Stevie [Paperback]

John Steptoe (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 13, 1986 | Age Level: 2 and up

An African-American child resents and then misses a little foster brother.

One day my momma told me, "You know you're gonna have a little friend come stay with you." And I said, "Who is it?" and "For how long?"

That's when Stevie moved in with his crybaby self. He played with my toys and broke them, and he left dirty footprints all over my bed. But then Stevie left again, and I missed him. I missed playing Cowboys and Indians on the stoop and watching cartoons in the morning. Maybe. . .just maybe, Stevie wasn't so bad after all.

Notable Children's Books of 1940–1970 (ALA)
"Best of the Best" Children's Books 1966–1978 (SLJ)
1978 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
Society of Illustrators Gold Medal
Children's Books of 1969 (Library of Congress)
Children's Books of the Year 1969 (CSA)

Black Americans – Minority Groups List (BL)
Notable Books for the Portrayal of the Black in Children's Literature (Top of the News)
Select Children's Books of 1969 (Publishers Weekly)
Brooklyn Art Books for Children 1974

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The story makes use of a universal emotional experience sure to leave young readers with a warm, satisfied feeling. The [illustrations] are truly memorable." -- SLJ.

Language Notes

Text: Spanish (translation)
Original Language: English --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition (November 13, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064431223
• ISBN-13: 978-0064431224
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 6.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #589,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stevie, April 4, 2000

By 

Tracy (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stevie (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (School & Library Binding)

Stevie, written and illustrated by John Steptoe when he was only 16 yrs. old, was the inauguration of a wonderful career as a children's author for Mr. Steptoe. All of his books are heartfelt, compassionate, richly illustrated, and can bridge the gap among all races; he was doing the multicultural thing well before it was "multicultural"ly defined and politically correct. Stevie fits in with our current PC climate without coming off as trendy and purposeful. It simply tells a tale of a young boy, Stevie, who is sent to stay with an older boy and his family while Stevie's mother works at her new job. The older boy, Robert, resents the intrusion of Stevie in his life. Always tagging along, getting footprints on the bedcovers, and acting "like a baby" to Robert's mother, Stevie is the classic irritating but innocent little brother who, in the end will be sorely missed by Robert when Stevie's mother finally comes to take him back home with her. As a young white reader who grew up in a very white world, this book, about two African-American boys, was always my very favorite children's book not only because of the stunning illustration, but because of the commonality and familiarity this book held with me: it could have easily been my story. And it could have been any story for any child anywhere. I loved the fact that it was introduced at a time when race relations needed bridging and commonalities needed awareness. It is a book for the ages.

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Wonderful, May 9, 2011

By 

B. Wolinsky "Ben's Reviews" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stevie (Paperback)

I'm 33 years old, and my parents never took in foster children. They were always charitable, but they didn't want the burden of looking after other people's kids.

When I became a teacher, I saw the opposite every day. Most of my students were living with aunts, cousins, friends of the family, etc. This was Harlem, by the way, and in this community it was commonplace, in fact it was almost a tradition, to take in other peoples' children for all possible reasons. Perhaps it wasn't as common where I grew up because most of the families were stable? Perhaps family means more to some people than others?

STEVIE is a simple book about a boy (possibly 10) whose mother takes in a 5 year old during the week. Robert doesn't know why, and it doesn't say in the story. We only see his perspective, and that's the best thing about it. All we see are the things that Robert wonders about; why the boy is "babyish," why he's called "Stevie," why he didn't bring any of his own stuff, etc.

Foster care is a major part of life in some communities. Unfortunately, though many children's books on the subject do exist, they're often obscure and hard to locate.

5.0 out of 5 stars stevie on stevie, November 22, 2009

By 

Steven G. Smith "filmzilla, kidd filmadelic" (california) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stevie (Paperback)

this was one of my favorite books as a child because my name was stevie but the book has a lesson for the younger reader on acceptance and tolerance especially helpful for a child learning to cope with a younger child being around and how to be a "good" big brother.