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
List Price: $2.95Ballantine Books (Jan 01, 1980)
Nonfiction, Mass Market Paperback, 416 pages
Target Age Group: Young Adult
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Author Honor
Don’t Explain: A Song of Billie Holiday
by Alexis De Veaux
List Price: $7.95Writers and Readers Publishing (Sep 01, 1987)
Nonfiction, Paperback, 151 pages
Target Age Group: Young Adult
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Illustrator Award
Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum (Aladdin Books)
by Ashley Bryan, Illustrated by Ashley Bryan
List Price: $8.95Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Jan 01, 1980)
Fiction, Paperback, 80 pages
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
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Illustrator Honor
Count on Your Fingers African Style
by Claudia Zaslavsky, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
List Price: $12.89Amistad (Aug 01, 1980)
Nonfiction, Library Binding, 32 pages
Target Age Group: Picture Book
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Illustrator Honor
Grandmama’s Joy
by Eloise Greenfield, Illustrated by Carole Byard
List Price: $5.99Puffin Books (Jan 25, 1999)
Fiction, Paperback, 32 pages
Target Age Group: Picture Book
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