SATA
ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: Sari Sisters
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://anitharobinson.com/
CITY: Milton
STATE:
COUNTRY: Canada
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; married; children: two.
EDUCATION:Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Bachelor of Commerce.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, conservationist, and podcaster. Has worked as an accountant.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Horn Book Magazine, November-December, 2020, Susan Dove Lempke, review of A Family for Faru, p. 80.
Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2020, review of A Family for Faru; September 15, 2024, review of Sari Sisters.
School Library Journal, December, 2020, Kristine M. Casper, review of A Family for Faru, pp. 83+.
ONLINE
Anitha Rao-Robinson website, https://anitharobinson.com/ (April 4, 2025).
Writers’ Union of Canada website, https://www.writersunion.ca/ (April 4, 2025), author profile.
About
The Shorter Version
Anitha Rao-Robinson is a children’s author. Her debut picture book, A Family For Faru, was released in 2020. She has also written a young adult trilogy. Broken Worlds, was published in 2014, followed by Broken Promises (2017) and Broken Dreams (2019). Anitha graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, with a Bachelor of Commerce, and then went on to become a Chartered Accountant. Accounting satisfies her strange attraction to numbers and organization, while writing allows her imagination to soar! She lives on a farm in Ontario with her husband, two children, and their many wonderful animals. Anitha is represented by Tanusri Prasanna.
The Longer Version
1st year 001
Anitha was born in Toronto, Ontario and lived there until she was seven, when her family moved to a nearby suburb.
The greatest gift her parents gave her was instilling a love for all animals. Just before she turned six, a beautiful persian cat joined her family.
lyka
Lyka
And since then, animals have always been a part of her life—dogs, cats, horses (there was even an incident with a squirrel coming inside one day to feast on some nuts).
IMG_2232
Billy, Cassie, Jakey, & Ellie
IMG_0113
Joey & Sunny
cats 003
Elsa & Cricket
cats 001
Spikey
cats 002
Nicky
Anitha now lives in the country with her family which includes many wonderful animals. She is grateful her husband reacts like this (excited and happy) whenever she finds another four-legged friend to take in.
matthappy
Yahoo!!
Which he did when Poppy, Roo & Koli joined their family!
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Poppy & Roo
Koli
One of Anitha’s greatest joys is seeing her children share her love of animals. It’s no wonder that her daughter plans to turn their country property into an animal sanctuary one day.
As far back as she can remember, Anitha also loved writing. Short stories, poems, and now novels. A highlight was when her son took one of her poems, transformed it into a song, and performed it!
Though she became a Chartered Accountant, she has given up numbers to spend more time writing stories for children about animals and the environment. Anitha loves creating stories where readers step inside the paws of endangered animals, so they can see, feel, and touch the world as these animals do.
Anitha Rao-Robinson
BIO
Children's author, conservationist and creator of the Kindness Is Everything Podcast
Anitha Rao-Robinson received her Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University and worked as an accountant for twenty-four years before trading numbers for words. Anitha is passionate about environmental awareness and hopes to continue to spread change through her books and her podcast.
On her podcast, Anitha shares inspiring stories of people who have been kind to animals, the environment, and people. She hopes these stories show others there is no such thing as an act of kindness that is too small, especially for the animal or person receiving that kindness. For them, it means everything.
The podcast is available on all podcasting platforms, such as Apple and Google, as well as on her website.
Anitha is available for school presentations to talk about her books, conservation, kindness, and of course the art and fun of writing.
ADDRESSCity: MILTON, Province/Territory: Ontario
EMAILanithaswriting@gmail.com
GENREPicture book and Middle Grade
PUBLICATIONS
Title
Sari Sister
Publisher
Viking Press/PRH
Year
2024
Title
A Family For Faru
Publisher
Pajama Press
Year
2020
Title
Broken Dreams
Publisher
CBAY Books
Year
2019
Title
Broken Promises
Publisher
CBAY Books
Year
2017
Title
Broken Worlds
Publisher
CBAY Books
Year
2014
AWARDS
Name
Anitha Rao-Robinson
LINKS
https://anitharobinson.com
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPSPresentation detailsAudience Size
up to 50
Presentation GenreChildren'sPresentation Length55 minutesPresentation Description
Presentation One is geared to students in grades one to three where I share photos from my travels, age-appropriate information about the animals, their welfare, their relationship with local communities in Sumatra and India, and read my picture book called A FAMILY FOR FARU This book is about a young boy, an orphaned rhino and their journey across the African savannah to find the rhino a new family.
Presentation Two is geared to students in grades four to six where I share similar photos from my travels along with age-appropriate information about animal welfare, conservation and the intricacies involved in building sustainable relationships with local communities.
These two presentations focus on the Ontario Social Studies curriculum goal of “being responsible stewards of the Earth by developing an appreciation and respect for both natural and human environments and communities.”
Presentation Three is geared to students in grades one to three where I read my upcoming picture book, SARI SISTERS, a story about the tight-knit bond between sisters as they navigate adolescent milestones and the beauty of updating traditional customs for a modern audience.
This presentation offers students an opportunity to explore “a variety of traditions within their families and their local communities, including those followed by other diverse groups within their communities to help them develop an understanding of how these traditions contribute to and enrich their own community and Canadian society.”
Presentation Fee(s)Please contact me through my website.
School presentation detailsAudience Size10 to 50Intended AudienceGrades K-6Presentation Length55 minutesPresentation Description
Presentation One is geared to students in grades one to three where I share photos from my travels, age-appropriate information about the animals, their welfare, their relationship with local communities in Sumatra and India, and read my picture book called A FAMILY FOR FARU This book is about a young boy, an orphaned rhino and their journey across the African savannah to find the rhino a new family.
Presentation Two is geared to students in grades four to six where I share similar photos from my travels along with age-appropriate information about animal welfare, conservation and the intricacies involved in building sustainable relationships with local communities.
These two presentations focus on the Ontario Social Studies curriculum goal of “being responsible stewards of the Earth by developing an appreciation and respect for both natural and human environments and communities.”
Presentation Three is geared to students in grades one to three where I read my upcoming picture book, SARI SISTERS, a story about the tight-knit bond between sisters as they navigate adolescent milestones and the beauty of updating traditional customs for a modern audience.
This presentation offers students an opportunity to explore “a variety of traditions within their families and their local communities, including those followed by other diverse groups within their communities to help them develop an understanding of how these traditions contribute to and enrich their own community and Canadian society.”
Presentation Fee(s)Please contact me through my website
EQUITY INITIATIVEAs part of the Union’s Equity Implementation Plan, we are committed to increasing awareness of authors who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQI2S, or living with a disability. This author identifies as:
Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized
Programs & InterestsInterested in participating Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program:
Yes
Interested in participating in the Northern Ontario WITS program:
Yes
RAO-ROBINSON, Anitha. A Family for Faru. illus. by Karen Patkau. 32p. Pajama Pr. Oct. 2020. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781772780963.
PreS-Gr 1--Tetenya, a young Black boy with curly dark hair who lives near a reserve in the South African savanna, has found a baby rhino, Faru. After they get their feet and hands stained pink from a lunch of water berries, Tetenya tries to find a rhinoceros family to adopt Faru. They pass many local animals: giraffes swishing through the lemongrass, vervet monkeys snacking high in the trees, and guinea fowl scrounging for seeds, but no rhinoceroses answer Faru's squeals. After another snack of berries, their nap under a jackal tree is disturbed by poachers. Fearing for Faru's life and inspired by their juicy lunch, Tetenya stains the baby's horn pink, destroying its value to the hungers. Faru squeals in delight to be away from the poachers, this time gamering answers in return. Patkau's bright digital illustrations show the greens, golds, and browns of the savanna and accurately portray the South African wildlife, making them easy for young readers to recognize. Rao-Robinson's plot is predictably heartwarming and the text fun to read as listeners can stomp, slurp, and crash through the savanna along with Faru. VERDICT Having wide appeal, this story can introduce a range of topics, from adoption to African animals to endangered species. Young listeners will enjoy the introductory trek through the savanna and cheer when Faru finds a family.--Kristine M. Casper, Huntington P.L., NY
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
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Casper, Kristine M. "RAO-ROBINSON, Anitha. A Family for Faru." School Library Journal, vol. 66, no. 12, Dec. 2020, pp. 83+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A643822066/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=acb0855f. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.
Rao-Robinson, Anitha A FAMILY FOR FARU Pajama Press (Children's None) $18.95 10, 27 ISBN: 978-1-77278-096-3
Fiction and nonfiction meet as a boy seeks to save an orphaned rhino.
Tetenya, a Black boy living in sub-Saharan Africa, takes care of baby rhino Faru after Tetenya’s mother finds the animal abandoned on the savanna. At his mother’s request, Tetenya picks water berries for lunch, but when the bucket spills, Faru tromps through them, staining his feet pink and ruining the family’s lunch. Since Tetenya’s mother has been unable to find Faru a new family, Tetenya takes Faru into the savanna to search for a crash of rhinos to adopt Faru, but on their way, they encounter two hunters who kill rhinos for their valuable horns. Tetenya’s quick thinking saves Faru from the hunters, and he also helps secure Faru’s safety for the long term. This picture book offers a colorful portrayal of a gentle rhino and a boy who cares for him and helps him survive. Readers will encounter many other animals throughout the savanna in Patkau’s illustrations, including egrets, giraffes, an ostrich, guinea fowl, and vervet monkeys. Young readers will also enjoy finding small insects, reptiles, and mammals along the journey. The backmatter offers insightful details on the poaching of rhinos, their endangered status, conservation efforts to save them, and Rao-Robinson’s story of her encounter with rhinos in South Africa that inspired the book.
A gentle story that helps children understand why wildlife conservation matters and why they should care. (Picture book. 5-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Rao-Robinson, Anitha: A FAMILY FOR FARU." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A632285588/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6574fcb7. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.
A Family for Faru
by Anitha Rao-Robinson; illus. by Karen Patkau
Preschool, Primary Pajama 32 pp. g
10/20 978-1 -77278-096-3 $18.95
In this story set on the savannah (an author's note refers to South Africa), young Tetenya and his mother have been caring for an orphaned baby rhino. They have had no success finding a herd for baby Faru to join, so Tetenya sets out with Faru to look further. The story follows classic-picture-book structure for a while, with a refrain as they come across different types of animals, "but no rhinos." Sound effects add to the atmosphere, as the pair encounters, for example, "giraffes gliding through the long grass ... SWISH SWISH" and "a family of guinea fowl scrounging for seeds ... SCRITCH SCRITCH SCRITCH." The details give a strong sense of place, as child and rhino eat bright pink water berries for lunch and fall asleep under a Jackalberry tree--but the calm and playful interlude is suddenly interrupted by machete-wielding poachers. Tetenya thinks quickly to figure out a way of using the berries to save Faru, and the story comes to a satisfying conclusion. Patkau's digital illustrations use shadows, reflections, and bright colors against the greens and browns of the savannah to make the figures pop.
The presence of an armed ranger guarding the rhinos underscores the reality of protecting creatures from poachers, as described in an appended note. But it is the warm relationship between Tetenya and Faru, and the young boy's bravery, that children will most likely remember.
g indicates that the book was read in galley or page proof. The publisher's price is the suggested retail price and does not indicate a possible discount to libraries. Grade levels are only suggestions; the individual child is the real criterion.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
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Lempke, Susan Dove. "A Family for Faru." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 96, no. 6, Nov.-Dec. 2020, p. 80. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A641263725/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6f135f6c. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.
Rao-Robinson, Anitha SARI SISTERS Viking (Children's None) $18.99 10, 22 ISBN: 9780593526354
A young South Asian girl finds a way to feel included when her sister reaches a milestone.
Ruhi is eager to kick off the weekly dance party with her sister, but Kayra isn't there. Her mother tells her that today is Kayra's big day. A curious Ruhi peeks under Kayra's closed door just as Kayra steps out dressed in her very first sari. Ruhi is enthralled by her sister, but a nervous Kayra keeps dismissing her. At a family gathering, all the aunties fuss over Kayra. Feeling ignored by her sister and aunts, Ruhi joins the other kids in the playroom; then, watching her cousins dance, Ruhi comes up with a plan. At home, Ruhi practices pleating, knotting, and tying scarves into a sari of her own. At their next family gathering, the cousins tie and drape colorful scarves as saris and invite everyone to their sari dance party. While Ruhi gets Kayra to the dance floor, her makeshift sari unravels, but Kayra helps knot it back together, confessing that she struggled initially, too. This sweet story bonds two sisters and shows the coming-of-age tradition of girls wearing their first sari. The gorgeous pink, yellow, and blue illustrations are richly embellished with intricate designs and patterns. Ruhi is an endearing main character, with her mismatched socks, sprouting ponytail, and love for her family.
A winning story about mingling old and new traditions. (author's note, photos)(Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Rao-Robinson, Anitha: SARI SISTERS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Sept. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A808342895/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=93a55fd3. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.