An Incredible Flint Hills Journey
"Rock on Rachel" delivers an educational, entertaining and encouraging story. Illustrations, and five original musical songs will stimulate the imagination of young readers and youngster who enjoy being read to. During the journey across the Kansas Flint Hills, the reader along with Rachel, experiences' a land full of secrets and unusual characters, and the gift Rachel inherited from her great-grand pawpaw.
About the Author
Gail Radke lives on a small farm in Kansas where she’s surrounded by trees, lots of birds, deer, and a host of small critters. Gail was born into a loving family that believed in love, kindness, laughter, reading books, music – especially for dancing in the living room – and planting flowers everywhere there was a free spot. She learned to read early and discovered her passion for words. Devouring all types of books, she filled her own notebooks with poems and stories, often sharing them at the dinner table for her family’s enjoyment and much laughter.
As an adult, Gail became a feature writer for her local newspaper, and many of her horse-related stories were published in a horseracing magazine. Holding a master’s in Business and a master’s in Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution, Gail was a mediator for many years, serving on the Kansas Alternative Dispute Resolution Task Force. In addition to mediating family court mandates and special education issues in Kansas schools, she also participated in mediation for senior adults’ long-term care issues. Her work, which encompassed children to senior adults, sealed Gail’s belief that kindness is essential for all ages. That belief heightened her emphasis on kindness in her children’s book, Rock On Rachel.
Now retired, Gail enjoys farm life and late-night writing, inspired at times by her imaginary friends. The author believes in the three “E’s” when writing a story, whatever topic or target age. A story should be “Enjoyable, Educational, and Encouraging.” She also believes each day should begin and end with a joyful smile, a hug from a two-legged or four-legged hugger, and a warm chocolate chip cookie.
A Letter to You
Dear Porfect YOU,
This is YOUR letter from Porfect Me. No, it's not a misspelling. I am writing to YOU to let YOU in on one of the secrets of life. No One is perfect! Isn't that a relief? So, pour YOURself a cup of Porfectness. Drink it to the last drop each day and YOU will soon see how much wiggle room for happiness YOU now have to be Porfect YOU.
Before YOU close this book and it finds its way to the floor of YOUR closet, here are a few more beneficial tips, from Porfect ME. Life can be challenging and hard. Perhaps YOU have already been treated unkindly and experienced ugliness. It is truly painful when the gifts inside YOU are not understood or appreciated by others. Being scared, hurt, lonely, made fun of, or bullied, can be real struggles for anyone. YOU can't face it alone. Tell someone YOU trust about YOUR feelings. A strong helpful support system is right around YOU, in family, friends and teachers. They can comfort and guide YOU through rough times.
Porfect YOU is stronger than YOU think. Let your mind happily wander and wonder freely about possibilities. The things that YOU do and say have value and worth. YOU can choose to dream with gusto, venturing out with eagerness and move forward. Be true to YOURSELF and fulfill YOUR dreams, not those pushed on YOU by anyone else. Porfect YOU is talented in many ways more than YOU realize right now. Let YOUR heart be joyful and full of love to give to others and love YOURSELF.
Finally, we are all here to participate in life and share our glorious gifts with the world. Spread kindness like peanut butter and jelly to everyone YOU meet. (What a delicious world that would be!) Listen to their stories YOU never know what challenges they are facing. Be humble and respect and celebrate others who are not like YOU. Be brave. Use the bully boulders along your life's journey as stepping stones. Always remember, YOU are loved and truly special. No one is like Porfect YOU.
Love YOU till the stars fall from the sky,
- G.G. Grandma Gail (a.k.a. Porfect ME)
P.S. If YOU just blend in, the world will miss out on getting to know Porfect YOU!
Welcome to
Rock On, Rachel
You will enjoy and learn in your reading adventure things like, No one is perfect, but being Porfect gives you wiggle room to be you. You are a true Porfect gift to the world just the way you are.
Don't be afraid to make a mistake. We all make mistakes. Mistakes don't say who you are. The real truth is you learn from them. Can you find my 4 mistakes? A missing page number. Where is it supposed to be? Three spelling errors. Oh my! Where are they? Chap 7&8, page 216. The first 25 of you with correct answers will receive a "Porfect Me" cap and a big Thank You from Porfect me.
Have fun hunting.
Send the misspelled words here to receive your "Porfect Me" Cap
All songs written by Gail Radke and produced by Gina Cappuzzo
Musicians:
Walt Chambers - Guitarist, Studio Talent, music programming, Gina Cappuzzo - Keyboard
Songs:
"Besties" - Vocals & Harmony - Terri Laddasau, Giggles - Braxton Handy
"Gravel Gritz" - Vocals & Harmony - Terry Hancock, Harmony - Gina Cappuzzo & Terri Laddasau
"Kind-i-tude & Shine-i-tude" - Vocals & Harmony - Terri Laddasau
"Oolites" - Vocals & Harmony - Terri Laddasau, Tha Thugs - John Laddasau & Walt Chambers
"KS Bus" - Vocals & Harmony - Terry Hancock, Harmony - Gina Cappuzzo
All songs were recorded at Sound Works Recording Studio. Thank you, Andy Oxman.
Spreading
Kindness
We would love to hear about your act of kindness stories so we can share it on the website with others. Just your first name is all we need and each month we will add a name to the flag.