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.

8 Coretta Scott King Award Winning and Honored Books for 2004


Click for a larger image of The First Part Last

The First Part Last
by Angela Johnson

Publication Date: Jan 05, 2010
List Price: $9.99
Format: Paperback, 144 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9781442403437
Imprint: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Parent Company: CBS Corporation

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Click for a larger image of Days Of Jubilee

Days Of Jubilee
by Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick McKissack

Publication Date: Feb 01, 2003
List Price: $19.99
Format: Hardcover, 144 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9780590107648
Imprint: Scholastic Press
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Parent Company: Scholastic Inc.

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Click for a larger image of Locomotion

Locomotion
by Jacqueline Woodson

Publication Date: Jan 07, 2010
List Price: $7.99
Format: Paperback, 144 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9780142415528
Imprint: Speak
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Parent Company: Bertelsmann

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Click for a larger image of The Battle Of Jericho

The Battle Of Jericho
by Sharon M. Draper

Publication Date: Oct 22, 1990
List Price: $19.99
Format: Hardcover, 297 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Young Adult
ISBN13: 9780689842320
Imprint: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Parent Company: CBS Corporation

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Click for a larger image of Beautiful Blackbird

Beautiful Blackbird
by Ashley Bryan, Illustrated by Ashley Bryan

Publication Date: Jan 01, 2003
List Price: $19.99
Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780689847318
Imprint: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Parent Company: CBS Corporation

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Click for a larger image of Almost to Freedom

Almost to Freedom
by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Illustrated by Colin Bootman

Publication Date: Sep 01, 2003
List Price: $16.95
Format: Library Binding, 40 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9781575053424
Imprint: Lerner Publishing Group
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
Parent Company: Lerner Publishing Group

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Thunder Rose
by Jerdine Nolen, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Publication Date: Sep 01, 2007
List Price: $7.99
Format: Paperback, 32 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780152060060
Imprint: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Parent Company: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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Click for a larger image of The Way a Door Closes

The Way a Door Closes
by Hope Anita Smith, Illustrated by Shane W. Evans

Publication Date: Mar 15, 2011
List Price: $9.99
Format: Paperback, 64 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9780312661694
Imprint: Square Fish
Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
Parent Company: Holtzbrinck Publishing Group

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