Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat facts for kids
 |
|
| Author | Javaka Steptoe |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Little, Brown and Company |
|
Publication date
|
October 25, 2016 |
| Pages | 40 |
| Awards | Caldecott Medal Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award |
| ISBN | 978-0-316-21388-2 |
| OCLC | 991475987 |
Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat is a picture book from 2016. It was written and illustrated by Javaka Steptoe. The book tells the story of the famous artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. It covers his childhood and how he started his art career.
The book uses a special art style. This style is similar to Basquiat's own work. Radiant Child won two big awards in 2017. It received the Caldecott Medal and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. These awards recognize its amazing illustrations.
Contents
How the Book Was Created
Javaka Steptoe got the idea for this book after visiting an art show. He saw an exhibit about Jean-Michel Basquiat at the Brooklyn Museum. Steptoe felt a strong connection to Basquiat's art. He loved the "energy" in Basquiat's work. Steptoe also felt that some people didn't respect Basquiat's art. They sometimes called it just "graffiti."
Steptoe felt a special link to Basquiat because they both lived in New York. Also, Steptoe's parents were artists too. His father, John Steptoe, also won art awards. John Steptoe taught his son to think about different cultures. He used the idea of "windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors" to explain diversity.
It took Steptoe about five or six years to create Radiant Child. During this time, new information about Basquiat became known. Steptoe made sure to include these new details in his book.
What the Story Is About
The book follows Jean-Michel Basquiat's journey. It shows how he grew up loving art. The story starts when Basquiat was a child in Brooklyn. He saw art everywhere around him. He really enjoyed making his own art.
The book also talks about Basquiat's mother. She faced some health challenges. Because of this, she left their home. As a teenager, Basquiat moved to the Lower East Side of New York. He started making street art there. Later, his art began to be shown in art galleries. By the end of the book, Basquiat has become a very successful artist.
The Book's Unique Art Style
The pictures in Radiant Child are special. They are made to look like Basquiat's art style. Javaka Steptoe painted them on pieces of found wood. This mix of their styles worked well. It let Steptoe add many of Basquiat's own art ideas. The book describes Basquiat's art as "sloppy, ugly, and sometimes weird, but somehow still BEAUTIFUL."
Using found materials made the illustrations very interesting. It added "rich texture and interesting imperfections" to Steptoe's artwork.
How Winning Awards Changed Steptoe
Javaka Steptoe was surprised when he won the Caldecott Medal. He thought other books might win instead. When he accepted the Coretta Scott King Award, Steptoe talked about his growth as an artist. He shared what inspired him to create Radiant Child.
Steptoe has said that these awards were very important. Especially the Caldecott Medal. They helped make sure that Black experiences were seen. They also helped Black voices be heard. The awards gave him a platform to share his message. Steptoe has also seen how his book has helped children. It shows them how Basquiat's mother dealt with her health challenges.
