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.

10 Coretta Scott King Award Winning and Honored Books for 2019


Click for a larger image of A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919

A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919
by Claire Hartfield

Publication Date: Jan 02, 2018
List Price: $18.99
Format: Hardcover, 208 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9780544785137
Imprint: Clarion Books
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Parent Company: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt


Click for a larger image of Finding Langston

Finding Langston
by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Publication Date: Aug 14, 2018
List Price: $16.99
Format: Hardcover, 112 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9780823439607
Imprint: Holiday House
Publisher: Holiday House
Parent Company: Holiday House, Inc.


Click for a larger image of The Parker Inheritance

The Parker Inheritance
by Varian Johnson

Publication Date: Mar 27, 2018
List Price: $17.99
Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9780545946179
Imprint: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Parent Company: Scholastic Inc.


Click for a larger image of The Season of Styx Malone

The Season of Styx Malone
by Kekla Magoon

Publication Date: Oct 16, 2018
List Price: $16.99
Format: Hardcover, 304 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9781524715953
Imprint: Wendy Lamb Books
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Parent Company: Wendy Lamb Books


Click for a larger image of The Stuff of Stars

The Stuff of Stars
by Marion Dane Bauer, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Publication Date: Sep 04, 2018
List Price: $17.99
Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780763678838
Imprint: Candlewick Press
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Parent Company: Candlewick Press


Click for a larger image of Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race
by Margot Lee Shetterly, Illustrated by Laura Freeman

Publication Date: Jan 23, 2018
List Price: $18.99
Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780062742469
Imprint: HarperCollins
Publisher: HarperCollins
Parent Company: News Corp


Click for a larger image of Let the Children March

Let the Children March
by Monica Clark-Robinson, Illustrated by Frank Morrison

Publication Date: Jan 02, 2018
List Price: $17.99
Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780544704527
Imprint: HMH Books for Young Readers
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Parent Company: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt


Click for a larger image of Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968

Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968
by Alice Faye Duncan

Publication Date: Aug 28, 2018
List Price: $17.95
Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9781629797182
Imprint: Calkins Creek
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
Parent Company: Boyds Mills Press


Click for a larger image of Monday’s Not Coming

Monday’s Not Coming
by Tiffany D. Jackson

Publication Date: May 22, 2018
List Price: $17.99
Format: Hardcover, 448 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Young Adult
ISBN13: 9780062422675
Imprint: Katherine Tegen Books
Publisher: HarperCollins
Parent Company: News Corp


Click for a larger image of Thank You, Omu!

Thank You, Omu!
by Oge Mora, Illustrated by Oge Mora

Publication Date: Oct 02, 2018
List Price: $18.99
Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
Classification: Fiction
Target Age Group: Picture Book
ISBN13: 9780316431248
Imprint: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Parent Company: Lagardère Group

Read Our Review of Thank You, Omu!