John Steptoe author page

John Steptoe biography

John Steptoe was a children’s book author and illustrator from New York City, born in Brooklyn. He began work on his first children’s book, Stevie, while he was still a teenager. His work focused on stories that children could read within the context of African American experience and culture.

Steptoe’s books include Stevie, published in 1969, Uptown, published in 1970, Train Ride, published in 1971, My Special Best Words, published in 1974, and Marcia, published in 1976. He also illustrated Daddy Is a Monster…Sometimes, published in 1980.

The Story of Jumping Mouse, published in 1984, was illustrated by Steptoe and received a Caldecott Honor. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters was published by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard in 1987, and Steptoe illustrated the book as a retelling of a Cinderella-pattern story set in an ancient Zimbabwe city.

Steptoe received two Coretta Scott King Awards and two Caldecott Honors during his career. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters won his second Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. Creativity, a posthumously published story by Steptoe with illustrations by E. B. Lewis, was released by Clarion Books on 17 February 1997.