Michaela Goade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michaela Goade
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Goade at the 2022 Texas Book Festival.
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| Born | 1989/1990 (age 35–36) Juneau, Alaska, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Fort Lewis College |
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Notable work
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We Are Water Protectors Berry Song |
| Awards | Caldecott Medal (2021) Caldecott Honor (2023) |
Michaela Goade, born in 1989 or 1990, is a talented Native American artist. She is part of the Tlingit and Haida tribes. Michaela is famous for illustrating children's books. These books often share stories about Indigenous people. She won the Caldecott Medal in 2021. This award was for her amazing pictures in the book We Are Water Protectors. She was the first Indigenous artist ever to win this special award. Her book, Berry Song, was also recognized. It received a Caldecott Honor in 2023.
Her Early Life and School
Michaela Goade was born in Juneau, Alaska. This happened in 1989 or 1990. She is a member of the Tlingit and Haida tribes. These tribes are from Alaska. She also belongs to the Kiks.ádi clan from Sitka. Michaela went to Fort Lewis College. This college is in Durango, Colorado. She earned a bachelor's degree there in 2014. Her studies focused on graphic design and marketing.
Becoming an Artist
After college, Michaela worked as an art director. She was at Yuit Communications in Anchorage. She stayed there for two years. During this time, she also worked as a freelance artist. Later, she decided to leave her job. She moved back to Juneau. Her goal was to illustrate children's picture books.
She started with the Baby Raven Reads series. This series is from the Sealaska Heritage Institute. Her first book was Shanyaak'utlaax: Salmon Boy (2017). For this book, she won an award in 2018. It was the American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Picture Book. In 2019, she illustrated Encounter. Brittany Luby wrote this picture book. Critics praised Goade's "gorgeous and achingly rendered" illustrations.
Her next big project was We Are Water Protectors. Carole Lindstrom wrote this book. Roaring Brook Press published it in 2020. The book was inspired by the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. These protests happened at Standing Rock. Michaela worked on the watercolor pictures in 2018. It took her about three to four months. She won the 2021 Caldecott Medal for her art. This made her the first Indigenous artist to win. She was also the first woman of color to receive the award. Reviewers said her pictures told the story beautifully.
Michaela also created a Google Doodle. This was on December 30, 2020. It honored Elizabeth Peratrovich. Elizabeth was a Tlingit civil rights activist. In 2021, Michaela worked with Tasha Spillett-Sumner. They created I Sang You Down from the Stars. This picture book is about an Indigenous mother. She prepares for her new baby.
Goade's own book, Berry Song, came out in 2022. It was chosen as a 2023 Caldecott Honor book. In 2023, she worked with Joy Harjo. Joy Harjo is a former U.S. poet laureate. They made Remember, a picture book. It was based on Harjo's poem. Michaela also designed the cover for a young adult thriller. This book was Warrior Girl Unearthed (2023) by Angeline Boulley.
Books She Illustrated
