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.
6 Coretta Scott King Award Winning and Honored Books for 1983
Author Award
Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush
by Virginia Hamilton
List Price: $8.99Amistad (Jan 09, 2001)
Fiction, Paperback, 224 pages
Target Age Group: Young Adult
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Author Honor
This Strange New Feeling
by Julius Lester
List Price: $4.50Scholastic Inc (Jan 01, 1997)
Fiction, Mass Market Paperback, 176 pages
Target Age Group: Young Adult
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Illustrator Award
Black Child
by Peter Magubane, Illustrated by Peter Magubane
Knopf (Mar 12, 1982)Nonfiction, Paperback, 102 pages
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
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Illustrator Honor
All the Colors of the Race
by Arnold Adoff, Illustrated by John Steptoe
Beech Tree Books (Mar 01, 1992)Fiction, Paperback, 56 pages
Target Age Group: Early Reader
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Illustrator Honor
I’m Going to Sing (Black American Spirituals, Vol. 2)
by Ashley Bryan, Illustrated by Ashley Bryan
List Price: $10.95Atheneum (Oct 01, 1982)
Nonfiction, Library Binding, 53 pages
Target Age Group: Early Reader
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Illustrator Honor
Just Us Women
by Jeannette Caines, Illustrated by Pat Cummings
- A Top 10 Book in the “Children’s from the 20th Century” Category
- A Top 150 Children’s Book
- Coretta Scott King Award Winning Book 1983
Amistad (May 23, 1984)
Fiction, Paperback, 32 pages
Target Age Group: Picture Book
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