Bio
Rona Arato is a writer, author and teacher. She was born in New York and grew up in Los Angeles where she earned a B.A. and teaching credential from U.C.L.A. Rona moved to Canada with her husband Paul in 1970. She holds dual American and Canadian citizenship. Rona began writing professionally in the 1970s. Her articles have appeared in Canada, the United States, and England. She has also worked as a public relations consultant and conducted business writing seminars, and taught creative writing for the Toronto Board of Education. From 1994-1998, she interviewed Holocaust survivors for Steven Spielberg’s Survivors of the Shoa Visual History Foundation, an experience which fuelled her desire to write about human rights. More recently Rona has turned her attention to writing for children. Her books are: Fossils, Clues to Ancient Life, World of Water, Ice Cream Town Working for Freedom, the Story of Josiah Henson, Courage and Compassion, Ten Canadians Who Made a Difference, On a Canadian Day, Maple Tree Press, Mrs. Kaputnik’s Pool Hall and Matzo Ball Emporium. Design It! And On a Medieval Day. In her school presentations Rona talks about Canadian heroes, human rights and writing. She works interactively with children to explore the joy of reading and encourage them to research and write their own stories. She is a member of CANSCAIP, The Writers’ Union, and the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
