she was so loving, caring, spirited, and driven. The portrayal of family love was also so delightful, and the way ryan wanted to do her best to bring sunshine to her new house was fun to read about. having a sibling is annoying but it's also so beautiful. the siblings relationship made me nostalgic and think of our childhood. being the smaller sister of 2 years, i would always follow him around, want to be where he was at, hang out with him and his friends, beat him at games and races, and basically annoy him. So many of the scenes between ryan and her brother, ray, reminded me of my brother when i was younger. Quick, cute, lighthearted, and realistic, ways to make sunshine is a step forward for little black girls with dreams of changing the world someday. Renée graduated from The New School, where she studied Creative Writing and earned a certificate in Drama Therapy.

She has facilitated poetry and theatre workshops with young girls coping with sexual and physical abuse, children who have witnessed violence, children coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and children who relocated to New York City after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. One of Renée’s passions is using the arts to help youth cope with trauma. She also facilitates professional development workshops for teachers and artists. Renée has worked in public schools and community organizations as an artist in residence for several years, teaching poetry, fiction, and theater in Oregon, Louisiana, and New York City. When Renée is not writing and performing, she is teaching. Her poetry and articles have been published in Rethinking Schools, Theatre of the Mind and With Hearts Ablaze.

Renée’s one woman show, Roses are Red, Women are Blue, debuted at New York City's Lincoln Center at a showcase for emerging artists. Her middle grade novel, What Momma Left Me debuted as the New Voice for 2010 in middle grade fiction by The Independent Children's Booksellers Association. Renée Watson is the author of the children’s picture book, A Place Where Hurricanes Happen (Random House, June 2010), which was featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.

Renee watson ways to make sunshine