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.

7 Coretta Scott King Award Winning and Honored Books for 1984


Click for a larger image of Everett Anderson’s Goodbye

Everett Anderson’s Goodbye
by Lucille Clifton

List Price: $9.99
Square Fish (Jul 15, 1988)
Fiction, Paperback, 32 pages
Target Age Group: Picture Book
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Click for a larger image of Because We Are

Because We Are
by Mildred Pitts Walter

List Price: $10.25
Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books (Oct 01, 1983)
Fiction, Library Binding, 192 pages
Target Age Group: Young Adult
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Click for a larger image of Bright Shadow

Bright Shadow
by Joyce Carol Thomas

List Price: $12.60
Bt Bound (Oct 01, 1999)
Fiction, Library Binding, 128 pages
Target Age Group: Young Adult
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Click for a larger image of Lena: A Personal and Professional Biography of Lena Horne

Lena: A Personal and Professional Biography of Lena Horne
by James Haskins

List Price: $10.95
Stein & Day (Jan 01, 1984)
Nonfiction, Paperback, 230 pages
Target Age Group: Young Adult
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Click for a larger image of The Magical Adventures of Pretty Pearl

The Magical Adventures of Pretty Pearl
by Virginia Hamilton

List Price: $7.99
HarperTrophy (Dec 03, 1986)
Fiction, Paperback, 320 pages
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
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Click for a larger image of My Mama Needs Me

My Mama Needs Me
by Mildred Pitts Walter, Illustrated by Pat Cummings

List Price: $16.00
William Morrow (Jan 01, 1983)
Fiction, Hardcover, 32 pages
Target Age Group: Picture Book
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Click for a larger image of The Words of Martin Luther King

The Words of Martin Luther King
by Coretta Scott King

Newmarket (Jul 06, 2014)
Nonfiction, Hardcover, 128 pages
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
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