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 five categories of 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.

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6 Coretta Scott King Award Winning and Honored Books for 1994

Author Award

Book Description: 
Angela Johnson’s Coretta Scott King Award winning novel that traces three generations of African American women as they learn one another’s truths.

Three generations of African American women, each holding on to a separate truth. Their story — encompassing racism and murder as well as the family commonplaces that make a life — is one that readers will never forget.

Author Honor

Book Description: 
A cycle of a dozen lyrical poems exploring issues of African-American identity through delicately interwoven images. . . . Laden with meaning, the poetry is significant and lovely. Cooper’s paintings, with vibrant, unsentimentalized characters in earth tone illumined with gold, are warm, contemplative’a beautiful complement to Thomas’s eloquence. A must.’ ’K. Poems rooted in home, family, and the African-American experience…. Highly readable and attractive.’ ’BL.
1994 Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book for Nonfiction
1994 Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book for Illustration
1994 Teachers’ Choices (IRA)
Notable 1994 Childrens’ Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
1994 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
100 Books for Reading and Sharing (NY Public Library)

1993 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)

Author Honor

Book Description: 
Profiles the late African American leader, providing a startling picture of the life of the controversial and important historical figure. Reprint. VY. PW.

Illustrator Award

Book Description: 
"The selections are uniformly uplifting, with affirming messages about the heritage, strength and dreams of African Americans."—Publishers Weekly

In this compelling collection of words and pictures, the voices of thirteen major poets, including Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and Walter Dean Myers, rise in response to the dazzling vistas and emotionally vivid portraits of award-winning artist Tom Feelings. A unique and moving collaboration that celebrates the sustaining spirit of African creativity.

Illustrator Honor

Book Description: 
A cycle of a dozen lyrical poems exploring issues of African-American identity through delicately interwoven images. . . . Laden with meaning, the poetry is significant and lovely. Cooper’s paintings, with vibrant, unsentimentalized characters in earth tone illumined with gold, are warm, contemplative’a beautiful complement to Thomas’s eloquence. A must.’ ’K. Poems rooted in home, family, and the African-American experience…. Highly readable and attractive.’ ’BL.
1994 Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book for Nonfiction
1994 Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book for Illustration
1994 Teachers’ Choices (IRA)
Notable 1994 Childrens’ Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
1994 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
100 Books for Reading and Sharing (NY Public Library)

1993 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)

Illustrator Honor

Book Description: 
As the only black barber in a county of sharecroppers during the 1920s, Uncle Jed traveled for miles to tend to his customers. Saving his money to build his very own barbershop was a dream that had to be postponed because of his generous heart and the Depression. Then one glorious day, his 79th birthday, Uncle Jed finally opened the doors of his new shop. Full color.