Photo Credit:
Photo credit
Digital Image Photography
Rona Arato
BIO
Biography

Rona Arato Rona has been a writer and editor for over 25 years. Her work has appeared in magazines and newspapers in Canada and the United States. Rona holds a degree in Elementary Education from U.C.L.A. She has taught elementary school classes in Los Angeles and Toronto, adult Creative Writing for the Toronto District School Board and has conducted business writing workshops for profit and non-profit organizations. As a writer and edictor she has created educational materials for organizations including Mosdos Press in Cleveland, Girl Guides of Canada, and B’nai Brith Canada. From 1994-1998, she was an interviewer for Survivors of the Shoa, a Steven Spielberg project that recorded the histories of Holocaust survivors.

ADDRESS
City: North York, Ontario, Province/Territory: Ontario
EMAIL
GENRE
Midgrade and YA fiction, biography and historical non-fiction
LANGUAGES
English
PUBLICATIONS
Publications
Title
Righting Canada's Wrongs: Anti-Semitism and the MS St. Louis
Publisher
Lorimer Publishing
Year
2021
Title
The Ship to Nowhere
Title
on Board the Exodus
Publisher
Second Story Press
Year
2016
Title
The Last Train
Title
a Holocaust Story
Publisher
Owlkids
Year
2013
Title
Mrs. Kaputnik's Pool Hall and Matzo Ball Emporium
Publisher
Tundra Books
Year
2011
Title
Design It!
Publisher
Tundra Books
Year
2010
Title
Fukushima
Title
Nuclear Disaster
Publisher
Crabtree
Year
2013
Title
Protists
Title
a World of Their Own
Publisher
Crabtree
Year
2010
Title
World of Water
Publisher
Crabtree
Year
2004
Title
Fossils
Title
Clues to Ancient Life
Publisher
Crabtree
Year
2004
Title
Ice Cream Town
Publisher
Fitzhenry and Whiteside
Year
2007
Title
Sammy and the Headless Horseman
Publisher
Fitzhenry and Whiteside
Year
2016
Title
Working for Freedom
Title
the Story of Josiah Henson
Publisher
Napoleon Press
Year
2009
Title
Courage and Compassion
Title
Ten Canadians Who Made a Difference
Publisher
Maple Tree Press
Year
2008
Title
On a Canadian Day
Publisher
Maple Tree Press
Year
2008
Title
On a Medieval Day
Publisher
Maple Tree Press
Year
2009
Title
On an American Day
Publisher
Owlkids
Year
2010
AWARDS
Awards
Name
Third prize in the 2020 short fiction contest for "Polonaise"
Publication
Moment Magazine
Year
2021
Name
Sydney Taylor Award: Notable YA Book
Publication
The Ship to Nowhere
Year
2016
Name
on Board the Exodus
Name
The Norma Fleck Award
Publication
The Last Train
Year
2014
Name
a Holocaust Story
Name
The Diamond Willow Award
Publication
The Last Train
Year
2015
Name
a Holocaust Story
Name
The Rocky Mountain Book Award
Publication
The Last Train
Year
2015
Name
a Holocaust Story
Name
The Diamond Willow Award
Publication
The Last Train
Year
2015
Name
a Holocaust Story
Name
Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books of 2013
Publication
The Last Train
Year
2013
Name
a Holocaust Story
Name
Golden Oak Short List
Publication
The Last Train
Year
2015
Name
a Holocaust Story
Name
Golden Oak Award
Publication
Courage and Compassion
Year
2011
Name
Ten Canadians Who Made a Difference
Name
Silver Birch Finalist
Publication
Courage and Compassion
Year
2010
Name
Ten Canadians Who Made a Difference
Name
Resource Link
Name
Best Books of 2010
Publication
Courage and Compassion
Year
2010
Name
Ten Canadians Who Made a Difference
Name
ForWord Book Reviews Finalist for best juvenile fiction
Publication
Mrs. Kaputnik's Pool Hall and Matzo Ball Emporium
Year
2010
Name
CCBC Best Books 2010
Publication
Working for Freedom
Year
2010
Name
the Story of Josiah Henson
Name
CCBC Best books of 2008
Publication
Ice Cream Town
Year
2008
Name
Finalist Triple Crown Awards
Publication
Ice Cream Town
Year
2008
LINKS
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
Presentation details
Audience Size
Audience size
Virtual- any size; In person up to 100
Presentation Length
One hour including a Q & A
Presentation Description
Presentation description

 My talks include power point presentations and I encourage questions and input form the audience.

Presentation Fee(s)
$300 for a one hour presentation.
School presentation details
Audience Size
Virtual visit can be any size. Classroom should be a maximum of 100.
Intended Audience
4th grade through high school grades
Presentation Length
one hour: 45 minutes plus time for Q & A
Presentation Description
Presentation description

I combine my talk with a PowerPoint presentation. I encourage children to ask questions and participate in the discussion. Most of my topics are historical and I give the background so children understand the context of the story.

Presentation Fee(s)
$300 for a hone hour presentation
Programs & Interests
Interested in participating Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program:
All members are eligible for the Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program. Are you interested in participating in this pro
Yes
Interested in participating in the Northern Ontario WITS program:
The Union’s Northern Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program funds in-person visits to northern Ontario schools when possible. Ar
No