Denise Bennett Minnerly has been an art educator and artist for the last thirty-five years.She graduated from University of Vermont and continued her education at the The Arts Students League of N.Y and Silvermine Arts Center. She was inspired to write picture books based on her own experience with art and life. Her debut book "The Color Tree" is about a boy who single handedly changes the world using color in an imaginary setting. Her purpose was to give children a sense of empowerment while revealing an understanding of color. Two other books soon followed "Molly Meets Mona" and "Painting the Town" combining her love of art and art history."Ben and Scout" is a departure from using art as a backdrop but still giving tools to children to navigate through difficult times.She began an after school art program and continued teaching in Westport, Ct while showing her own artwork in gallery and museum settings.