John Steptoe (September 14, 1950 – August 28, 1989) was an author and illustrator for children’s books dealing with aspects of the African-American experience.
[1] He also attended the Vermont Academy, where he studied under the sculptor John Torres, and William Majors, a widely acclaimed painter.
It received national attention when it appeared in its entirety in Life magazine, which commended it for being "a new kind of book for black children.
Steptoe also received the Coretta Scott King Award for illustration for both Mother Crocodile (written by Rosa Guy) in 1982 and Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters.
While all of Steptoe’s works deals with the African-American experience, Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters was widely praised by reviewers and critics as a breakthrough of African history and culture.