Javaka Steptoe
Javaka Steptoe | |
|---|---|
 Steptoe at the 2017 Texas Book Festival | |
| Notable work | Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat |
| Parent |
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| Awards | Caldecott Medal Coretta Scott King Book Award |
| Website | javaka |
Javaka Steptoe is an author and illustrator.[1] He won the 2017 Caldecott Medal as well as the Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature and the Coretta Scott King Book Award from the American Library Association for his picture book Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.[2]
Early life
Javaka Steptoe is the son of John Steptoe, who twice won Caldecott Honors (for his book The Story of Jumping Mouse in 1985 and Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters in 1988.)[2] Growing up, Javaka Steptoe served as a model for his father's books. He then attended Cooper Union, earning a BFA.[3]
Career
Steptoe's Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat was initially inspired by a Basquiat exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum Steptoe saw in 2005.[4] The resulting picture book won the 2017 Caldecott Medal as well as the Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature and the Coretta Scott King Book Award from the American Library Association.[2]
Steptoe's other works include illustrating Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix (Clarion Books, 2010)[5][6] and writing and illustrating In Daddy’s Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers (Lee & Low Books, 1997),[7] which also won the Coretta Scott King Book Award.[1]
Personal life
References
- ^ a b Monique, Porsha (11 March 2017). "Caldecott Medal winner Javaka Steptoe likens his writing to music". Rolling Out. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- ^ a b c Isaacs, Mike (28 June 2017). "Caldecott Medal winner for best picture book visits Skokie". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- ^ "Javaka Steptoe | Biography". www.javaka.com. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ Gish, Sarah (23 April 2017). "Basquiat for kids: Caldecott winner Javaka Steptoe brings 'Radiant Child' to LitFestKC". Kansas City Star. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- ^ NPR Staff (23 October 2010). "Jimi Sounds Like A Rainbow: Hendrix For Kids". NPR. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Children's Book Review: Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Gary Golio, illus. by Javaka Steptoe, Clarion, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-618-85279-6". Publishers Weekly. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Children's Book Review: In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers by Javaka Steptoe, Author, Javaka Steptoe, Illustrator Lee & Low Books $16.95 (32p) ISBN 978-1-880000-31-1". Publishers Weekly. 3 November 1997. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Maughan, Shannon (23 January 2017). "'A Very Incredible Day': Javaka Steptoe on His 2017 Caldecott Medal". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
