Steptoe, J. (2017). Radiant child. New York, NY: Little, Brown Books.
Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 3
Lexile Measure: 1050L
Response
Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat is a visually striking and moving introduction to the influential contemporary artist Basquiat. The author and illustrator, Javaka Steptoe, prevails in successfully marrying his collage-based artistic style with the heavy-lined technique of Basquiat’s to create a bold children’s book that stands out from the typical bright, sweet colors of children’s books. The presentation of Basquiat’s dreams and ambition to become an artist are inspiring to the reader, and the additional, unexpected themes of the story will captivate and surprise the reader.
I am familiar with the artwork of Basquiat, and I have viewed approximately a dozen of his pieces in museums in Los Angeles and New York. His work is not one that feels “kid-friendly”. His paintings are raw, and overwhelming in size and emotion. Disruptive, chaotic, dark, despair, and frustrated are all words I would use to describe Basquiat’s paintings. Somehow, Steptoe brilliantly finds the feelings and messages in Basquiat’s work and life that can be portrayed in a children’s book. My favorite excerpt from the book, which also serves to describe the style of illustrations, is “his drawings are not neat or clean, nor does he color inside the lines. They are sloppy, ugly, and sometimes weird; but somehow still BEAUTIFUL” (p.6).
Critique
The story in Radiant Child raises the themes and ideas of determination, pursuing your dreams, mental health problems, diversity, what can be considered art, the creative process, appreciation, healing, and struggle…just to name a few. The story follows Basquiat from his childhood to adulthood while noting the major events in Basquiat’s life; these events are included for perspective on how and why Basquiat creates art in his particular fashion. Every page covers a new life event, accomplishment, set-back, or revelation. You begin to feel the relevance of statements made by Basquiat through his art when you read about his life. It is wonderful to experience the richness of Steptoe’s version of Basquiat’s life.
Lesson
Objective: After reading Radiant Child, the student will identify how the themes in the story were illustrated by the author and create an illustration depicting one of the story’s themes.
Lesson Sketch: Read Radiant Child; preview a few of Basquiat’s original artworks; compare the similarities of Steptoe’s illustrations to Basquiat’s; discuss the themes of the story and how they are illustrated; student will complete an illustration depicting one of the themes from the story with pastels and mixed collage (similar to the artistic style of Basquiat and Steptoe).
Discussion questions:
How did the illustrations and story make you feel?
Why do you think Basquiat wanted to be an artist more than anything?
What challenges in Basquiat’s life inspired him to create art?
Resources
The Broad’s Collection of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Artwork
Lesson Plan Idea to Accompany Reading of Radiant Child
Video: The Chaotic Brilliance of Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Jordana Moore Saggese
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