Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners 1970 to Present

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The CSK Book Awards seal and award names are owned by the American Library Association.

coretta_scott_king The Coretta Scott King Awards are presented annually by the American Library Association to honor African-American authors and illustrators who create outstanding books for children and young adults. “… an excellent start on your quest for the best in African-American literature for children.”

The award was established in 1969 to recognize authors. In 1979 it was expanded to include a separate award for illustrators. There are now five categories for book awards; Author, Author Honor, Illustrator, Illustrator Honor, and the John Steptoe Award for New Talent.

These awards are given to commemorate the life and work of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her continuing efforts in working for peace and civil rights issues. In 2015 The Coretta Scott King Awards became part of the Youth Media Awards. Here is a printable list of all the award winning books.

You may learn more about this award at the American Library Association’s website. Also check out our list of Top 100+ Recommended African-American Children’s Books, some are also CSK Award winning titles.

10 Coretta Scott King Award Winning and Honored Books for 1999

Author Award
Heaven

Heaven

by Angela Johnson

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Simon Pulse (Aug 01, 2000)
Middle Grade, Fiction, Mass Market Paperback, 144 pages
ISBN: 9780689822902Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Author Honor
Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence: The Story of New York’s African Burial Ground

Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence: The Story of New York’s African Burial Ground

by Joyce Hansen

Author Honor
Jazmin’s Notebook

Jazmin’s Notebook

by Nikki Grimes, Illustrated by Eric Velasquez

Author Honor
The Other Side: Shorter Poems

The Other Side: Shorter Poems

by Angela Johnson

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Scholastic Inc (Mar 28, 2000)
Young Adult, Nonfiction, Paperback, 64 pages
ISBN: 9780531071670Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Illustrator Award
I See the Rhythm

I See the Rhythm

by Toyomi Igus, Illustrated by Michele Wood

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Lee & Low Books (Sep 09, 2005)
Picture Book, Nonfiction, Paperback, 32 pages
ISBN: 9780892392124Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Illustrator Honor
Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra

Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra

by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Illustrator Honor
I Have Heard of a Land

I Have Heard of a Land

by Joyce Carol Thomas, Illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Illustrator Honor
The Bat Boy and His Violin

The Bat Boy and His Violin

by Gavin Curtis, Illustrated by E. B. Lewis

John Steptoe Award for New Talent
The Piano Man

The Piano Man

by Debbi Chocolate, Illustrated by Eric Velasquez

John Steptoe Award for New Talent