Goble, a native of Haslemere, England, studied at the Central School of Art in London where he worked as a furniture designer, industrial consultant, and art instructor. He published his first children’s book in 1969, entitled Red Hawk's Account of Custer's Last Battle.

In 1977, he moved to the Black Hills in South Dakota and was adopted by Chief Edgar Red Cloud. Goble was greatly influenced by Plains Indian culture and his subsequent children’s books reflect this. "I feel that I have seen and learned many wonderful things from Indian people which most people would never have the opportunity to experience. I simply wanted to express and to share these things which I love so much."

In 1978 Goble received the Caldecott Medal award, presented each year to the most distinguished children's picture book. It was awarded for The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses. Most of his books, retellings of ancient stores, are told from the perspective of the American Indian; part of Goble’s effort to make Native American traditions understandable to children of all heritages.