Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners 1970 to Present
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 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.
5 Coretta Scott King Award Winning and Honored Books for 1981
Author Award
This Life
by Sidney Poitier
Publication Date: Jan 01, 1980
List Price: $2.95
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 416 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Young Adult
ISBN13: 9780345294074
Imprint: Ballantine Books
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Parent Company: Bertelsmann
Read a Description of This Life
Author Honor
Don’t Explain: A Song of Billie Holiday
by Alexis De Veaux
Publication Date: Sep 01, 1987
List Price: $7.95
Format: Paperback, 151 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Young Adult
ISBN13: 9780863161322
Imprint: Writers and Readers Publishing
Publisher: Writers & Readers Publishing
Parent Company: For Beginners LLC
Read a Description of Don’t Explain: A Song of Billie Holiday
Illustrator Award
Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum (Aladdin Books)
by Ashley Bryan, Illustrated by Ashley Bryan
Publication Date: Jan 01, 1980
List Price: $8.95
Format: Paperback, 80 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9780689711077
Imprint: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Parent Company: KKR & Co. Inc.
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Illustrator Honor
Count on Your Fingers African Style
by Claudia Zaslavsky, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Publication Date: Aug 01, 1980
List Price: $12.89
Format: Library Binding, 32 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780690038651
Imprint: Amistad
Publisher: HarperCollins
Parent Company: News Corp
Read a Description of Count on Your Fingers African Style
Illustrator Honor
Grandmama’s Joy
by Eloise Greenfield, Illustrated by Carole Byard
Publication Date: Jan 25, 1999
List Price: $5.99
Format: Paperback, 32 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780698117549
Imprint: Puffin Books
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Parent Company: Bertelsmann