Biography
Catherine Rondina is a freelance writer-researcher with over 1,700 published articles and eight books to her credit. Born in Toronto, Ontario, she grew up in a household of avid readers.#Catherine also credits her love of reading to her inspirational elementary school teacher, Mrs. D., at Jackman Avenue Public School. A one time reluctant reader, Mrs. D. was able to select just the right book, E.B. White’s, Charlotte’s Web, that captured Catherine’s imagination and made her want to become a writer herself.#So, it seemed only natural for Catherine to take her love of books, reading and writing with her throughout her life.#She has spent over twenty-six years working with the Toronto Public Library in many different facets from children and young adult services to literacy and film.#She began her own writing career in the late 1980s in the magazine and newspaper trade. Her work has appeared in publications such as the Toronto Star, Canadian Living, Modern Woman, Cottage Life and the Toronto Sun. Catherine has written monthly columns for Good Times, City Parent and Post City Magazines. Her writing for children, from grades 3 to 12, has been published by Nelson Education Ltd., Pearson Education Canada, Prentice Hall Ginn, Gage Educational Publishing and Owl Communications, including two educational workbooks for Nelson Literacy, Literacy Power A and Literacy Power G.#Catherine has also published three children’s books for James Lorimer & Company: Lying: Deal With It Straight Up! (2006), Rudeness: Deal With It If You Please (2005) and Gossip: Deal With It Before Word Gets Around (2004). In April of 2008, she published The 10 Worst Things About the Internet for Rubicon/Scholastic. Kids Can Press published her latest book, Don’t Touch That Toad & Other Strange Things Adults Tell You.#In addition to her writing, Catherine hosts numerous school and public library visits throughout southern Ontario. Her workshops are very well received by students and teachers alike. Catherine takes great pride in being able to curtail each workshop to the audience she is presenting to, whether it’s a public library program with over 150 young adults or a classroom setting of thirty-five grade 4 students.#At present, she teaches creative nonfiction for children at George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario. Catherine lives in Richmond Hill, Ontario, with her husband and three children.
Awards
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Don’t Touch That Toad and Other Strange Things Adults Tell You
2012 - Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award, Ontario Library Association, Winner
2012 - Silver Birch Nonfiction Award, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
2011 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, , Winner
Non-fiction
Don’t Touch That Toad and Other Strange Things Adults Tell You, 2010