A Rainbow of Thanks

by Kathleen J. Shields

Kate has just turned 11 and is about to have the adventure of a lifetime! While out playing, she steps into a rainbow and is magically transported to another place on the planet. Everywhere she goes, she meets a child of a different nationality who tells her about their cultural beliefs about rainbows. When she finally gets home, she has quite an amazing story to share, but there are some who don’t believe her. Yet in the end, the proof arrives just in time and leaves the adults in her life with dropped jaws and shocked expressions. “A magical journey that feels so real it’s as if you are with her.” Book Review

103 pages, Paperback

First published May 29, 2013

About the author

Kathleen J. Shields is an award-winning, multi-genre author best known for The Hamilton Troll Adventures, which earned First Place Best Educational Children’s Series from the Texas Association of Authors. Her childhood creation The First Unibear, written at age ten, has won six awards and counting. She also received global recognition for The First Unicorn and her Christian fiction trilogy, The Painting.
While awaiting illustrations, Kathleen writes chapter books for tweens and general audiences, blending education with engaging stories to inspire a lifelong love of reading—and possibly writing. She openly shares her decades of knowledge with fellow writers, always eager to help others grow in their craft.
Kathleen also runs Kathleen’s Graphics, offering web and graphic design services, custom book covers, interior formatting, book trailers, press releases, and more. She freelances for printing companies and publishers and thrives on learning new skills through creative challenges.
In addition, she writes an inspirational blog about her experiences as an author, entrepreneur, and Christian, offering thoughtful, uplifting insights meant to spark reflection and gather future readers.

Reviews

[Barbara Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Silverton is an eleven year old about to celebrate her birthday. Her teacher Mrs. Guffey, who she likes to call Mrs. Tuffey, has given them a weekend homework assignment to write about another culture. After being disappointed by her relative’s birthday gifts, Kate heads out to the backyard with her backpack. Suddenly, it begins to rain and she takes refuge. When the rain stops, Kate is surprised to find a rainbow which she walks through. On the other side, she meets a Navajo boy named Little Elk who is sitting on a rock in Arizona during “the week of silence.” He asks her where she came from explaining that Navajos believe the God travels on a rainbow and that a rainbow is a bridge between the human world and the other side. Rainbows also carry heroes between earth and heaven. Kate is mystified; she informs the boy that she is simply an American from Ohio who walked through a rainbow to the other side. How did she get to Arizona? Realizing that she must walk back through the rainbow to the other side before it disappears, Kate pulls out the walkman radio from her backpack and gives it as a gift to Little Elk to ease his time of silence.

Things get even stranger when Kate emerges from the rainbow in the jungle listening to the sound of elephants and seeing a little girl named Chicktow who is searching the ground for grubs to eat. Kate is now in Victoria Falls, South Africa. She presents her new friend with some oatmeal cookies stamped with Kate’s name and address labels. Kate descends with her friend to the bottom of the Falls where they locate the remnants of the rainbow. Chicktow tells her that the rainbow arch frames the Queen of Heaven. Kate quickly steps into the arch.

Kate is disappointed to find herself in Dublin, Ireland when she emerges. The Flanagan boys greet her. In Ireland the rainbow is considered the hem of God’s garments. They tell her that leprechauns believe there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but all Kate wants is to return to Ohio. She presents them with the old video player she received as a gift before she departs. Kate must still journey to Germany, Russia, Polynesia, Croatia and Scotland before she lands back in the United States. In California, she meets a medicine man of the Mojave who tells her that the rainbow is a charm the Creator uses to stop a rain storm. Finally, she walks through the rainbow one hour later to find herself at home in Ohio.

Wow! What a journey! Kate writes her report immediately before she forgets her adventure. Her mother is puzzled by her strange behavior. Mrs. Guffey gives her an A on her report, but asks why she did not choose one culture. The next week, Kate draws a stunning, accurate portrait so real that her teacher goes to her home for a talk with Mrs. Silverton because she fears that Kate is delusional.

How will Kate prove her story? A mysterious visitor will provide the answer.

This e book is available on Smashwords. A paperback version can now be found on amazon. Recommended for children ages eight and up, but adults will love it as well.