exciting evening tonight. The Saints won the Superbowl for the first time and a show called Undercover Boss premiered. What a fabulous concept. This got me thinking about what makes greatness. What makes your life dream filled and full filled?

How many of us were smiling tonight as they showed New Orleans after the game. Whether or not you wanted this team to win the Superbowl, the beauty of seeing a once broken city now shining with pride once again fills the heart. These individuals have worked so very hard to rebuild this awesome city. Tonight dreams were full filled and pride filled the streets. It's amazing for me to watch as a place once destroyed, now celebrates once again. I saw greatness in the players as well as the people of New Orleans.

Following this game was a new show called Undercover Boss. You may find it interesting that I am putting this show in the same category as a great city or under a title called greatness. But this is what I got from this show tonight.

We put rules on what greatness is. Greatness is being rich. Greatness is success. Greatness is a fabulous home. Greatness is... you fill in the blank. But how many times have you stopped to realize that greatness doesn't come in just wealth and fame. Greatness comes from all parts of the world each person playing his or her part to make this world go round.

In the show we met a man who cleaned garbage off the ground. Instead of complaining, this man worked with a happy heart as he was creating a better environment. There was the mom who worked as hard as she could carrying three jobs under the umbrella of one at her company. Why? For the love and success of her family. We also met a woman who collected garbage in her garbage truck who spent time talking with the neighbors in the community. One lady read her a poem about how much she means to her. This lady in the midst of a difficult job, spent time touching peoples lives daily.

So what is greatness? What is following your dreams. Whatever brings you happiness, contentment and bliss. It can be found producing a movie, writing a book or cleaning a building. If your heart fills with pride with what you do for others, you have succeeded in greatness. Being able to look beyond labels or price tags and get to the heart of life. We are all equally important. We are all contributing to this planet. We all can find greatness.

I hope that where ever you are in life; you are happy. If not, what would that dream be? What would you do today to bring you bliss? What is one step you can take at the beginning of this new week that will take you closer to greatness? I wish this of you always. May all your dreams come true.

Deena

“If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.”
nhsalan
T. Alan Armstrong quotes

What Makes Children Read

2010-01-04T17:12:00.000-08:00

As I was looking up information on what makes a child a strong reader, I came upon this wonderful article by Elizabeth Grice. Ms. Grice after interviewing a teacher quoted him as stating that "Between the ages of four and nine," he says, "reading books is regarded as optional. Some schools take it seriously, but others say there is no time and fall back on worksheets which are torn-up extracts of books. It is really dangerous. Children don't even read the whole chapter. The idea of engaging with what happens, with the thoughts and feelings of a story, has disappeared"

If you have a few moments, please read this completed article by Ms. Grice. Not only is this an engaging article, but it may change how you look at reading with young children.

Happy Monday,
http://tinyurl.com/y9tcrzq once you click on this link click on the reading link on the left of the page. Happy reading!!!
Deena

2010-01-01T10:19:00.001-08:00

2010 Looking forward to happy times!

2010-01-01T09:41:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

I am sitting here writing to you feeling very reflective about the last year. 2009 was a great year for Cherie and I. We attended different schools and speaking engagements, met some fantastic authors, went to amazing book shows and grew our business. We hope your 2009 was a great year as well.
Now onward to 2010 and our new years resolutions. This is something most of us do on the eve of a new year and new beginning. How many times have we said the same resolution over and over again? Well this year will be different. A new decade marks a new start for all of us. 2009 was about saying goodbye to bad habits and behaviors. 2010 will be the start of new and exciting journeys for all of us.

The new year will bring about a couple of changes for Pinky and Peanut. We will be launching book three this year, No Boys Allowed and finishing up book four. Start looking for us in Barnes and Noble and other retailers.As you all know, you can order our book through these retailers. This is the year, we are looking forward to meeting with companies and stocking our series consistently. Last, look for weekly posts on our blog site. Cherie and I will be taking turns writing blogs for you as well as asking other contributing authors to chime in.

I have added a progression of pictures to our blog today. It is the evolution of two little girls named Pinky and Peanut. It's amazing how a little dreams have evolved into such a fun journey.

We wish you all the best in 2010. May all the dreams you set out to do this year come true. Please email us any questions or comments you have about our books or about having speaking engagements in your area.(email@pinkyandpeanut.com) We look forward to hearing from you.
Cheers to you all!
Deena Cook

Happy Holidays from Deena and Cherie

2009-11-24T12:35:00.000-08:00

Can you believe another year has flown by? 2010? Can this be true? Cherie and I just finished attending the Renton Community Center Holiday Hassle Free Show this past weekend and had a blast. The people we met, the food we tried and the presents we bought were all fabulous. We met so many children who bought our books. We have already received feedback from a couple of these children through our website. We cannot tell you how much it means to us each time we receive a letter from a child describing their favorite parts of the books. We just heard from a teacher that a child recently used our books for a book report. This just is such a blessing to hear. This has been and continues to be a gift we cherish daily.

Back to 2010! Cherie and I began our journey of Pinky and Peanut March of 2006. We can't believe how fast time has flown and where this journey has taken us. No Boys Allowed is about to begin production and we are still enjoying giving interviews for the series and attending shows.

As we move into this next year, let us wish you all a happy holiday. We wish you many dreams coming true, blessed family reunions and health. We look forward to sharing an exciting 2010 with all of you.

May you be happy today, tomorrow and always,
Deena and Cherie

A review from the Old Schoolhouse Magazine November 2009

2009-11-02T17:15:00.000-08:00

Please click on the article for a larger view. Thank you so much Lisa from the Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Not only was it a pleasure to meet you at the home school convention, but we are absolutely grateful for all of your kind words.
If you home school your children or want quality articles surrounding raising your children please look to http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com

Interview from the Bellevue Reporter 2009

2009-10-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

What inspires you? For former St. Louise School teachers Cherie McIntosh and Deena Cook, it’s childhood imagination.

The duo has recently launched their new book series titled Pinky and Peanut. The characters get their names from nicknames that Deena and Cherie have actually call their own children.

“We both wrote an equal amount and the ideas just kept flowing,” relates Cook.

When asked how they came up with their ideas, the authors said they want to encourage “Kids to just be kids” and to simply enjoy the childhood years.

“We see kids growing up too fast,” noted McIntosh, “we wanted to provide interesting, confirming, reinforcing, stories and characters that kids could easily relate to.”

There’s even more heart and history behind Pinky and Peanut. 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 who was, coincidently, ready to give up her artistic passion as other doors were not opening with opportunity.

Good fortune has reunited the threesome to do the Pinky and Peanut Series. They have written a second volume titled Pinky and Peanut, Trouble Times Two, and are working on a number three in the series, Pinky and Peanut, No Boys Allowed.

The authors say they emphasize the positive attributes portrayed by the characters. “Kindness” and “goodness” are the order of the day, they said, and have made the stories clean, wholesome, and funny.

“This is a realistic, engaging, story written with humor and insight,” relates St. Louise School librarian, Mary Carson. "The books touch on friendship, sibling rivalry, pets, and school experiences. The multiple copies of each book we have in the library are constantly checked out.”

The Pinky and Peanut series is available on their website at www.pinkyandpeanut.com, Amazon.com and at all major book stores in the area.

Our journey to the PNBA in Portland, WA

2009-09-16T06:12:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, Cherie and I had the honor of attending the PNBA (Pacific Northwest Book Association Show) in Portland, WA. While there, we met many amazing authors, publishers and book buyers. Al Galasso, owner of the company NABE showcased our books at his booth. Cherie and I were able to talk to potential buyers as well as sign our books. I have added some of the pictures from the show. The first one is from the author of My Tooth Fell in my Soup, Erik Korhel. The next, is a picture Cherie and I took with Ed Nixon, author of the novel, The Nixons. Last, we have a picture with the owner of the NABE, Al Galasso. Once again, Cherie and I count our blessings. Writing these books is a dream come true. As we gain knowledge of the published book world, we are constantly amazed at how much we are learning daily. It’s a great ride and we look forward to the next adventure for our series. Until next time, Deena Cook

Welcome Baby Sullivan

2009-08-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

Our illustrator Trina,just had a beautiful baby this past week! Congrats Trina and J.W. Welcome Baby Sullivan.

QUBO

2009-08-18T07:45:00.001-07:00

qubo® is a groundbreaking bilingual, multi-platform entertainment destination for children that focuses on literacy, values and healthy lifestyles while celebrating the unlimited possibilities of a child's imagination. Most of qubo's shows are associated with popular children's books, and the network's interstitial programming continues to reinforce messages about early literacy and healthy living.

I was recently given the opportunity to review Qubo and have to say I am impressed. My children have been enjoying the show Veggie Tales for years. My big surprise came when I saw that the show was on one of our WA stations. This is a site parents, teachers and caregivers should be aware of.
Cherie and I have stated that the purpose of writing Pinky and Peanut was to preserve childhood innocence for as long as possible in a fast paced world.With the speed of technology, television and childhood adventures changing, it became imperative that we help bring children back to a place where "Kids can be kids". Qubo has shown this through and through with shows like Veggie Tales, 3-2-1 Penguins, and Turbo dogs as well as countless others. www.qubo.com
Currently broadcast on NBC Saturday mornings, ION Television Wednesday- Friday afternoons and Telemundo weekend mornings (check local listings) qubo also includes a 24/7 qubo Channel and website, www.qubo.com.
The road for a child growing up in a fast paced world can be bumpy and scary. There is less time for play, more junk food and less time letting kids use their imaginations. P & P Publishing is a strong supporter of Qubo and we hope that you will give them a chance as well. We have one chance with our kids for creating a quality life. What will it take for all of us to join in?
Cheers!
Deena

KOMO 4

2009-06-01T21:29:00.000-07:00

Today Cherie and I ventured into new and uncharted territory. We were on live TV in Seattle. Wow! That is about the best word I can use to summarize this experience. The first thing I want to say is that Cherie and I had a blast practicing our questions for the broadcast. I've never laughed so hard or smiled so big as when we tried out our questions.
When we arrived at KOMO, we were asked if speaking on the radio would also be something we would like to do. OF COURSE IT IS! I had had a previous experience on my friends radio station and looked forward to another shot at this media experience. Cherie did phenomenal. The DJ's were great and the time flew by too quickly.
Then it was time to go live on TV....
I wish I could show you with a picture what an amazing newsroom KOMO 4 is. Every newscaster that is seen on TV was sitting, working at their desk in a semicircle configuration. It was beyond surreal. After being miked, Cherie and I stood and waited for the commercial break to end. "Okay Connie, in 10,9,8..." There was no turning back. This was by far one of the most exciting things I've ever done. It flew by and Connie Thompson was fabulous. What a blessing to be interviewed by her.
I wish I could capture today and bottle up all the feelings I had. The nerves, the laughter, the excitement and the adrenalin. Again I will say to all of you...follow you dreams no matter how big or small. Take on life with gusto and with excitement and may all of your dreams come true!
Deena

Reviews

2009-04-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

Here is what you are saying about Pinky and Peanut!
1. what a awesome book! Coffeegirl
My kids loved it! Can't wait for more books to come. Funny, engaging and real.

2 Achild
this book is SO funny! i love to read it all the time! i cant wait till the third book! YAYY!

3. Carrie Blanton "CB"
My daughter loved all the funny adventures. This is a great beginning chapter book. She keeps asking for the next one!

4.Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)
Former second-grade teachers Deena Cook and Cherie McIntosh present Pinky and Peanut: The Adventure Begins, a novel for young people about two young girls, Pinky and Peanut, each of whom is unhappy about being forced to move to a new town at the end of summer before starting second grade. Yet a chance meeting in their new hometown leads them to a summer adventure of friendship and fun together. A handful of simple black-and-white illustrations intersperse this entertaining and delightful story about the joy of getting to know new people.

5.By E.R. "A dad from the West Coast"
My kids loved this book. What a refreshing story. The authors kept the interest with my children through fun, interactive writing and the illustrations were a huge hit with my daughter. She loved going back to the pictures after each chapter.My kids are ready for book two. Keep it up!

6.Kirstin Greig "MamaKG"

This book was sweet and thoughtful, without "talking down" to the young ones. There was a great message, friendship and a fun to read storyline. I absoulutely enjoyed reading it as an adult, and found myself smiling the whole time. I hadn't read the first one, as I just happened to stumble on this second of the series. I am going to buy the first one right away!

7.A Kid's Review H.C
I like Pinky and Peanut because I could not put the book down. I wanted to keep reading it and reading it! I also like this book because it is easy and fun like the first book. I love their adventures. I hope there are more! I can't wait for the next book. -H.C.

Special Offer...While supplies last!

2009-04-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

Just like Pinky and Peanut, we want to do our part to help the environment. When you purchase any two books from the Pinky and Peanut series, you will receive a free journal w/pen. Spark a child’s creativity with these environmentally friendly recycled journals. While supplies last.
(You can see a picture of the journals on our website)

Don’t forget to check out our blog to see what we are up to and where we will be next!

www.pinkyandpeanut.com

Happy New Year, 2009!

2009-02-17T15:02:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all of our readers!

What an exciting time 2009 has turned out to be. Cherie and I have talked to the students of St. Monica's and are awaiting our TV debut on March 30th on Komo 4 News. Although this is a new and unknown experience, we look forward to seeing how the TV world works.
This upcoming interview has prompted me to really sit and think about what I want for 2009. As always I begin as Cherie does by counting all the blessings we have encountered through the writing of the series. I can't believe just three years ago, the idea of Pinky and Peanut was in the beginning phases of writing. Now that 2009 is into its second month, I am beginning to write a list of what I want to accomplish over the next year both professionally and personally.
I think it is important that all of us set goals constantly that our students and the children in our lives see us work toward. Not only are we living life to the fullest, but we are showing our children the importance of being a lifelong learner. Today I embarked on taking a very difficult kickboxing class. Although this may seem small and trivial to some, this was a big accomplishment for someone who was afraid of failing. My children went with me to the gym and heard all about the class after. They saw their mom try something new that was challenging.
What is your goal that can show your children what a lifelong learner is? Is it writing your first children’s book/novel? Is it a 5k run in your town? Will you go back to school for the first time in years? Whatever your goal may be, always strive for something new in your life that will bring a renewed excitement and challenge to your everyday life. Just imagine the seeds of growth you are creating in those little minds.
Happy New Year to all of you. I hope that 2009 brings growth, peace and much happiness.As always one of our biggest blessings come from the support of our readers and their families and friends. Without you, we wouldn't be creating new books or attending fabulous speaking engagements.THANK YOU!!!!!
Be on the lookout for Pinky and Peanut; No Boys Allowed coming to bookstores and online retailers early Fall 2009.

Deena

Writer's Digest

2008-11-22T19:12:00.000-08:00

Review from Writer's Digest

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning "poor" and 5 meaning "excellent,: Please evaluate the following:
Structure and organization: 5
Grammar: 5,
Cover design: 5
Judge commentary:
What did you like best about the book?
The cover illustration is bright and bold and showcases two appealing looking girls (and a dog), which will interest kid readers into opening the book. The interior illustrations are just as nice, capturing the expressions and characters of Pinky and Peanut with bouncy cheerfulness. The story opens quickly with Pinky’s desperate unhappiness at having to move—a theme that will be familiar to many kids. Pinky sounds like a real girl and her thoughts and opinions ring true, and the story of how she got her name(and how she feels about her real name) is a nice one. Peanut is also a real girl, with real thoughts and aspirations. The tone and language of the story is smooth and flowing. The adventures of the girls are ones that real girls would have—and ones that real girl readers would understand and love reading about. The house Peanut finds in her backyard is just the type of thing girls dream of discovering—and the way the girls are able to communicate with walkie-talkies is also one real girls would love. The rivalry Peanut has with her brother is realistic, too. The ending is nice, and a satisfying conclusion to a fun, perky, well written story.

Book Two is Here!!!

2008-08-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

Hello to all of our friends,
We are beyond excited to tell you that after a lot of patience and a lot of waiting, book two, Pinky and Peanut; Trouble Times Two has arrived. The feedback we have received by fans of the series has been so wonderful to Cherie and I. How can we even begins to thank you. We feel encouraged, blessed and thrilled to be starting a new adventure with the girls and you. As you read book two, we encourage you to write a review on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. This will help spread the word of our series and help us reach our goal of becoming a world wide success. Please don't forget to check back weekly as we will update the site with new and exciting information. We will keep you informed on where we are speaking and would love to have you attend. Until next time. Remember to keep learning and keep growing and never, never stop dreaming.
Deena and Cherie

2008-07-17T14:35:00.000-07:00

There are some things in life that make up a good day. A sunny afternoon spent swinging with your kids. A new baby who is peaceful and sleeps. The sound of a child laughing as she dresses up as Curious George for the umpteenth time.The smell of the fresh veggies growing in your garden. The sound of the UPS truck stopping in front of your house...What??? Well that doesn't really fit the previous thoughts now does it? It does when the UPS truck delivers something that was unexpected and yet the best surprise of the day. Have you figured it out yet? Yes, two copies of book two arrived on my doorstep and Cherie and I get to hold book two for the first time. I've been sitting here in front of the two books looking back and forth between them.(I know Cherie is doing the same thing as we speak). We are so excited to share this new book with you and want you to know that sometime next week, the book will be available to all.

There are some of our best pen pals out there(you know who you are :) ) and we can 't wait to hear from you again. In fact, we are hoping that we'll have many more pen pals this time around. Once again Cherie and I want to say thank you. You made book two possible with your support, your kind thoughts and your excitement for Pinky and Peanut.

Until next week friends,

Deena and Cherie

Happy Summer Friends!

2008-07-13T14:14:00.000-07:00

July, 2008

Hello to you all from Cherie and Deena!
We just wanted to spend a few minutes updating you on the happenings within Pinky and Peanut. So much has been going on and we feel as though summer is swiftly passing before our eyes.
To begin with, congratulations to our newest member of the Pinky and Peanut team. Cherie and Michael have welcomed a beautiful baby boy to their family. What an exciting time to welcome this little peanut into the world. Welcome little one!
Next, BOOK TWO IS BEING PRINTED AS WE SPEAK!!! I know we said by July, but sometimes just as in a remodel of a home, things come up and the date gets pushed back. We have worked really hard to get this book out to all of our readers as fast as possible while writing a worthwhile book. (thank you kids for your patience).
Also, we have updated the website for you to look at. We have created a store for merchandise, we have ordered beautiful journals just like Pinky and Peanut have and we have added book two, Pinky and Peanut; Trouble Times Two on the site. We are so excited for this new addition to the website. Be on the lookout in the Fall for new activities, coloring sheets and a continual updating of the site.

As we move through this summer, Cherie and I continue to count our blessings. Blessings for our families, blessings for our friendship and blessings for all of our wonderful readers. We are looking forward to your opinions and discussions about the new story.

For all the readers out there, remember to continue reading through the whole summer. Reading is a gift that can take you away on adventures that can be quite magical. Remember to keep learning and keep growing.

Until next time friends!
Cherie and Deena
May all your dreams come true

2008-06-25T13:03:00.000-07:00

Gearing up for book 2!

2008-05-29T21:35:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!
I know it's been awhile but with school winding down, I am having to play my "A" game as a mom and kick life into high gear. I'm sure there are a few moms and dads who can relate. Everything on the Pinky and Peanut front is looking great. Cherie, Trina and I spent a morning with the kids of St. Madeleine Sophie's. What a darling group of children. Very well behaved I might add. Wow! In a week, Cherie and I have a book signing/talk at the Southcenter Barnes and Noble. Thank you Ana for setting this up. I look forward to meeting up with readers of the series and possible future readers.

Be on the look out for book two, Pinky and Peanut; Trouble Times Two. Cherie and I are putting the final touches on our proof and away it will go. The next step will be to open that marvelous box marked P & P Publishing. It's very much like Christmas to me. (I should've been a book agent or bookstore owner) There is nothing like opening a new box of books and holding the first copy or your book. What a fun way to start summer.
We just wanted to send out a BIG thank you to all of our fans and friends. Thank you for the wonderful feedback and thank you for being such a special part of our lives.

Remember,

Never stop learning, never stop growing!

Deena Cook

2008-05-01T14:19:00.001-07:00

Hello everybody! It's been a few weeks since our last post but we're back. Cherie and I just finished a whirlwind 5 days in the windy city of Chicago. Wow, what a beautiful city. Our tour guide was Cherie's brother Paul and he did a fabulous job showing us the sites of this marvelous city. Cherie and I were lucky weather wise after sitting on the runway of Ohare airport due to lightening. Saturday and Sunday were phenomenal and Cherie and I felt so very blessed to get to know this new city. We would like to say thank you to all of our new friends from Chicago. The trip wouldn't have been the same without you. We accomplished our goal of selling books and getting to know new people. After a broken cell phone, a ten hour day for flight and a couple near missed appointments from chasing down taxis, Cherie and I were glad to see Chicago survived our visit. Thank you Paul, friends and Chicago. See you all real soon.

-Deena

Thank you Chicago!!!!

2008-05-01T14:17:00.001-07:00

St. Madeleine Sophie April, 2008

2008-04-21T15:12:00.000-07:00

Thank you St. Madeleine Sophie's Mothers and Others group.(thank you Eileen and Jane) Cherie and I had a wonderful time sharing with you our experiences as authors and mothers. For all moms out there, here are a few things we discussed today.

1. Everyone has a dream, it's up to us to find that dream.

2.There is always a way to make a dream come true. If it is something from your heart, life will find a way to make it work.

3.Remember the beautiful soul you have within you. We sometimes put ourselves last below everyone and everything in life. We deserve to live a full life without guilt.

4. When we follow our hearts, we become better wives, mothers, friends and humans.

5.Celebrate what makes you who you are. There has been no one just like you before you and there will be no one just like you after. This is your time to shine.

6.Life is fun! Laugh!Love!Live!

May all of your dreams come true!

Deena

Midwest Book Review

2008-04-05T18:45:00.000-07:00
(Oregon, WI USA) Former second-grade teachers Deena Cook and Cherie McIntosh present Pinky and Peanut: The Adventure Begins, a novel for young people about two young girls, Pinky and Peanut, each of whom is unhappy about being forced to move to a new town at the end of summer before starting second grade. Yet a chance meeting in their new hometown leads them to a summer adventure of friendship and fun together. A handful of simple black-and-white illustrations intersperse this entertaining and delightful story about the joy of getting to know new people.

St. Louise 2008

2008-04-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

Wow! Trina and I are just amazed at what a wonderful group of students St. Louise School has. Sadly, Cherie McIntosh was home ill during the author visit and was missed all day long. Trina and I spent the day talking to children in the grades kindergarten through fourth grade. Each grade listened unbelievably well and asked some of the most thoughtful questions. Trina captivated the students with her amazing drawing abilities. As for me, I remembered why I loved being a teacher. I had the best time talking to the children, telling stories and yes dancing around the room. (sometimes grownups don't realize I can be goofy :) ) I want to say to Mary Carson and St. Louise... THANK YOU. The day was an experience I will never forget and I can't wait to share many other stories with the children in the school.

God Bless all of you,

Deena Cook

We are at the Barnes and Noble in Issaquah,Crossroads,Downtown Bellevue and SouthCenter

2007-11-18T16:38:00.000-08:00
Happy Holidays to all!

Thank you for your support of Pinky and Peanut over the last two months. Cherie and I are constantly amazed by the support and the love we have been given since the book came out. We have met some amazing people and even more amazing children. Just an update about Pinky and Peanut. We have been selling books at Matthew's Thriftway on Lakemont Blvd and Salon on 4th in Renton WA. Both stores have graciously allowed us to sell our books and we are very excited about this. We have refilled our shipment at Matthew's three times and continue to count our blessings. Yesterday, while walking through our local Issaquah Barnes and Noble, I was imagining what our book would look like on the shelf when I saw the book actually on the shelf. Yup, I began to cry. This has been a life-long dream of mine come true. Wow! I can't even begin to share the excitement and gratitude I felt.

Thank you so much! Our cup definitely runneth over. :)

We would like to thank you all for everything and anything you have done to make our lives full. From a smile, to a congratulations to buying our books. This is an experience to be treasured and we are working hard to finish book two for Summer 2008. Happy holidays to all and we will see you in 2008!

Holiday Cheer!

Deena

Thank you St. Philomena!!!

2007-11-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

Wow! What an amazing experience today was for Cherie and I. We are blown away by the kindness shown to us at St. Philomena. We feel truly blessed to have met all of you. We were reminded today as to why we want to do these Christmas shows. It's more than selling books. This is about people. Meeting people, sharing stories and connecting to other amazing vendors. Thank you for all of the encouragement you gave us and all the smiles you brought to our faces. Happy holidays to all of you.
Deena and Cherie

An Amazing Journey

2007-09-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

I 100% agree with Deena--she expressed her thoughts just as I would have about this amazing journey we have been on. Deena and I have been friends for 10 years. We are alike in many ways and I think that is what has made this process so great. We can laugh about things, listen to each others ideas (and build off of them) and understand all the hard work that needs/needed to go into this project. Even during those long evenings when the light bulbs were not going off as we were writing, we were able to make the best of it.

Deena and I both had a dream of writing a children's book. Our friendship led us through years of teaching and now hopefully years of writing. We took the step to follow our dreams and no matter what happens with this book, we will always be able to say, "Look what we did!"

My passion for children in my 13 years of teaching is definitely reflected in this book. Children need to have time to be children. They need to play, to create, to imagine, to read....and to just be a kid. I am thrilled to have children read this story and see through their eyes, the excitement and wonder as they turn each page.

This is truly a blessing to me to share my love of reading with young children. My hope is that they will also in time, fulfill a dream or two that they have. It is important for them to know that they can follow their dreams and have them come true.

I want to thank my family and friends who supported me through this amazing journey. Your belief and your inspirations I hold close to my heart. I also thank all the students I have taught in the past for helping me see life through your eyes---to appreciate each day, to never be afraid to try and create new things, and in helping me remember that being a kid is the best time of your life.

Deena, I can't wait to continue to walk this journey with you. Pinky and Peanut have so many other adventures that they are waiting to experience. Ready, set....let's go!

For any one reading this, please feel free to post your comments and let us know what you think of the book, the characters, your child's thoughts.
I look forward to posting more as we go from writers, to marketers, to living our dream.

Cherie McIntosh

The Beginning

2007-09-20T07:16:00.001-07:00

This is the first blog for Pinky and Peanut. We are working on getting this book out to the public and are very excited to do so. It's hard to believe that the process of Pinky and Peanut has been 15 months. When Cherie mentioned this over a business dinner last night, I was floored. Where did time go? A couple things hit me after Cherie said this.
1. What a fun journey. Looking back at all of our late nights at Starbucks writing, laughing and bringing together our thoughts and dreams for this book has been the best.
2. We are living our truth and our dream Oh my! What a fabulous concept. Regardless of where the future lies with this book, (hopefully better and better each day) we have lived our dream. When you follow what your heart desires, life seems to just flow better. Stress seems less of a problem and you feel so accomplished. If we can convey anything it would be this. Follow your dream. Live your truth.
We are awaiting the shipment of Pinky and Peanut within the next few weeks. We are gearing up for a new learning experience. We are trading in our teaching hats (for the moment because you never lose your love of teaching) and becoming marketing and sales specialists in the literary world. Wow!
I feel completely blessed to have worked with Cherie on this book. The gifts she gave throughout helped me to grow and feel free to be creative in a safe environment. I'm not sure how many business partners can say that about each other. I look forward to many years of future Pinky and Peanut books as well as other writing endeavours we will undertake.
Thanks for reading this first blog. Please be sure to check on us weekly as we will add insightful articles from parenting experts, reviews of quality literary works that are beneficial to children(after Pinky and Peanut of course) and updates on where our new series is taking us.

Keep learning, keep growing!
Deena Cook