Rhymes, Purpose, and the Power of Being You: Gene Roberts on The Grok of the Rock.

With its whimsical rhymes, vibrant characters, and a message that resonates deeply in today’s world, The Grok of the Rock is more than just a children’s book—it’s a gentle guide to self-acceptance, empathy, and emotional resilience. Co-created by author Gene Roberts, the story follows the Grok, a lovable creature who feels out of place until he discovers the power of being true to himself.

In this candid conversation, Gene opens up about the inspiration behind the book, how childhood favorites like Dr. Seuss shaped his storytelling, and why he believes The Grok of the Rock has an important place in the larger conversation about children’s mental health. From the rhyming narrative to the colorful world of Binnee-Boo-Bok, Gene shares the heart, humor, and hope that went into crafting this uplifting tale—and what’s next on the horizon.

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What inspired the story of The Grok of the Rock?

Growing up, we loved Dr. Seuss books, and that’s how the idea of writing The Grok of the Rock started.

Why did you choose to write the entire book in rhyme, and how do you think that helps children connect with the story?

We decided to rhyme the entire book because of how successful Dr. Seuss was with it and how fun it was to read.  We felt kids would connect better with the story by being more engaged while hopefully understanding and focusing more on the words.

The book delivers a powerful message about self-worth and belonging. Why was that theme important for you to explore?

It seems more and more kids are feeling stressed and unsure of where they really fit in.  We certainly want kids to think more deeply and understand that everyone is different, and we all have our own unique purpose.  We want all kids to learn and realize they belong just as much as any other kid.

How do you see The Grok of the Rock contributing to current conversations around children’s mental health and emotional development?

The aim with our book is to show kids that all of us have different purposes in life, regardless of how different we are.  We feel this will help with kids’ mental health exponentially, especially with kids who are very upset, feeling lost, or feeling as if they don’t have a real purpose in life.

What do you hope readers take away from your book?

We hope readers take away the message of acceptance and bringing everyone together.  This applies to both bully-minded kids and the bullied kids alike.  We also hope the story helps all types of kids better understand the other kids around them and to respect as well as accept the other kids.

Are you planning on writing any more books?

We do plan on writing more books!  We would like to get this one off the ground, and we have many ideas for future books.  We are confident that kids will want to read them over and over again!

If you could spend a day in Binnee-Boo-Bok, what would that look like?

I picture myself waking up in the wonderful world of Binnee-Boo-Bok and enjoying a fun day of playing games with my friends!  At night, I would spend quality time with friends and family, and then off to my cave for a good night of sleep!

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