Portia Dery children's book author

Portia Dery is a writer and children's book author from Ghana, living in Tamale. Since 2013, she has been active in the field of children's literacy, founding the African Youth Writers Organization (AYWO) initiative, where she currently works while continuing to author new works.

She is best known for her children's books (for which she's received many accolades, including; the winner of the Golden Baobab Picture Book Prize in 2014, the Children's Africana Book Award in 2018, the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) literature prize for children's books in 2019 and nominated for the Exclusive Books IBBY SA Picture Book Awards in 2022), but she also writes and publishes short stories and poetry. 

Her works have been published by various publishing houses and in various publications, including magazines, anthologies and digital platforms. These publications include the UK Poetry Library, Arts Beat, Africa's First Anthology, and Ayiba.

Portia is currently working with Imagnary House on a commissioned story about Africa and celebrating all that it holds. She has previously authored Grandma's List, originally published by African Bureau Stories. 

Grandma's List by Portia Dery and illustrated by Toby Newsome