Quita Harris

A little about Quita

Quita Harris is a Liberian children’s author and the founder of Plum Hill Press. As a child, she visited both her maternal and paternal grandparents on Plum Hill in Harrisburg, Liberia. Those visits, family relationships, and childhood memories inspire the stories she writes today.

Quita began writing after noticing a gap: children born to Liberian parents in the United States may know Liberia through the food at home or stories relatives tell, yet have few opportunities to explore its culture, history, geography, and everyday life. Some may never visit the country their families call home. Her books offer another way to build that connection.

Her Under the Plum Tree series follows Leela and her family as they explore Liberia’s culture, history, geography, food, and civic life. The stories range from cooking with grandparents and navigating childhood challenges to discovering places such as Providence Island and Kpatawee Waterfalls, learning about the Liberian Legislature and how government works, and exploring the country’s connections to the wider world. Through Leela’s questions and experiences, young readers build their knowledge of Liberia and the people who shape it.

At the heart of her work is a hope that children of Liberian heritage will feel more connected to their roots, wherever they grow up. She also welcomes readers of every background to discover Liberia’s rich culture and history through stories families can read together, talk about, and keep.