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.

7 Coretta Scott King Award Winning and Honored Books for 2014


Click for a larger image of P.S. Be Eleven

P.S. Be Eleven
by Rita Williams-Garcia

Publication Date: Jan 27, 2015
List Price: $7.99
Format: Paperback, 304 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9780061938641
Imprint: Amistad
Publisher: HarperCollins
Parent Company: News Corp


Click for a larger image of Darius & Twig

Darius & Twig
by Walter Dean Myers

Publication Date: May 13, 2014
List Price: $9.99
Format: Paperback, 224 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Young Adult
ISBN13: 9780061728259
Imprint: Amistad
Publisher: HarperCollins
Parent Company: News Corp


Click for a larger image of March Book One

March Book One
by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, Illustrated by Nate Powell

Publication Date: Aug 13, 2013
List Price: $14.95
Format: Paperback, 128 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9781603093002
Imprint: Top Shelf Productions
Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
Parent Company: Top Shelf Productions


Click for a larger image of Words With Wings

Words With Wings
by Nikki Grimes

Publication Date: Sep 22, 2022
List Price: $9.99
Format: Paperback, 96 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9781635924787
Imprint: Wordsong
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
Parent Company: Boyds Mills Press


Click for a larger image of Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream For Me

Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream For Me
by Daniel Beaty, Illustrated by Bryan Collier

Publication Date: Dec 17, 2013
List Price: $18.99
Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780316209175
Imprint: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Parent Company: Lagardère Group


Click for a larger image of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela
by Kadir Nelson, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Publication Date: Jan 02, 2013
List Price: $17.99
Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780061783746
Imprint: Katherine Tegen Books
Publisher: HarperCollins
Parent Company: News Corp


Click for a larger image of 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

Publication Date: Aug 27, 2013
List Price: $18.99
Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9781596435407
Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan
Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
Parent Company: Holtzbrinck Publishing Group