About
Michaela Goade is a Caldecott Medalist and #1 New York Times Bestselling illustrator of “We Are Water Protectors,” also a 2020 Kirkus Prize Finalist. Other books include the New York Times Bestselling “I Sang You Down from the Stars,” “Encounter” and “Shanyaak’utlaax: Salmon Boy,” winner of the 2018 American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Picture Book.
Over the last few years, Michaela’s work has focused on Indigenous KidLit. She is honored to work with Indigenous authors and tribal organizations in the creation of beautiful and much-needed books. An enrolled member of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Michaela’s Tlingit name is Sheit.een and she is of the Kiks.ádi Clan (Raven/Frog) from Sheet’ká.
“Following the artist path has enabled me to reconnect with my culture, a true gift that has become both an anchor and a north star. It’s been an incredibly enriching experience and I’ll keep learning and working to honor the culture and tribe.”
Michaela was raised in the rainforest and on the beaches of Southeast Alaska, traditional Lingít Aaní (Tlingit land). Today she lives in Sheet’ká (Sitka), Alaska, a magical island on the edge of a wide, wild sea.
Awards/Recognition
2024 American Indian Youth Literature Honor Award – Remember (Random House Studio)
2023 Boston Globe-Horn Book Picture Book Honor – Remember (Random House Studio)
2023 Caldecott Honor – Berry Song (Little, Brown for Young Readers)
2021 TIMES Next Generation Leader
2021 Caldecott Medal – We Are Water Protectors (Roaring Brook Press)
2020 Kirkus Prize Finalist: Young Readers – We Are Water Protectors (Roaring Brook Press)
2020 Shortlist for the Sheila Barry Best Canadian Picturebook of the Year – Encounter (Tundra Books)
2019 Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist Awardee
2018 American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Picture Book – Shanyaak'utlaax – Salmon Boy
Press, etc.
Indie Bound: A July/August 2022 Kids’ Indie Next List Pick, BERRY SONG
Book Riot: Must-Read Book Roundup, July 6, 2022, BERRY SONG
Shelf Awareness: Review of BERRY SONG
NPR Weekend review of I SANG YOU DOWN FROM THE STARS
Interview with The Children’s Book Podcast, April 2020
Panelist at Kweli’s The Color of Children’s Literature Conference 2020, New York City, NY (online)
BookPage review for WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS
New York Times review for WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS
Bookshelf/Publishers Weekly interview for WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS
New York Times review for ENCOUNTER
NPR Weekend Edition interview for ENCOUNTER
a starred review for ENCOUNTER from School Library Connection
Upcoming Picture Books
"Being Home" by Traci Sorell (Kokila, Spring 2024)
Picture Books
Remember by Joy Harjo (Random House Studio, March 21, 2023)
Berry Song by Michaela Goade (Little, Brown for Young Readers, July 2022)
I Sang You Down From the Stars by Tasha Spillett-Sumner (Little, Brown for Young Readers, April 2021)
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom (published by Roaring Brook Press, March 2020)
Encounter by Brittany Luby (published by Little, Brown for Young Readers, October 2019)
Raven & the Tide Lady an ancient Tlingit story (published by Sealaska Heritage Institute, 2018)
How Devil's Club Came to Be by Miranda Worl (published by Sealaska Heritage Institute, 2017)
Let's Go! A Harvest Story by Hannah Lindoff (published by Sealaska Heritage Institute, 2017)
Shanyaak'utlaax – Salmon Boy an ancient Tlingit story edited by Johnny Marks, Hans Chester, David Katzeek, Nora Dauenhauer, and Richard Dauenhauer (published by Sealaska Heritage Institute, 2017)
Exhibitions
2021 People of the Tides: The Art of Michaela Goade – Longwood Center for the Visual Arts
2021 The Original Art Show, Society of Illustrators – “I Sang You Down from the Stars”
2020 The Original Art Show, Society of Illustrators – “We Are Water Protectors”
2020 ART in PLACE: Social Distancing in the Studio – The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, an online exhibition
Select Collaborators
Google, Inc.
Hachette Book Group – Little, Brown for Young Readers
HarperCollins Publishers – HarperCollins Children’s Books
Macmillan Publishers – Roaring Brook Press
Patagonia, Inc.
Penguin Random House – Random House Studio
Penguin Young Readers – Kokila Books