VENESSA TAYLOR
Author • Educator • Literacy Champion
Award-winning author and literacy champion, Venessa Taylor has dedicated her career to helping young people discover the joy of reading, bringing her experience as an educator into her bestselling children’s books.
Born and raised in Hackney, Venessa Taylor has spent much of her career helping young people discover the joy of reading. She attended Hackney Downs School and went on to spend two decades working in inner-city primary education, including as an assistant headteacher. Venessa brought this experience into her writing through the bestselling Baller Boys series, where many of her stories are set in Hackney and reflect the diversity of its communities. In 2021, Baller Boys won The People’s Book Prize for Children’s Literature.
Why Hackney Matters
For Taylor, Hackney is “the place that raised me, shaped me and gave me so many of the stories I now tell”. She has always tried to teach children that their stories and “where you come from matters and should never be a limit on where your dreams can take you”. She describes being recognised by the community that helped shape her as “an incredibly emotional moment” and feels honoured to be recognised on the Hackney Writers Legacy Steps.
Did You Know?
Venessa’s Baller Boys series was inspired by her grandsons, with the stories dedicated to her son-in-law, known as Coach Reece. The books are not only a celebration of Hackney and its communities, but also a personal family legacy.