Laura Obuobi was born and raised in Accra, Ghana, but has been living in the United States since 2003. She has loved books ever since her daddy taught her to read. Libraries, bookstores, in fact any ‘bookish space’ is Laura’s happy place.
She is fascinated by pre-colonial West African history and how it connects with the Black diaspora and Black history. Laura loves to explore these themes, elements, and cultural connections in her stories.
Laura received an MA in Early Childhood Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and taught for 8 years as a preschool teacher. Her time in the classroom opened her eyes to the power of picture books, and the desire to write for children. Her first book, Black Gold, was released in October, 2022 and was nominated for Outstanding Literary Work in Children’s Literature for the 54th NAACP Image Awards. Her most recent book, What Love Looks Like released in June, 2024. Her upcoming book, Becoming a Ballerina: The Story of Michaela Mabinty DePrince (January 2025), is a triumphant nonfiction picture book about one of the most celebrated ballerinas of our generation. Laura is a graduate of the Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
“Hosting author Laura Obuobi was a wonderful experience for both the students and teachers. Laura’s warm and honest demeanor, along with her professionalism and transparency about her process as a published children’s author, made a positive impact on both the children and teachers involved. Listening to Laura read Black Gold in her own voice was magical for the students. The interaction between Laura and the students during the Zoom session, where she answered questions and provided advice on the poems they were working on, was both educational and engaging.” — The School at Columbia University, 2023
