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2017 Judge: Javaka Steptoe
Javaka Steptoe is an artist, designer, and illustrator. He has illustrated 11 award-winning books, including CSK Award winner In Daddy’s Arms I Am Tall and CSK honor book Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow. His most recent picture book, Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, received 5 starred reviews and reflects Javaka’s belief in art as a tool for education — strengthening problem solving skills, building self-esteem, and fostering independent thought. Javaka invites you to visit his website at Javaka.com.

About Battle Commander
The Battle Commander is the nom de guerre for children’s literature enthusiasts Monica Edinger and Roxanne Hsu Feldman, fourth grade teacher and middle school librarian at the Dalton School in New York City and Jonathan Hunt, the County Schools Librarian at the San Diego County Office of Education. All three have served on the Newbery Committee as well as other book selection and award committees. They are also published authors of books, articles, and reviews in publications such as the New York Times, School Library Journal, and the Horn Book Magazine. You can find Monica at educating alice and on twitter as @medinger. Roxanne is at Fairrosa Cyber Library and on twitter as @fairrosa. Jonathan can be reached at hunt_yellow@yahoo.com.
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