Books with author Rona Arato

Treat yourself to a visit to the wackiest restaurant ever!Ten-year-old Shoshi and her eight-year-old brother, Moshe, arrive in New York in 1898 from Russia with their mother and Snigger, the baby dragon that saved them from an attack by Cossack soldiers. Five years earlier, their father had also come to New York to make his fortune, but no one has heard from him since. Through a series of adventures and misadventures, Shoshi and Moshe use their wits to navigate through New York City's Lower East Side, making new friends and even a few foes: Salty, the seaman who helps the family smuggle Snigger through Ellis Island; Aloysius P. Thornswaddle, carnival barker extraordinaire; Dingle Hinglehoffer, pitcher for the Brooklyn Slobbers; and the mysterious Man in the Black Cape. With the help of Snigger, they set out to solve the mystery behind their father's disappearance, helping to free the Lower East Side from the tyrannical rule of gangster Nick the Stick along the way. Mrs. Kaputnik's Pool Hall and Matzo Ball Emporium is a colorful tale that blends history and fantasy with a journey of discovery, adventure, and fun.

Thanks to his Aunt Pearl, twelve-year-old Sammy is stuck in the Catskill Mountains for the summer with his awful cousin Joshua. While he doesn't relish the idea of getting to know his new stepmom, at least he'd have his gang to hang out with in New York if he got to stay there instead. But when Sammy realizes he was brought on to be hired help at the hotel, he makes the most of it and enjoys bunking with his teenage co-worker, Adam. Trouble seems to follow Sammy as he becomes entangled in a series of mysterious occurrences, including a terrifying headless horseman who seems to be haunting the reclusive "Hermit" at the top of the neighbouring hill. Sammy and his new friends form a team called "The Ichabods" to crack the mystery. Set in the early 1920s, after WWI.

Josiah Hensons life is an epic tale of one mans battle against evil and ignorance. By the time he was six, Josiah had been sold three times. When he was nine, his familys owner beat him for trying to learn to read. In spite of his physical pain and emotional heartache, he never lost the sense of morality that was his bedrock. After his escape, Josiah became an advocate for those still in bondage. As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, he led 118 slaves to safety in Canada. Working for Freedom is the story of a man who proved that one person can make a difference in defending and promoting human rights.

Behind the toaster, the toilet, the tub, the microwave, the camera, and countless other features of our everyday lives are smart ideas from smart people who executed them.A bright idea of a book, Design It! is a great introduction to lots of satisfying careers from architecture to model making, to the pioneers - thank you, Mr. Cummings for the modern-day toilet! - and to the principles of good design that make life more pleasant. Rona Arato introduces young readers to the world of industrial design by focusing on our homes and by presenting the basics. She asks readers to be the judge: Does it do what it's supposed to (function)? Is it big enough, small enough, or light enough for the person who'll be using it (usability)? Is it safe and comfortable to use (ergonomics)? Does it look great (aesthetics)? And, is it eco-friendly? Equal parts fascinating history and eye-opening facts, Design It! makes for great reading and is a useful resource for those who are beginning to think about careers.

In March 2011 the worlds second-largest nuclear disaster occurred on the eastern coast of Japan. A 9.0-magnitude earthquake caused a nearly 50-foot tsunami that flooded the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The devastating tidal wave caused equipment failures that led the nuclear reactors to overheat to the point of meltdown. Dangerous radioactive materials released into the air continue to threaten the health of the ocean and people around the world today. Topics include:

What makes a hero? There are many kinds of people who act heroically in small and large ways. This book profiles ten individuals whose incredible acts of courage and compassion protected the human rights we hold most dear. The heroes of this book are men, women, and even children from different points in Canadian history who have worked and fought for the basic human liberties to which every person is entitled.Beginning with Jeanne Mance’s tireless care of others in the earliest days of New France, and ending with the truly inspirational story of young Hannah Taylor’s campaign against homelessness, the book spans four hundred years in our nation’s story and highlights the most important crusades of these times. War and peace, health care, slavery, equal rights, education, poverty, Native rights, racism, child labor: these are all causes taken on with conviction by the everyday heroes featured in Courage and Compassion.Through a careful selection of individual stories from across time, across the land, and representative of the different interests in Canada and the world beyond, a complex and fascinating portrait of a nation emerges, bearing both its proudest accomplishments and some of its darkest moments.

This title is intended for ages 7-14. Without water, our most valuable natural resource, our planet would be a barren wasteland, without plant or animal life. The Earth has a limited amount of water that is recycled in the atmosphere, so action is being taken around the world to protect our freshwater supply. Children will dive deep into the this book to learn what water is made of and how it was formed on Earth, how people use the power of falling water, and how rivers shape landscapes. Topics included are: the process by which the Earth's water is continuously recycled during the water cycle; the Age of Sail when water was used as a means of transportation for trade, and explorers sailed in search of the Northwest Passage; how much of the world's water supply is held by water sources such as subterranean rivers, geysers, springs, and aquifiers; leach fields, sand filters, and lagoons, and how water is treated before it is ready for human consumption; and the biological needs that plants, animals, and humans have for water.

What makes a hero? There are many kinds of people who act heroically in small and large ways. This book profiles ten individuals whose incredible acts of courage and compassion protected the human rights we hold most dear. The heroes of this book are men, women, and even children from different points in Canadian history who have worked and fought for the basic human liberties to which every person is entitled.Beginning with Jeanne Mance’s tireless care of others in the earliest days of New France, and ending with the truly inspirational story of young Hannah Taylor’s campaign against homelessness, the book spans four hundred years in our nation’s story and highlights the most important crusades of these times. War and peace, health care, slavery, equal rights, education, poverty, Native rights, racism, child labor: these are all causes taken on with conviction by the everyday heroes featured in Courage and Compassion.Through a careful selection of individual stories from across time, across the land, and representative of the different interests in Canada and the world beyond, a complex and fascinating portrait of a nation emerges, bearing both its proudest accomplishments and some of its darkest moments.