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 2018


Click for a larger image of Piecing Me Together

Piecing Me Together
by Renée Watson

List Price: $17.99
Bloomsbury USA Childrens (Feb 14, 2017)
Hardcover, 272 pages
Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade

Click for a larger image of Long Way Down

Long Way Down
by Jason Reynolds

List Price: $17.99
Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books (Oct 17, 2017)
Hardcover, 240 pages
Fiction
Target Age Group: Young Adult

Click for a larger image of The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give
by Angie Thomas

List Price: $18.99
Balzer + Bray (Feb 28, 2017)
Hardcover, 464 pages
Fiction
Target Age Group: Young Adult

Click for a larger image of Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
by Derrick Barnes, Illustrated by Gordon C. James

List Price: $18.95
Agate Bolden (Oct 10, 2017)
Hardcover, 32 pages
Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book

Click for a larger image of Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets

Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets
by Kwame Alexander, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes

List Price: $18.99
Candlewick Press (Mar 14, 2017)
Hardcover, 56 pages
Poetry
Target Age Group: Early Reader

Click for a larger image of Before She was Harriet

Before She was Harriet
by Lesa Cline-Ransome, Illustrated by James Ransome

List Price: $17.95
Holiday House (Nov 07, 2017)
Hardcover, 32 pages
Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book

Click for a larger image of The Stars Beneath Our Feet

The Stars Beneath Our Feet
by David Barclay Moore

List Price: $17.99
Knopf Books for Young Readers (Sep 19, 2017)
Hardcover, 304 pages
Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade

Click for a larger image of Mama Africa!: How Miriam Makeba Spread Hope with Her Song

Mama Africa!: How Miriam Makeba Spread Hope with Her Song
by Kathryn Erskine, Illustrated by Charly Palmer

List Price: $18.99
Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Younger Readers (Oct 10, 2017)
Hardcover, 48 pages
Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book