Laurel Goodluck

Laurel Goodluck writes picture books with modern Native themes that reflect Native children’s cultural experiences and everyday life, showing Native children that they have a perspective that is unique and powerful. 

Laurel’s debut picture book, Forever Cousins, illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Charlesbridge, 2022) was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and was hailed by Dr. Debbie Reese on the American Indians in Children’s Literarture blog as “one of the best books I’ve read.” The celebratory Rock Your Mocs, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight, followed (Harper/Heartdrum, 2023) along with  Deb Haaland, a nonfiction, chapter book entry in the She Persisted series (PRH/Philomel, 2023). 

Coming up in 2024 is the warm family story Too Much, illustrated by Full Circle Literary client Bridget George (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers). In 2025 SSBFYR will release the anthemic Fierce Aunties!, illustrated by Steph Littlebird and Heartdrum will release the humorous yet moving Yáaadilá!: Good Grief, illustrated by Full Circle Literary client Jonathan Nelson. And, slated for 2026 is Stories Are the Heart of the World, illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers).

Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Laurel comes from an intertribal background of Mandan and Hidatsa from the prairies of North Dakota, and Tsimshian from a rainforest in Alaska. Laurel received both a BA in Psychology and an MA in Community Counseling and Family Studies from the University of New Mexico. She began writing by crafting curriculum for community advocacy involving Native teen leadership and later for children newly diagnosed with mental health challenges. 

Laurel lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with her Navajo husband, where they raised two children also bent on storytelling in journalism and acting. Laurel was a recipient of a 2019 mentorship with We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) Picture Book Mentorship and was paired with award-winner author Traci Sorell. She also received a competitive funding grant from New Mexico Writers to support new works in progress. She is an active regional chapter member of New Mexico SCBWI and volunteer Equity and Inclusion Lead. Follow Laurel on Instagram and Twitter @lauriegoodluck and visit her at www.laurelgoodluck.com