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John Steptoe: Author & Illustrator
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Steptoe News

Caldecott MedalJAVAKA STEPTOE RECEIVES CALDECOTT AND CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD
John Steptoe's son Javaka Steptoe is the 2017 recipient of the Caldecott award, the 2017 Coretta Scott King Award and an NAACP Image Award nomination for his latest book, RADIANT CHILD: THE STORY OF YOUNG ARTIST JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT, which he both wrote and illustrated. READ MORE ON JAVAKA'S SITE

PETITION TO CO-NAME MONROE STREET JOHN LEWIS STEPTOE PLACE
The Steptoe Family, friends. fans and supporters are pleased to announce the success of the the street co-naming petition. On July 14, 2016, the legistrators voted and approved the co-naming of Monroe Street to John Lewis Steptoe Place. The ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration was held on August 27th, on Monroe Street between Ralph and Howard Avenues. MAP

Steptoe family, friends and fans celebrate the co-naming


Steptoe family and friends celebrated the success of the street co-naming petition in front of the new Brooklyn street sign. From left to right: Darlene Mealy, Brooklyn Community Board 3 Chair Henry Butler, Bweela Steptoe, Tremaine Wright, and Dr. Valarie Durrah.

JOHN LEWIS STEPTOE, CREATOR OF AWARD-WINNING CHILDREN’S BOOKS, was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 14, 1950. He was raised right here on Monroe Street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. We've brought his name home to Monroe Street! The Steptoe Family appreciates all your support.

JOHN LEWIS STEPTOE PLACE STREET CO-NAMING CELEBRATION We are grateful for your support, as a sponsor of this historical event. We have worked passionately for this day to come and greatly appreciate your generosity in making this celebration a memorable one for everyone.

THIS MILESTONE EVENT was August 27th, 2016 from 11:30 am to 8:00 pm. The street co-naming ceremony started at 12:00 pm.

TO COMMEMORATE THE LIFE OF JOHN LEWIS STEPTOE we celebrated the John Lewis Steptoe Street Co-Naming and the forthcoming Nationwide Tour of the play Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters. We invited several children’s authors and illustrators to read their books. Council Member Darlene Mealy was in attendance. There were invited Spoken Word artists, musical performers, storytellers, and much more!


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100 GREAT CHILDREN'S BOOKS/100 YEARS

MUFARO'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS was one of the books chosen by children's librarians at The New York Public Library. MUFARO'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS also chosen as one of the top 10 books to sell as a package collection from the 100 Great Children's Books.
MORE ON THE NYPL WEBSITE

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About John Steptoe

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 continued his studies at the Vermont Academy, where he was instructed by sculptor John Torres, and by William Majors, a painter acclaimed by the Museum of Modem Art for his etchings and printmaking.

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. READ MORE

Selected Awards & Honors

MUFARO'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS
The Caldecott Award
An ALA Notable Book
The Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration
Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Illustration
Reading Rainbow Featured Book

THE STORY OF JUMPING MOUSE
The Caldecott Award
An ALA Notable Book
Horn Book Fanfare Honor List

ALL THE COLORS OF THE RACE by Arnold Adoff
An ALA Notable Book
Reading Rainbow Highlighted Book

THANK YOU, JACKIE ROBINSON by Barbara Cohen
An ALA Notable Book

JEFFREY BEAR CLEANS UP HIS ACT
ALA Notable Booklist Children's Editor's Choice

OUTSIDE INSIDE POEMS by Arnold Adoff
ALA Notable Booklist Children's Editor's Choice

MOTHER CROCODILE by Rosa Guy
The Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration

The 1989 Milner Award
Voted by Atlanta schoolchildren for their favorite author

COMPLETE JOHN STEPTOE BOOK LIST

My Special Best Words book cover

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Art Exhibits

To host an art exhibit of the work of John Steptoe at your school, college, gallery or museum, please us.


School Visits

John Steptoe's daughter and son, designer Bweela Steptoe and writer and illustrator Javaka Steptoe, are available for school visits. They will talk about their father and their childhood experiences growing up with him, posing for his books and learning from his creative outlook. Bweela and Javaka are happy to use their vender's license for visits to New York City schools. Vender number on request. Please email if you are interested in a visit.



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Play Button Audience Response THE SESAME STREET READING OF STEVIE ON YOUTUBE



Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters Musical Concludes Successful 17 City National Tour

Dallas Children’s Theater Mufaro Returns Home after National Tour


After phenomenally successful tours in the 2008-09 & 2011-12 seasons that visited well over 60 cities, Dallas Children's Theater brought back its original musical adaptation of this Caldecott Award winning African folktale.























Dallas Children’s Theater is rated by TIME Magazine as one of the top five theaters in the nation performing for youth.

2016- 2017 National Tour

More information about cities and venues in Dallas Children's Theater 2016-2017 National Tour of Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters.

Rights & Permissions
For all permission requests pertaining to John Steptoe’s artwork, writings or the exploitation of any of the following rights, including foreign and domestic publication rights, including UK, translation, magazine, newspaper, book club, audio, paperback reprint, hardcover reprint, large print, television, motion picture (including props and set dressing), radio, dramatic, public readings, electronic reproduction, and other formats or any other rights not stated, please contact:

Bweela Steptoe
PO Box 330-170
Brooklyn, NY 11233-0170
718-753-8544

She Come Bringing Me That Little Baby Girl book cover

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She Come Bringing Me That Little Baby Girl book cover

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Portrait of John SteptoeMufaro's Beautiful Daughters book cover

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      Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters Musical National Tour