Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners 1970 to Present
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The CSK Book Awards seal and award names are owned by the American Library Association.
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.
10 Coretta Scott King Award Winning and Honored Books for 2025
Twenty-Four Seconds from Now …: A Love Story
7-time BLK Bestseller, Young Adult
Black Girl You Are Atlas
by Renée Watson, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
3-time BLK Bestseller, Young Adult
Black Star
One Big Open Sky
My Daddy Is a Cowboy: A Picture Book
by Stephanie Seales, Illustrated by C. G. Esperanza
Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King
by Coretta Scott King, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Everywhere Beauty Is Harlem: The Vision of Photographer Roy Decarava
by Gary Golio, Illustrated by E. B. Lewis
Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller
by Breanna J. McDaniel, Illustrated by April Harrison
Kwame Crashes the Underworld
Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin
by Michelle Meadows, Illustrated by Jamiel Law