15 Feb 2021

John Steptoe

Black Authors post, day 15.

Black Authors post, day 15.

Today’s author is children’s author and book illustrator John Steptoe.

John Steptoe was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1950. When he was a young child, he loved to draw. His passion for drawing led him to receive formal art training in high school at the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan. He was also taught and mentored by renowned Black painter Norman Lewis as part of the Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited program.

Steptoe’s writing career began when he was only 16 years old. He wrote and illustrated a children’s book titled Stevie, based on his experiences as a young child. The book was published in its entirety in Life Magazine, giving his work and art national attention. HarperCollins then published the book 3 years later.

Steptoe also attended the Vermont Academy, where he studied under the sculptor John Torres, and William Mayors, a widely acclaimed painter.

After his publication of Stevie, Steptoe went on to illustrate 15 more picture books, 10 of which he also wrote the text of. In 1985 and 1998, his books The Jumping Mouse and Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters were named as Caldecott Honor books. He was awarded the Coretta Scott King Award for illustration for his books Mother Crocodile and Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters.

John Steptoe died on August 28, 1989. He was 38 years old.

After his death, the American Library Association established the John Steptoe Award for New Talent, which is given to affirm new talent and excellence in writing and/or illustration.

Links to some of my favorite books by John Steptoe:

A note: These Amazon links point to Amazon Smile, Amazon’s affiliate charity program. If you have not set up Amazon Smile, I encourage you to point it to an organization like the [NAACP Minneapolis](https://www.mplsnaacp.org/ Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization.

Some links: