Vashti Harrison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vashti Harrison
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Harrison at the 2023 Texas Book Festival
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| Born | 1988 |
| Alma mater | University of Virginia (BA) California Institute of the Arts (MFA) |
| Known for | Illustration |
| Awards | Caldecott Medal (2024) |
Vashti Harrison, born in 1988, is an American writer, artist, and filmmaker. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Her book, Big, won the important Randolph Caldecott Medal in 2024. Vashti was born in Virginia. Her creative works often share stories from her Caribbean background and old folk tales.
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Early Life and Education
Vashti Harrison was born in 1988. Her father is African American, and her mother is Indian from Trinidad and Tobago. Teachers described her as a "quiet and polite student" when she was younger.
She studied at the University of Virginia, earning a degree in Media Studies and Studio Art in 2010. Later, she went to the California Institute of Arts and received a master's degree in Film and Video in 2014. While there, she took classes from Disney and DreamWorks Animation.
Creative Career
Vashti Harrison is known for her films, illustrations, and books. She often uses her art to share stories and traditions.
Films and Animation
Harrison's films are unique and often explore Caribbean culture and old stories. Her movies have been shown at big film festivals around the world. She also gives advice to young artists who want to follow their dreams.
- Field Notes (2014) is a visual journey into the spiritual culture of Trinidad and Tobago. In this film, Harrison shares her own stories about magical creatures and island legends. It won an award for Best Local Short Film in 2014.
- Sixteen (2015) tells the story of Harrison's mother growing up. It shows how she changed from a difficult childhood to a happy adulthood.
- Forged from the Love of Liberty (2016) is a poem about old beliefs and superstitions. Its title comes from the national song of Trinidad and Tobago.
- Harrison also worked on Hair Love (2019). This animated short film celebrates the special bond between a Black father and his daughter, focusing on Black hair. The film won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Harrison also illustrated a children's book based on the movie.
Illustration and Books
Vashti Harrison started her career by sharing her art on Instagram. This led to her first art jobs. She was inspired to create children's books after moving back to Trinidad and Tobago.
In 2016, she won a drawing contest that helped her connect with publishers. Just two months later, she had an agent. This was the start of her journey as an illustrator and writer.
- Harrison illustrated Festival of Colours (2018), a book about the Holi festival.
- Her drawings also appear in Cece Loves Science.
- In 2020, the book Sulwe, which she illustrated, won an NAACP Image Award.
- Her book Big, which she both wrote and illustrated, won the prestigious Randolph Caldecott Medal in 2024.
Little Leaders Series
The Little Leaders series includes popular books like Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History. This book tells the stories of 40 important African-American women who made history. Harrison was inspired to create this book during Black History Month. She wanted to share the stories of amazing Black women from American history.
The book was published in 2017 in the US and 2018 in the UK. It includes stories about famous people like Mae Jemison, Katherine Johnson, Maya Angelou, and Alice Bell. Before it was even released, the book was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. In January 2018, Vashti Harrison appeared on The Daily Show to talk about Little Leaders.
