Caldecott Medal Winning Illustrator Rebecca Kunz (Cherokee)
Q&A: Yahoo News (photo/courtesy) By Kaili Berg February 06, 2025 Rebecca Kunz recently became the first ever Cherokee artist to be awarded the Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for her illustrations in Chooch Helped, a children’s book by Cherokee author Andrea L Rogers. Chooch Helped tells the story of a Cherokee girl who reluctantly introduces her younger brother to their family’s traditions. Through her art, Kunz brings these traditions to life using a combination of watercolor, gouache, printmaking, collage, and digital illustration. Kunz is a multimedia artist and the owner of Tree of Life Studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her work is deeply influenced by traditional Cherokee iconography and archetypal symbolism. Native News Online spoke with Kunz about her journey and inspiration behind Choonc...
