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.

9 Coretta Scott King Award Winning and Honored Books for 2005


Click for a larger image of Remember: The Journey to School Integration

Remember: The Journey to School Integration
by Toni Morrison

List Price: $19.99
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (May 17, 2004)
Nonfiction, Hardcover, 80 pages
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
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Click for a larger image of Fortune’s Bones: The Manumission Requiem

Fortune’s Bones: The Manumission Requiem
by Marilyn Nelson

List Price: $16.95
Highlights Press (Nov 01, 2004)
Nonfiction, Hardcover, 40 pages
Target Age Group: Picture Book
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Click for a larger image of Who Am I Without Him?

Who Am I Without Him?
by Sharon G. Flake

List Price: $8.99
Disney-Hyperion (Jul 17, 2007)
Fiction, Paperback, 224 pages
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
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Click for a larger image of God Bless the Child

God Bless the Child
by Arthur Herzog, Jr., Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

List Price: $18.99
HarperCollins (Dec 23, 2003)
Nonfiction, Hardcover, 32 pages
Target Age Group: Picture Book
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Click for a larger image of Missy Violet and Me