Lupita Nyong’o author page

Lupita Nyong'o biography

Lupita Nyong’o is a Kenyan actress, producer and children’s author. Her picture book Sulwe is illustrated by Vashti Harrison and was published in hardback by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on 15 October 2019.

Sulwe is a 48-page picture book for ages 4 to 8, with a Lexile level of AD580L and Fountas & Pinnell level O. The story is about colourism, self-esteem and a child learning to see her own beauty after a magical journey through the night sky.

In the UK, Sulwe was published by Puffin in paperback on 26 August 2021, with ISBN 9780241394335.

Before writing Sulwe, Nyong’o’s first feature-film role was in 12 Years a Slave, for which she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She later earned a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut in Danai Gurira’s play Eclipsed.

Sulwe received a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Children’s Literary Work.