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 2009


Click for a larger image of We Are The Ship: The Story Of Negro League Baseball

We Are The Ship: The Story Of Negro League Baseball
by Kadir Nelson, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Publication Date: Jan 08, 2008
List Price: $19.99
Format: Hardcover, 96 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9780786808328
Imprint: Disney-Hyperion
Publisher: Disney Publishing Worldwide
Parent Company: The Walt Disney Company

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Click for a larger image of Becoming Billie Holiday

Becoming Billie Holiday
by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Publication Date: Oct 01, 2008
List Price: $19.95
Format: Hardcover, 120 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9781590785072
Imprint: Wordsong
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
Parent Company: Boyds Mills Press

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Click for a larger image of Keeping the Night Watch

Keeping the Night Watch
by Hope Anita Smith

Publication Date: Jan 21, 2014
List Price: $9.99
Format: Paperback, 80 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9780312659363
Imprint: Square Fish
Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
Parent Company: Holtzbrinck Publishing Group

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Click for a larger image of The Blacker The Berry

The Blacker The Berry
by Joyce Carol Thomas, Illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Publication Date: Jul 01, 2008
List Price: $16.99
Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780060253752
Imprint: Amistad
Publisher: HarperCollins
Parent Company: News Corp

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The Blacker The Berry
by Joyce Carol Thomas, Illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Publication Date: Jul 01, 2008
List Price: $16.99
Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780060253752
Imprint: Amistad
Publisher: HarperCollins
Parent Company: News Corp

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Click for a larger image of Before John Was A Jazz Giant: A Song Of John Coltrane

Before John Was A Jazz Giant: A Song Of John Coltrane
by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Sean Qualls

Publication Date: Apr 01, 2008
List Price: $18.99
Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780805079944
Imprint: Henry Holt & Company
Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
Parent Company: Holtzbrinck Publishing Group

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Click for a larger image of The Moon Over Star

The Moon Over Star
by Dianna Hutts Aston, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Publication Date: Oct 16, 2008
List Price: $17.99
Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780803731073
Imprint: Dial Books for Young Readers
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Parent Company: Bertelsmann

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Click for a larger image of We Are The Ship: The Story Of Negro League Baseball

We Are The Ship: The Story Of Negro League Baseball
by Kadir Nelson, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Publication Date: Jan 08, 2008
List Price: $19.99
Format: Hardcover, 96 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9780786808328
Imprint: Disney-Hyperion
Publisher: Disney Publishing Worldwide
Parent Company: The Walt Disney Company

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Click for a larger image of Bird

Bird
by Zetta Elliott, Illustrated by Shadra Strickland

Publication Date: Oct 28, 2008
List Price: $19.95
Format: Hardcover, 48 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9781600602412
Imprint: Lee & Low Books
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Parent Company: Lee & Low Books

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