Carter G. Woodson Award Winning Books


As of 2001 awards and honors are given in the following categories, Elementary (K-6), Middle (5-8), and Secondary (7-12) grade level books.

Carter Woodson Award Seal Carter G. Woodson Seal

The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) established the Carter G. Woodson Book Awards for the most distinguished books appropriate for young readers that depict ethnicity in the United States. First presented in 1974, this award is intended to “encourage the writing, publishing, and dissemination of outstanding social studies books for young readers that treat topics related to ethnic minorities and race relations sensitively and accurately.” Books relating to ethnic minorities and the authors of such books rarely receive the recognition they merit from professional organizations. By sponsoring the Carter G. Woodson Awards, NCSS gives wide recognition to and encourages these authors and publishers. Here is a printable list of all the award winning books. Learn more at NCSS’s website.

Also check out our list of Top 100+ Recommended African-American Children’s Books, some are also CSK Award winning titles.


2 Award Winning and Honored Books for 1981


Outstanding Merit



The Hardest Lesson: Personal Accounts of a School Desegregation Crisis


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The Hardest Lesson: Personal Accounts of a School Desegregation Crisis
by Judith Stoia and Pamela Bullard

    List Price: $8.95
    Little, Brown and Company (Mar 01, 1980)
    Nonfiction, Hardcover, 223 pages
    Target Age Group: Young Adult
    More Info
    Book Description: 
    Describes how the desegregation of the Boston schools in the 1970’s affected the lives of selected individual students and several adults, chosen to represent a cross section of the community.

    Award Winner

    The Chinese Americans
    by Milton Meltzer

      List Price: $13.89
      HarperCollins (Nov 01, 1990)
      Nonfiction, Hardcover, 181 pages
      Target Age Group: Young Adult
      More Info
      Book Description: 
      Traces the history of the Chinese in the United States describing their contributions to the development of this country and their struggle for economic and social equality.