Illustrator Jade Goodwin on authentic representation in children's books

Ahead of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, the Gomeroi illustrator yarns about diversity in children's picture books and the importance of supporting your local bookshop.

Gomeroi illustrator, Jade Goodwin, wants to see little Black kids represented in all kinds of stories. Source: Supplied / Travis De Vries/NITV

Jade Goodwin is a Gomeroi children's illustrator and she still pinches herself that this is her job.

"I didn't really think of illustrating as a career," said Goodwin.

"I thought working in the arts in general is hard, I started studying fine art and I dropped out because I didn't want to be an artist, I didn't want to do oil painting or drawing still life."

Her love of drawing and creating things goes back to screen printing at her grandparent's with her cousins.

"I think having such good memories there has really honed into why I love drawing and had that limitless creativity," she said.

Goodwin's career has since blossomed.

She's illustrated Ash Barty's book series', Little Ash, and Tennis Camp, and her picture book, My Dream For You; as well as a new fantasy-adventure trilogy by Bundjalung author Brooke Scobie called Yarn Quest that has just been released this week.

Cover art by Jade Goodwin for tennis champion, Ash Barty's book. Source: Supplied

Goodwin wants to portray diversity in children's stories in a natural and authentic way.

She said although there is a time and place for heavy topics and themes to be covered in children's literature, it's equally important for young mob to see themselves in all kinds of stories.

"It's important for a little Black kid to pick up a book about a magical balloon or something and be like 'hey, that looks like me!' and have fun with all the other kids," she said.

"By only showing those kids in those specific books, we're not showing them that they can actually do anything or be anything."

Goodwin said being encouraged to look at the world through a child's eyes is what she loves about being a children's illustrator.

"There's something so special about the way kids see the world," she said.

"How there are no limits how anything is possible, how there can be these really deep and meaningful ideas in picture books but they're so simple. You take away the layers of being an adult and worrying about these things...whether it be how to get over being sad or fearful, or being happy and just showing how simple that can be.

"Looking through picture books as an adult and looking at them through a child's perspective is so therapeutic."

This year, Goodwin was chosen to design the artwork for BookPeople's Love Your Bookshop Day on 12 October.

BookPeople is the Australian booksellers association and the campaign encourages people to support their local bookstores.

"Love Your Bookshop Day is one of the best days of the year for me," she said.

"I love the work that local and independent booksellers do, I think they're really valuable and important especially when it comes to books for mob or written by mob.

Children's illustrator Jade Goodwin wanted the poster for this year's Love Your Bookshop Day to reflect the diversity she sees in local bookshops. Source: Supplied

Goodwin said unlike some of the larger bookshop chains, smaller booksellers do a great job of showcasing the diversity of First Nations' stories more accurately in their respective genres rather than putting them all together on one shelf.

"Independent booksellers really know their stuff and they really put in the work to broaden everyone's perspectives in reading," she said.

On creating the poster, Goodwin wanted to reflect the diversity she sees in bookshops.

"I wanted this really awesome opportunity to draw as many people as I can in bookshops," she said.

"I think it can be a safe space for people that find these books and envelope themselves in this world with a book and I think bookshops are almost an extension of that bubble as well."

Goodwin said she hopes kids can find themselves in her illustrations when they pick up a book.

"I hope they get a sense of seeing themselves in it, whether it looks like them or even just from the clothing, or hair, or skin colour," she said.

"I hope they get that opportunity to be seen and understand and valued, is the main goal... They're more than just their identity as mob, obviously that's a big and really important thing, but they're allowed to just be kids like everyone else as well."