Steptoe, John (1950-1989), was an African American author and illustrator of children’s books. Steptoe stated that he wanted his books to reflect the lives and experiences of black children in a way that would help make them proud of being African Americans.
Steptoe won Coretta Scott King Awards for his illustrations for Mother Crocodile: An Uncle Amadou Tale from Senegal (1981), written by Birago Diop, and Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale (1987), which he wrote. The annual Coretta Scott King Awards honor African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books portraying the black experience for young readers.
Steptoe gained fame for his first book, Stevie (1969). The novel won praise for its portrait of a black boy adjusting to life with a younger boy living in his home. The novel, which Steptoe illustrated, was the first children’s book to tell a story from the viewpoint of an African American youth using the language of the inner city.
Steptoe wrote and illustrated such stories as Train Ride (1971), Daddy Is a Monster…Sometimes (1980), and The Story of Jumping Mouse: A Native American Legend (1984). He also illustrated several books by other authors, including She Come Bringing Me That Little Baby Girl (1974) by Eloise Greenfield and All the Colors of the Race: Poems (1982) by Arnold Adoff.
John Lewis Steptoe was born on Sept. 14, 1950, in the Brooklyn section of New York City. He died on Aug. 28, 1989. The Coretta Scott King Awards named its New Talent Award in honor of Steptoe. Steptoe’s son, Javaka Steptoe, is an award-winning illustrator and author of children’s literature.
