Abiola Bello

Abiola Bello is a Nigerian-British, prize-winning, bestselling children’s and YA author who was born and raised in London.

Abiola is an advocate for diversity in books for young people. Her books include the EMILY KNIGHT I AM series, (Hashtag Press) LOVE IN WINTER WONDERLAND, ONLY FOR THE HOLIDAYS, THE LOVE DARE and the WILD MAGIC series, illustrated by Emma McCann (Simon & Schuster). She has contributed to THE VERY MERRY MURDER CLUB and the SUPER SUNNY MURDER CLUB (Farshore). Abiola has co-written with England footballer Marcus Rashford MBE on the Breakfast Club Adventures - THE MOVIE MONSTER and THE SLEEPOVER SABOTAGE (Macmillan Children's Books)

Abiola's books have been selected as Waterstones Children's Book of the Month, Blackwell's Children's Book of the Month, The Bookseller One To Watch, Amazon Editor's Choice for Black History Month 2022, The Guardian Children's & Teens Best New Novel, an Amazon Billboard for Black History Month in Leicester Square, a Junior Library Guild Pick, Target Book Club and more.

Abiola won London’s BIG Read 2019, wasa finalist for the People’s Book Prize Best Children’s Book, shortlisted for the Spark! Book Awards, shortlisted for Peters Children's Book of the Year, nominated for the CILIP’s Carnegie Award and more

Abiola has currently sold right to the US, Germany, France, Netherlands, Poland and Turkey.

Abiola won The Black British Business Awards - Arts and Media 2023, The London Book Fair Trailblazer Awards 2018 and is the co-founder of Hashtag Press and The Diverse Book Awards.