Families Reading Together

The Children’s Book Council, 1989. Color poster depicting a grandmother sharing a book with her grandson, created by John Steptoe. In 1989, the Children’s Book Council commissioned four posters on the theme of “Families Reading Together” from children’s illustrators Steptoe, Donald Carrick, Peter Sis, and David Wiesner. Proceeds from their sale supported literacy and reading programs around the world. Raised in Brooklyn, Steptoe was a pioneering illustrator of sixteen children’s books, twelve of which he wrote. He centered African-American children in his work, beginning with Stevie (1969), which was published in Life magazine and then by Harper & Row when he was still a teenager; Stevie would be memorably read aloud by Gordon on Sesame Street. Steptoe received Caldecott Honors twice, for The Story of Jumping Mouse (1985) and Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters (1988.) This poster was among the last of his works to be published before his untimely death from AIDS at the age of thirty-eight. After his death, the American Library Association established the John Steptoe New Talent Award in his honor. A fine example of a scarce poster. Color poster, measuring 19 x 13 inches. (Inventory #: 1003894)