René Colato Laínez is the award winning author of WAITING FOR PAPA, PLAYING LOTERIA, and I AM RENE, THE BOY. Colato Laínez is a graduate of the Vermont College MFA program in Writing for Children & Young Adults. He has been a bilingual elementary teacher at Fernangeles Elementary School, where he is known by the students as "the teacher full of stories." His forthcoming books are RENE HAS TWO LAST NAMES (Piñata Books, Fall 2009) and THE TOOTH FAIRY MEETS EL RATON PEREZ (Tricycle Press, Spring 2010)

-2008-2009 Tejas Star Book Award Finalist, I Am René, the Boy
-2008 Lectura First Grade, Scott Foresman, original story, En busca del tesoro
-2007-2008 Tejas Star Book Award Finalist, Playing Lotería
-2008 New Mexico Book Award, Best Children’s Book, Playing Lotería
-2007 “Top Ten New Latino Authors to Watch (and Read)” by latinostories.com
-2007 California Readers “California Collection”, Playing Lotería
-2006 First Book Marketplace Special Edition, Playing Lotería
-2006 Special Recognition as Teacher and Author by Los Angeles Board of Education
-2006 Latino Book Award, Best Bilingual Picture Book, I Am René, the Boy
-2006 Special Recognition, Paterson Prize, I Am René, the Boy
-2006 Latino Book Award, Best Cover Illustrations, Playing Lotería
-2005 Best Children’s Books, Críticas Magazine, Playing Lotería
-2005 "Orgullo Salvadoreño" (Salvadoran Pride) by the El Salvador Consulate, Texas
-2005 Southwest Books of the Year, Playing Lotería
-2005 Junior Library Guild Selection, I Am René, the Boy
-2005 Junior Library Guild Selection, Playing Lotería

Author's Website

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