Renée Watson (2026)

Renée Watson is a #1 New York Times bestselling author with over one million copies sold. She received the 2026 Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature for her novel All the Blues in the Sky. Her acclaimed novel Piecing Me Together earned both a Coretta Scott King Award and a Newbery Honor.

Drawing from her upbringing as a Black girl in the Pacific Northwest, Watson’s work explores home, identity, and the intersections of race, class, and gender. Her writing serves as a tool for healing and social dialogue, particularly through her work with youth. A passionate arts educator, Watson has led writing workshops nationwide and founded the, I Too Arts Collective in Langston Hughes’s former Harlem home. Her influence continues through initiatives like the Renée Watson Cottage at the Highlights Foundation, a creative haven for children’s writers and illustrators.