Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners 1970 to Present

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csk winner seal
The CSK Book Awards seal and award names are owned by the American Library Association.

coretta_scott_king 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 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 2014

Author Award
P.S. Be Eleven

P.S. Be Eleven

by Rita Williams-Garcia

List Price: $7.99
Amistad (Jan 27, 2015)
Middle Grade, Fiction, Paperback, 304 pages
ISBN: 9780061938641Publisher: HarperCollins
Author Honor
Darius & Twig

Darius & Twig

by Walter Dean Myers

List Price: $7.99
Amistad (Jan 27, 2015)
Middle Grade, Fiction, Paperback, 304 pages
    ISBN: 9780061728259Publisher: HarperCollins
    Author Honor
    March Book One

    March Book One

    by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, Illustrated by Nate Powell

    List Price: $7.99
    Amistad (Jan 27, 2015)
    Middle Grade, Fiction, Paperback, 304 pages
      ISBN: 9781603093002Publisher: HarperCollins
      Author Honor
      Words With Wings

      Words With Wings

      by Nikki Grimes

      List Price: $7.99
      Amistad (Jan 27, 2015)
      Middle Grade, Fiction, Paperback, 304 pages
        ISBN: 9781635924787Publisher: HarperCollins
        Illustrator Award
        Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream For Me

        Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream For Me

        by Daniel Beaty, Illustrated by Bryan Collier

        List Price: $7.99
        Amistad (Jan 27, 2015)
        Middle Grade, Fiction, Paperback, 304 pages
          ISBN: 9780316209175Publisher: HarperCollins
          Illustrator Honor
          Nelson Mandela

          Nelson Mandela

          by Kadir Nelson, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

          List Price: $7.99
          Amistad (Jan 27, 2015)
          Middle Grade, Fiction, Paperback, 304 pages
          ISBN: 9780061783746Publisher: HarperCollins
          John Steptoe Award for New Talent
          When The Beat Was Born: Dj Kool Herc And The Creation Of Hip Hop

          When The Beat Was Born: Dj Kool Herc And The Creation Of Hip Hop

          by Laban Carrick Hill, Illustrated by Theodore Taylor III

          List Price: $7.99
          Amistad (Jan 27, 2015)
          Middle Grade, Fiction, Paperback, 304 pages
            ISBN: 9781596435407Publisher: HarperCollins
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