John Steptoe was an author and illustrator for children's books dealing with aspects of the African-American experience.
10 Facts About John Steptoe
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John Steptoe is best known for Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, which was acknowledged by literary critics as a breakthrough in African history and culture.
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John Steptoe began drawing as a young child and received formal art training at the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan, and had Norman Lewis as his instructor.
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John Steptoe attended the Vermont Academy, where he studied under the sculptor John Torres, and William Majors, a widely acclaimed painter.
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John Steptoe's artwork made a good impression on a staff member in the Department of Books for Boys and Girls, and days later Steptoe returned to see the department director Ursula Nordstrom.
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John Steptoe received the Coretta Scott King Award for illustration for both Mother Crocodile in 1982 and Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters.
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John Steptoe hoped that his books would lead African-American children to feel pride in their origins as well.
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John Steptoe won the 2017 Caldecott Medal for his book Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
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John Steptoe died on August 28,1989, at Saint Lukes Hospital in Manhattan of AIDS.
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At the time of his death, John Steptoe was among the few African-American artists who made a career in children's literature.