John Steptoe was born in Brooklyn. From early childhood, he drew
pictures and told stories with them. He started work on Stevie, his
first picture book, when he was sixteen, and Stevie was published
three years later to outstanding critical acclaim. Since then, he
has written and illustrated many successful books for children.
John Lewis Steptoe, creator of award-winning picture books for
children, was born in Brooklyn on September 14, 1950 and was raised
in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of that borough. He began drawing
as a young child and received his formal art training at the High
School of Art and Design in Manhattan. He was a student in the
HARYOU-ACT Art Program and instructed by the highly recognized
African American oil painter, Norman Lewis. He also studied at the
Vermont Academy, where he was instructed by the sculptor, John
Torres, and William Majors, a painter acclaimed by the Museum of
Modem Art for his etchings and print-making.
His work first came to national attention in 1969 when his first
book, Stevie, appeared in its entirety in Life magazine, hailed as
"a new kind of book for black children." Mr. Steptoe, who had begun
work on Stevie at the age of 16, was then 18 years old.
In his 20-year career, Mr. Steptoe illustrated 15 more picture
books, ten of which he also wrote. The American Library Association
named two of his books Caldecott Honor Books, a prestigious award
for children's book illustration: The Story of Jumping Mouse in
1985 and Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters in 1988. Mr. Steptoe twice
received the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration, for Mother
Crocodile (text by Rosa Guy) in 1982, and for Mufaro's Beautiful
Daughters.
While all of Mr. Steptoe's work deals with aspects of the African
American experience, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters was acknowledged
by reviewers and critics as a breakthrough. Based on an African
tale recorded in the 19th century, it required Mr. Steptoe for the
first time to research African history and culture, awakening his
pride in his African ancestry. Mr. Steptoe hoped that his books
would lead children, especially African American children, to feel
pride in their origins and in who they are. "I am not an exception
to the rule among my race of people," he said, accepting the Boston
Globe/Horn Book Award for Illustration, "I am the rule. By that I
mean there are a great many others like me where I come from."
Mr. Steptoe frequently spoke to audiences of children and adults
about his work. He was the 1989 winner of the Milner Award, voted
by Atlanta schoolchildren for their favorite author.
John Steptoe died on August 28, 1989 at Saint Luke's Hospital in
Manhattan, following a long illness. He was 38 years old and lived
in Brooklyn. Mr. Steptoe was among the small handful of African
American artists who have made a career in children's books.
PreS-Gr 3-This cassette read-along of the Caldecott Honor picture book by John Steptoe (Lothrop, 1987) is an extremely effective presentation of a traditional Zimbabwe folk tale about a man with two daughters the deceitful, selfish Manyara and her sister Nyasha, who is good and generous. When the King sends for a bride, he chooses Nyasha after appearing to her disguised as a snake and a young boy. Narrator Robin Miles' intonation and pacing have an African cadence. Her voice is pleasant, and she varies her tones to create the different characters. Sound effects of jungle animals, rushing water, and background voices add to the presentation. The sound of a page being turned is used to cue listeners to follow the text in the book. This should be included in all library audio collections for young children.-Diane Balodis, Alden Intermediate School, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
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