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.
7 Coretta Scott King Award Winning and Honored Books for 1996
Author Award
Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, And True Tales
by Virginia Hamilton, Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon
- 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 1996
Blue Sky Press (Nov 01, 1995)
Fiction, Hardcover
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
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Author Honor
From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun
by Jacqueline Woodson
List Price: $7.99Puffin Books (Jul 08, 2010)
Fiction, Paperback, 176 pages
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
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Author Honor
Like Sisters on the Homefront
by Rita Williams-Garcia
List Price: $10.99Quill Tree Books (Dec 30, 2019)
Fiction, Paperback, 88 pages
Target Age Group: Young Adult
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Author Honor
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963
by Christopher Paul Curtis
1-time National Bestseller, Juvenile Fiction
List Price: $7.99Yearling (Aug 06, 2013)
Fiction, Paperback, 224 pages
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
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Illustrator Award
The Middle Passage: White Ships/ Black Cargo
by Tom Feelings, Illustrated by Tom Feelings
- 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 1996
Dial Books for Young Readers (Jan 02, 2018)
Nonfiction, Hardcover, 80 pages
Target Age Group: Young Adult
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Illustrator Honor
Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, And True Tales
by Virginia Hamilton, Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon
- 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 1996
Blue Sky Press (Nov 01, 1995)
Fiction, Hardcover
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
More Info
Illustrator Honor
The Faithful Friend
by Robert D. San Souci, Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
List Price: $7.99Aladdin (Jan 01, 1999)
Fiction, Paperback, 40 pages
Target Age Group: Picture Book
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