Laura Bannon

Laura Bannon was an American artist, educator, and award-winning author of children's literature. Born in Acme, Michigan, she studied at Western Michigan University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she later served as the director of the junior department. Her career in children's books began in 1939, spanning over two decades during which she wrote and/or illustrated more than twenty titles. Bannon was known for her culturally diverse stories, often inspired by her travels, including Nemo Meets the Emperor (1957), Manuela's Birthday (1939), and Gregorio and the White Llama (1941). She also illustrated the Newbery Honor book Pecos Bill: The Greatest Cowboy of All Time (1937). Her work received acclaim from the Chicago Children's Reading Round Table and the Society of Typographical Arts. She passed away in Chicago in 1963.