Javaka Steptoe  Javaka Steptoe (born April 19, 1971) is an author and illustrator. 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". 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.) Growing up, Javaka Steptoe served as a model for his father's books. He then attended Cooper Union, earning a BFA. 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. 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"." Steptoe's other works include illustrating "Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix" (Clarion Books, 2010) and writing and illustrating "In Daddy’s Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers" (Lee & Low Books, 1997), which also won the Coretta Scott King Book Award. Steptoe lives in Brooklyn.