Atinuke (author)

Atinuke was born in Ibadan and grew up in Lagos, Nigeria with her parents and three siblings.^[2] Her father was a Nigerian university lecturer and her mother was an English editor.^[2] Atinuke is of Yoruba ancestry through her father.^[3][4]

Atinuke chose to attend a boarding school in England from ages ten to thirteen.^[3] Her parents and three siblings then moved to England, and Atinuke began attending public school.^{[citation needed]}

in university, Atinuke studied English and Commonwealth Literatures.^[3]

She has two sons^[5] and currently lives in Wales.^[3][6]

Atinuke's first story was told to an audience in England in 1990, when the booked performer didn't show.^{[citation needed]} She embarked on a creative journey and professional career of collecting stories from Africa and the African diaspora and telling them to local and international audiences, at festivals and schools.^{[citation needed]} When she took a break from travelling in 2005 due to illness,^{[citation needed]} she began writing her first book, about fictional character Anna Hibiscus, a young girl living in "Amazing Africa". Atinuke is the author of over 20 children's books based on her life in Nigeria and the traditional stories. Most recently she published a non-fiction children's book about the 55 countries of Africa. Her book "Baby Goes To Market" is published in the US and UK as well as in French and Japanese.^[7]

The African American Literature Book Club named Atinuke in their list of the "Top 100 Bestselling Authors" in the 60th place.^[8]

In 2011, Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus! was named one of the best children's books of the year by The Horn Book Magazine.^[9]

In 2015, Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus was named one of the best children's and young adult books of the year by Shelf Awareness.^[10]

In 2017, You’re Amazing, Anna Hibiscus! was included on Kirkus Reviews' "Best Books for Middle Graders of 2017" list.^[11]

In 2018, Baby Goes to Market was included on the Children's Africana Book Awards' "Best Books for Young Children" list.^[12]

In 2021, Too Small Tola was named one of the best children's books of the year by The Horn Book Magazine, School Library Journal and Shelf Awareness ^[13][14][15]

In 2022, Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls was named one of the best children's books of the year by The Horn Book Magazine.^[16]

• Marguerite Abouet