Michaela Goade author page

Michaela Goade biography

Michaela Goade is an American illustrator recognized for her work in children’s literature. She is a member of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. Goade is known for illustrating books that celebrate Indigenous cultures and stories, often drawing inspiration from her heritage and the natural world.

Goade illustrated We Are Water Protectors, written by Carole Lindstrom and published by Roaring Brook Press in 2020. The book addresses themes of environmental stewardship and Indigenous rights. For her work on this title, Goade received the Caldecott Medal in 2021, becoming the first Indigenous illustrator to win this award.

Her other illustration credits include Shanyaak’utlaax: Salmon Boy (Sealaska Heritage Institute, 2017), Encounter by Brittany Luby (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2019), and I Sang You Down from the Stars by Tasha Spillett-Sumner (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2021). Goade’s debut as both author and illustrator, Berry Song, was published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in 2022.

In 2021, Goade was awarded the Caldecott Medal for We Are Water Protectors.