Her novel, Piecing Me Together, received a Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award.

Renée Watson is the New York Times bestselling, Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award-winning author of the novels Some Places More Than Others, Watch Us Rise, co-written with Ellen Hagan, Piecing Me Together, This Side of Home, What Momma Left Me, Betty Before X, co-written with Ilyasah Shabazz, and two picture books: Harlem’s Little One of Renée’s passions is using the arts to help youth cope with trauma and discuss social issues. What does it mean to be anti-racist, and how should adults talk to kids about race and racism? The New York Times calls Renée’s writing, “charming and evocative.” Her poetry and fiction often centers around the lived experiences of black girls and women, and explores themes of home, identity, and the intersections of race, class, and gender. Renée Watson is a New York Times Bestselling author, educator, and activist. Her picture book, A Place Where Hurricanes Happen is based on poetry workshops she facilitated with children in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Children's author Renée Watson and anti-racism … To add more books, Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering OurselvesBlack Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in AmericaHarlem's Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence MillsThe (Other) F Word: A Celebration of the Fat and FierceThe Hunter Maiden: Feminist Folktales from Around the WorldEveryday illusions: Turning life experiences into laughter while gaining knowledge.Clinical Trials Explained: A Guide to Clinical Trials in the Nhs for Healthcare Professionals Vernee Christell Watson-Johnson (née Watson; born September 28, 1949) is an American actress, author, voice artist, and acting coach.Watson-Johnson is best known for her recurring roles as Vernajean Williams on Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979) and as Viola "Vy" Smith on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996), playing the mother of Will Smith's character. Her children's picture books and novels for teens have received several awards and international recognition. She launched the #LangstonsLegacy Campaign to raise funds to lease the Harlem brownstone where Langston Hughes lived and created during the last twenty years of his life. Her young adult novel, Piecing Me Together (Bloomsbury, 2017) received a Coretta Scott King Award and Newbery Honor. Her one woman show, Roses are Red Women are Blue, debuted at the Lincoln Center at a showcase for emerging artists. Her books include Ways to Make Sunshine, Some Places More Than Others, This Side of Home, What Momma Left Me, Betty Before X, cowritten with Ilyasah Shabazz, and Watch Us Rise, cowritten with Ellen Hagan, as well as two acclaimed picture books: A … Renée Watson is a New York Times bestselling author, educator, and activist. She currently teaches courses on writing for children for the Solstice MFA program at Pine Manor College.
Some of her clients include Carnegie Hall, DreamYard, Lincoln Center, RAW Art Works, and Writers in the Schools-Portland. * Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author.


Welcome back. Her articles on teaching and arts education have been published in Rethinking Schools and Oregon English Journal. In the summer of 2016 Renée launched I, Too, Arts Collective, a nonprofit committed to nurturing underrepresented voices in the creative arts. Her hope is to preserve the legacy of Langston Hughes and build on it by providing programming for emerging writers. Her young adult novel, Piecing Me Together (Bloomsbury, 2017) received a Coretta Scott King Award and Newbery Honor. She has. Help us improve our Author Pages by updating your bibliography and submitting a new or current image and biography. Renée has worked as a writer in residence for over twenty years teaching creative writing and theater in public schools and community centers through out the nation. Her books include young adult novels, Piecing Me Together and This Side of Home, which were both nominated for the Best Fiction for Young Adults by the American Library Association. Renée Watson’s most popular book is Piecing Me Together. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. She is on the Council of Writers for the National Writing Project and is a team member of We Need Diverse Books. © Copyright 1997 - 2020 Audible, Inc She accepted a scholarship to a mostly-white private school and even Saturday morning test prep opportunities. Renée grew up in Portland, Oregon and currently lives in New York City.