Roni's books: Roni's ability to relate to children and adults, in English as well as Spanish, is another of her gifts as evidenced by the over 20,000 books already sold. My Nana's Remedies/Los remedios de mi nana and Hip, Hip, Hooray, It's Monsoon Day!/¡Ajúa, ya llegó el chubasco! are both great tools for teachers. These books can be used from Kindergarten through 8th grades; and high school, too. Both books offer two languages, culture and traditions. Two unique aspects are the colorful, culturally appropriate artwork, in addition to the scientific/historical facts contained in the Medicinal Plants/Scientific Glossary found at the back of each book.
Both books are excellent for Dual Language, ESL, SSL, English or Spanish classes, as well as to promote family literacy, cultural awareness and preservation of family traditions.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Roni's publisher, is an internationally renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place! www.desertmuseum.org
A Note from Roni: "My goal is to make my books available to children, families, educators, librarians, healers, scientists, historians - readers everywhere.... to build bridges of communication amongst all peoples through literacy, thus promote acceptance and eliminate discrimination; to be instrumental in solidifying the idea that there is ONE race, the HUMAN RACE. My books invite discussion of family traditions, remedies, language and culture. I invite everyone to open the door of opportunity to learn about and embrace their own mixture of ethnicities, cultures & heritage, and walk toward respecting those of others." Roni
Roni is the author chosen for the 2009 Winner of the Judy Goddard/Libraries, Ltd. Award for an Arizona Children's Author/Illustrator
http://www.librariesltd.org/history.htm
Roni's bilingual books published by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum are:
Hip, Hip, Hooray, It's Monsoon
Day!/¡Ajúa, ya llegó el chubasco! 7/07
2009 ONE BOOK AZ AWARD WINNER www.onebookaz.org/kids2009/index.cfm
2008 AMÉRICAS AWARD COMMENDED TITLE, Consortium of Latin American
Studies
2008 AAAS Science Books & Films, Highly recommended, Multicultural,
Vol.44/No.3 May/June
2007 SOUTHWEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR, Children's Top Books Pick
My Nana's Remedies/Los remedios
de mi nana 6/02
2002 Foreword Magazine's Book of the Year Award Finalist
Roni's dream: "...that my stories become available to children, families, schools and libraries everywhere.... to promote tolerance and eliminate discrimination; to help build bridges of communication. Intergenerational and intercultural awareness and acceptance amongst all peoples are threads woven throughout her writings. She hopes that through literacy, and her stories, people will embrace their similarities and respectfully acknowledge their differences."
Roni's presentations: National bilingual educators' conferences (by invitation): San Antonio, Texas and Los Angeles; invited to present at the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR BILINGUAL EDUCATORS, Phoenix, AZ, as well as statewide CALIFORNIA conference in San José; SOLD OUT book signing event at the internationally renowned HEARD MUSEUM Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary's annual HISPANIC DAYS.
"Roni is a terrific presenter", expresses Title VII Coordinator of Hillsboro, OR, Carolyn Grenz. Her gifts shared as a presenter are also attested to by her appearances on such television shows as WB's Hispanic Heritage. She also presents at many bilingual conferences across the country, drawing and motivating crowds of educators, parents, students and many an interested participant. Roni delights her audiences as she genuinely and sincerely shares from her heart. She speaks of multicultural connections which come from her heritage.
Roni's background: Born to a pioneering Jewish family, grew up in Nogales, Arizona, on the U.S. - Mexico border. Roni's great-grandparents came to the U.S. as immigrants from across the ocean: France, Poland, Romania and Russia. Her stories come from her childhood days growing up in the Sonoran Desert, in a bilingual, multicultural world, where she still lives and writes. Her husband of 36 years, high school sweetheart and soul mate, Danny, is "the wind beneath her wings", as she puts it. Danny's grandmother, Nana María, was an immigrant from Magdalena, Sonora, México; and his great-grandparents came from Spain and Mexico. Roni and Danny, as 2nd and 3rd generation children of immigrants, came from distinct regions of the world to meet in the border town of Nogales, Arizona. They have 3 adult children who are the child characters in her Monsoon story; and a 12 year-old grandson.
Roni has spoken Spanish and English from birth and sometimes dreams in Spanish, too. She was a bilingual pre-school and elementary teacher and translator/interpreter for nearly 30 years. She also taught Pima College Extension night courses, earned her Librarian's Endorsement at the University of Arizona.
Roni now spends some of her time presenting family literacy, cultural awareness and diversity appreciation workshops in connection with her writing. Aside from spending time with family and friends, and writing, she enjoys yoga, watercolor painting, crocheting, cooking, arts-and-crafts. Some of her other favorite pastimes are spending serene time at the beach or the mountains, near the relaxing flow of water or fresh scent of pine trees.