All net proceeds from my books are donated to nonprofit organizations that support our communities. My Books Safari From A-FariPack your suitcase and prepare for adventure! Safari From Afar-i is the seventh in a series of children’s books that offer a fast-paced world a few minutes to slow down. In this story, three friends leave their little towns to embark on a safari adventure on the African continent. With endangered mountain gorillas to giraffes, zebras and elephants as its beautifully illustrated backdrop, this book highlights the importance of respecting the animal kingdom and our environment, while also learning about new cultures and different ways of living life! For Teachers! Each of my books comes with suggested lesson programming/plans and learning activities that tie into PA’s Standards for Education. Order Signed Copies Order from Amazon Order Signed Copies Order from Amazon The Thrills and Chills of Cemetery Hill The colorful leaves are falling, the weather is growing chillier, and a group of neighborhood kids who grew-up across from the town cemetery is getting ready to meet-up and go trick-or-treating! “The Thrills and Chills of Cemetery Hill” is the sixth in a series of children’s books that offer a fast-paced world a few minutes to slow down. In this story, a group of neighborhood friends embarks on a fun-filled, yet somewhat creepy, night of trick-or-treating in their small town. The book highlights the importance of friendship and camaraderie and helping each other through a night that brings many treats, and a few tricks and surprises! There are also a variety of activities within this book that help children with early learning, particularly in the classroom. For Teachers! Each of my books comes with suggested lesson programming/plans and learning activities that tie into PA’s Standards for Education. Order Signed Copies Order from Amazon Order Signed Copies Order from Amazon We Drove Over a Creek!Pack your picnic baskets! It’s time for a family outing in one of Pennsylvania’s beautiful state parks, Clear Creek State Park! This delightful children’s book takes you and the children in your life back to a simpler time of family picnics, set in the surroundings of an adventure-filled forest. From hiking to rock climbing to swimming and picnicking, your child will love the playful explorations that is only found in nature, including driving over a little creek to get to your favorite picnic spot. As an adult, you’ll love the themes of family bonding time and the importance of getting outside to run, explore and play. This book comes complete with learning activities that tie into core areas of learning standards for early childhood development, including scientific thinking, language and literacy, learning through creative play and health and wellness. For Teachers! Each of my books comes with suggested lesson programming/plans and learning activities that tie into PA’s Standards for Education. Order Signed Copies Order from Amazon Order Signed Copies Order from Amazon The Battle of SnowballYou’ve heard about the Battle of Waterloo, the Battle of Gettysburg and the Battle of the Bulge. But have you ever heard about the Battle of Snowball? This famous snow battle occurred in the early 1970s in a fortified snow fort nestled in a small neighborhood in Pennsylvania. A group of neighborhood friends divided into two teams, strategized their snow attacks, and readied their snowballs for battle! This is a delightful children’s story about the fun of snowball battles, the importance of friendships and even conflict resolution when battles do occur.“The Battle of Snowball,” the fourth book in Rak’s children’s book series, promotes the ideal that “the simplest pleasures are our greatest treasures.” It reinforces the importance of creative play, honesty, open communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution amongst children of diverse backgrounds. There is also a formal teaching element to this book, as it comes complete come with corresponding activities that tie into core areas of learning standards for early childhood development: Scientific Thinking, Language & Literacy, Learning Through Creative Play, and Health & Wellness. For Teachers! Each of my books comes with suggested lesson programming/plans and learning activities that tie into PA’s Standards for Education. Order Signed Copies Order from Amazon Order Signed Copies Order from Amazon Pam/Anne RestaurantAll Net Proceeds Donated to Jefferson-Clarion Head StartOrder on Table 2! Get ready for your child to engage in creative play as they run a restaurant in their very own kitchen. The world-famous Pam/Anne Restaurant opened its doors in 1969 and served many an imagined patron. In fact, it was next to impossible to get an imaginary table! An active little girl gets in her mother’s way from time to time, the best way to engage her is to open a restaurant and assign her specific responsibilities to get the job done right. Your child will love this story, which opens their worlds to new words, introduces them to the importance of creative play, teamwork and even problem-solving. This children’s book is beautifully illustrated by Susan Vincent, with design and layout provided by Lindsay Johnson. Both artists are based in Pittsburgh. For Teachers! Each of my books comes with suggested lesson programming/plans and learning activities that tie into PA’s Standards for Education. Order Signed Copies Order from Amazon Order Signed Copies Order from Amazon Christmas TreeditionAll Net Proceeds Donated to Head Start ProgramsEvery child wants the perfect Christmas Tree! Let the journey begin with “Christmas Treedition!” You’ll smell the pines, feel snowflakes hitting your nose, hear the crunching snow as you trek through a field to find the perfect tree. And you’ll feel the love that simple pleasures bring to families like yours! This children’s book is beautifully illustrated by Susan Vincent, based in Pittsburgh, PA. For Teachers! Each of my books comes with suggested lesson programming/plans and learning activities that tie into PA’s Standards for Education. Order Signed Copies Order from Amazon Order Signed Copies Order from Amazon Sassafras TeaAll Net Proceeds Donated to the Clarion Free Library“Sassafras Tea” is a delightful children’s book about an annual father/daughter tradition of brewing Sassafras Tea, creating memories that are so important to children. The book is entertaining, comical and the story is brought to life by bold, colorful illustrations that appeal to the youngest of readers. This children’s book is beautifully illustrated by Jeanine Murch, based in Pittsburgh, PA. For Teachers! Each of my books comes with suggested lesson programming/plans and learning activities that tie into PA’s Standards for Education. Order Signed Copies Order from Amazon Order Signed Copies Order from Amazon How to BuyThere are various ways you can purchase my books and help nonprofits who help children.Order Online Give the Gift of Reading to an Organization that Supports Children! Our Community Donate-a-Book program is a unique opportunity to share your love of books with others in your very own community. Whether it’s a Head Start program, church, school, library or other organization that supports children, we’ll donate one of our ClarionKidBooks of your choice and in your name to your favorite organization. IT’S SIMPLE TO DO! Simply complete the form and we’ll take care of the rest! We’ll package your selected book beautifully and send it to your desired organization along with a personal greeting card outlining the donation you so kindly made. This simple gesture gives the gift of reading to others in your community whose mission is to help children learn, grow and enrich their lives. Thank you for your generosity! Yes, I’d like to Donate a Book! Safari From A-Fari $19.99 Hardback $9.99 Paperback The Thrills and Chills of Cemetery Hill $19.99 Hardback $9.99 Paperback We Drove Over a Creek! $19.99 Hardback $9.99 Paperback The Battle of Snowball $19.99 Hardback $9.99 Paperback Pam/Anne Restaurant $19.99 Hardback $9.99 Paperback Christmas Treedition $19.99 Hardback $9.99 Paperback Sassafras Tea $19.99 Hardback $9.99 Paperback Buy 3, Get the 4th Book Free! $59.97 Hardback $29.97 Paperback Submit Order Signed Copies Book Safari From A-Fari The Thrills and Chills of Cemetery Hill We Drove Over a Creek! The Battle of Snowball Pam/Anne Restaurant Christmas Treedition Sassafras Tea Submit ClarionKidBooks Series Hardcover & Softcovers (not signed) Buy In-Person at These Fine Stores Dan Smith’s Candies & Gifts Clarion, PA and Brookville, PA Fulmer House Books & Collectibles Clarion, PA For Bookstores, Libraries, Teachers, Classrooms and SchoolsThere are two ways that you can order my books in bulk. You may order directly from me (following the instructions for “Individual Purchases’ or through the book publishing company, Ingram. There is a 40% discount on books purchased for resale or in bulk. Contact me for more details!See the suggested lesson plans for each of my books here. Reasons Behind My Rhymes Back in 1969, a little girl who was growing-up in a little town, descended a flight of stairs and entered a world that would change her life forever: The Clarion Free Public Library, nestled in the little Main Street of Clarion, Pennsylvania. From a little seat at a little table, she surrounded herself with books, and something magical occurred: Her imagination grew and grew and grew some more.This little girl with the big imagination is me.Throughout my life, worlds and poems became my constant companion. When I was bored, I read. When I started school, I started writing. When I went to college, I studied communications. When I graduated, words became my career, my hobby, and my solace.And now, words have become my memories, and my mission. My books comprise a series of children’s books that offer a fast-paced world a few minutes to slow down.And speaking of slowing down…In 2020, two planets aligned in my universe. First, I graduated from Leadership Pittsburgh (LP Class XXXVI) and, second, COVID-19 hit the United States. As my work and social engagements slowed-down, my creativity ramped-up. I started reminiscing about simpler times and simpler places and a series of story-poems about my childhood came pouring out of me. Children’s Books That Give Back to Children I decided to turn them into children’s books and use the proceeds of the sales to support nonprofits that support children in our communities. So far, my community-driven mission has resulted in a wonderful partnership with the Head Start Programs in Pennsylvania. Learning programs are now part of these books for Head Start classrooms and teachers. And we’re just getting started! I hope my books remind us that the simplest pleasures are our greatest treasures. There are so much our children can learn – and enjoy – from them. Thank you for supporting my books and my community-driven mission! Happy ReadersHappy readers become lifelong readers, and learners. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the smiling faces of children reading my books! If you have a happy reader in your life who has received one of my books, please submit a picture or video and we’ll post it! Upload Submit Events & NewsUpcoming Events More Events Will Be Added to the Calendar, so Check Back Often! News Releases Jefferson-Clarion Head Start Receives $7,500 From Net Proceeds of Children’s Books December 8, 2022 Clarion Area School Students to Attend Special Student Matinee of Pittsburgh Opera’s ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ November 4, 2022 Sisters Place Partners with PA Poet On New Children’s Book for Philanthropic Initiative August 18, 2022 NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK LAUNCH: PA-Based Poet and Children’s Author Announces Launch of Third Children’s Book, “Pam/Anne Restaurant” April 27, 2022 NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK LAUNCH: PA-Based Poet and Children’s Author Announces Launch of Third Children’s Book, “Pam/Anne Restaurant” March 23, 2022 Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. Continues Partnership With PA Poet on Next Children’s Book Launch February 7, 2022 Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. Receives Grant to Put Local Children’s Books and Lesson Plans in Classrooms December 9, 2021 Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. Partners with PA Poet and Marketing Entrepreneur to Launch Children’s Books and Lesson Plans in Classrooms September 8, 2021 News Coverage Children’s Book Writer Bound By Her Love of Clarion The Courier Express March 17, 2022 Pam Selker Rak and Pam Johnson of Jefferson-Clarion Head Start Featured on “Our Region’s Business” WPXI-TV January 10, 2022 Peters Township Author Uses Book Proceeds to Help Her Home Region Observer-Reporter October 23, 2021 Peters Township Author Uses Book Proceeds to Help Her Home Region The Almanac October 19, 2021 Clarion Native to Launch New Book on Sunday; Proceeds to Benefit Jefferson-Clarion Head Start Explore Clarion October 2, 2021 Local Poet Partners with Jefferson-Clarion Head Start to Launch Children’s Books in Classrooms Explore Clarion September 11, 2021 Clarion Flocks to Support Clarion Native’s Book Launch Event Explore Clarion June 21, 2021 Clarion Native Shares How Vivid Memories and Love of Reading Created Path to Publication Explore Clarion June 18, 2021 Contact Me Email Pam pam.rak@ctechrocks.com Connect with Pam on Social Media Call Pam 412-972-0355 Join Our Newsletter List to Be the First to Get Updates on New Books Email Join Newsletter Request an Event or Book ReadingI’m happy to do book readings with your classrooms, speaking engagements on the value of civic engagement and community/philanthropic projects, pop-up book signings, you name it! If you want to schedule an event with me, please complete this quick and easy form and I’ll be in touch. Event Requested Classroom Reading Speaking Engagement for Club or School Pop-Up Book Signing Events like Festivals or Fundraisers Library Function Submit Request
Clarion Area School Students to Attend Special Student Matinee of Pittsburgh Opera’s ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ November 4, 2022
Sisters Place Partners with PA Poet On New Children’s Book for Philanthropic Initiative August 18, 2022
NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK LAUNCH: PA-Based Poet and Children’s Author Announces Launch of Third Children’s Book, “Pam/Anne Restaurant” April 27, 2022
NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK LAUNCH: PA-Based Poet and Children’s Author Announces Launch of Third Children’s Book, “Pam/Anne Restaurant” March 23, 2022
Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. Continues Partnership With PA Poet on Next Children’s Book Launch February 7, 2022
Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. Receives Grant to Put Local Children’s Books and Lesson Plans in Classrooms December 9, 2021
Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. Partners with PA Poet and Marketing Entrepreneur to Launch Children’s Books and Lesson Plans in Classrooms September 8, 2021
Pam Selker Rak and Pam Johnson of Jefferson-Clarion Head Start Featured on “Our Region’s Business” WPXI-TV January 10, 2022
Clarion Native to Launch New Book on Sunday; Proceeds to Benefit Jefferson-Clarion Head Start Explore Clarion October 2, 2021
Local Poet Partners with Jefferson-Clarion Head Start to Launch Children’s Books in Classrooms Explore Clarion September 11, 2021
Clarion Native Shares How Vivid Memories and Love of Reading Created Path to Publication Explore Clarion June 18, 2021