Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners 1970 to Present

coretta_scott_kingThe 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.”

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

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 2024


Click for a larger image of Nigeria Jones

Nigeria Jones
by Ibi Zoboi

Publication Date: May 09, 2023
List Price: $19.99
Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Young Adult
ISBN13: 9780062888846
Imprint: Balzer & Bray/Harperteen
Publisher: HarperCollins
Parent Company: News Corp

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Big
by Vashti Harrison, Illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Publication Date: May 02, 2023
List Price: $19.99
Format: Hardcover, 60 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780316353229
Imprint: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Parent Company: Lagardère Group

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Click for a larger image of How Do You Spell Unfair?: Macnolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee

How Do You Spell Unfair?: Macnolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee
by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Frank Morrison

Publication Date: Apr 11, 2023
List Price: $18.99
Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9781536215540
Imprint: Candlewick Press (MA)
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Parent Company: Candlewick Press

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Kin: Rooted in Hope
by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Jeffery Boston Weatherford

Publication Date: Sep 19, 2023
List Price: $18.99
Format: Hardcover, 208 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9781665913621
Imprint: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Parent Company: KKR & Co. Inc.

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An American Story
by Kwame Alexander, Illustrated by Dare Coulter

Publication Date: Jan 03, 2023
List Price: $18.99
Format: Hardcover, 56 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780316473125
Imprint: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Parent Company: Lagardère Group

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Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes

Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes
by Traci N. Todd, Illustrated by Shannon Wright

Publication Date: Jan 03, 2023
List Price: $21.99
Format: Hardcover, 48 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Early Reader
ISBN13: 9781338305906
Imprint: Orchard Books
Publisher: Orchard Books
Parent Company: Orchard Books

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Big
by Vashti Harrison, Illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Publication Date: May 02, 2023
List Price: $19.99
Format: Hardcover, 60 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780316353229
Imprint: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Parent Company: Lagardère Group

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Click for a larger image of There Was a Party for Langston

There Was a Party for Langston
by Jason Reynolds, Illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey

Publication Date: Oct 03, 2023
List Price: $18.99
Format: Hardcover, 56 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Early Reader
ISBN13: 9781534439443
Imprint: Atheneum
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Parent Company: KKR & Co. Inc.

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There Goes the Neighborhood
by Jade Adia

Publication Date: Mar 07, 2023
List Price: $18.99
Format: Hardcover, 432 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9781368084321
Imprint: Disney-Hyperion
Publisher: Disney Publishing Worldwide
Parent Company: The Walt Disney Company

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Click for a larger image of We Could Fly

We Could Fly
by Rhiannon Giddens, Illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu

Publication Date: Nov 07, 2023
List Price: $18.99
Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Early Reader
ISBN13: 9781536222548
Imprint: Candlewick Press (MA)
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Parent Company: Candlewick Press

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