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.

6 Coretta Scott King Award Winning and Honored Books for 1989


Click for a larger image of Fallen Angels

Fallen Angels
by Walter Dean Myers

Publication Date: Jan 01, 1998
List Price: $8.99
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9780545055765
Imprint: Scholastic Paperbacks
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Parent Company: Scholastic Inc.


Click for a larger image of A Thief in the Village: And Other Stories of Jamaica

A Thief in the Village: And Other Stories of Jamaica
by James Berry

Publication Date: Feb 01, 1990
List Price: $5.99
Format: Paperback, 160 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9780140343571
Imprint: Puffin Books
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Parent Company: Bertelsmann


Click for a larger image of Anthony Burns: The Defeat and Triumph of a Fugitive Slave (Laurel-leaf books)

Anthony Burns: The Defeat and Triumph of a Fugitive Slave (Laurel-leaf books)
by Virginia Hamilton

Publication Date: Jan 04, 1993
List Price: $7.99
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 208 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9780679839972
Imprint: Laurel Leaf
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Parent Company: Laurel Leaf


Click for a larger image of Mirandy and Brother Wind

Mirandy and Brother Wind
by Patricia C. Mckissack, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Publication Date: Jan 13, 1997
List Price: $7.99
Format: Paperback, 32 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780679883333
Imprint: Dragonfly Books
Publisher: Dragonfly Books
Parent Company: Dragonfly Books


Click for a larger image of Storm in the Night

Storm in the Night
by Mary Stolz, Illustrated by Pat Cummings

Publication Date: Sep 30, 1990
List Price: $6.99
Format: Paperback, 32 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780064432566
Imprint: Amistad
Publisher: HarperCollins
Parent Company: News Corp


Click for a larger image of Under The Sunday Tree

Under The Sunday Tree
by Eloise Greenfield, Illustrated by Amos Ferguson

Publication Date: Jan 30, 1991
List Price: $10.99
Format: Paperback, 48 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780064432573
Imprint: Amistad
Publisher: HarperCollins
Parent Company: News Corp