Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners 1970 to Present
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 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 2022
Author Award
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre
by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Floyd Cooper
- 4 Time AALBC.com Bestselling Book!
- Coretta Scott King Award Winning Book 2022
- Kirkus Prize Finalist/Winner 2021
Carolrhoda Books (Feb 02, 2021)
Nonfiction, Hardcover, 32 pages
Target Age Group: Picture Book
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Author Honor
Home Is Not a Country
by Safia Elhillo
- 4 Time AALBC.com Bestselling Book!
- Coretta Scott King Award Winning Book 2022
- 2022 Children’s Africana Book Award Winner or Honoree
Make Me a World (Mar 02, 2021)
Fiction, Hardcover, 224 pages
Target Age Group: Young Adult
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Author Honor
Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People
by Kekla Magoon
List Price: $24.99Candlewick Press (Nov 23, 2021)
Nonfiction, Hardcover, 400 pages
Target Age Group: Young Adult
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Author Honor
The People Remember
by Ibi Zoboi, Illustrated by Loveis Wise
List Price: $19.99Balzer & Bray/Harperteen (Sep 28, 2021)
Nonfiction, Hardcover, 64 pages
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
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Illustrator Award
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre
by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Floyd Cooper
- 4 Time AALBC.com Bestselling Book!
- Coretta Scott King Award Winning Book 2022
- Kirkus Prize Finalist/Winner 2021
Carolrhoda Books (Feb 02, 2021)
Nonfiction, Hardcover, 32 pages
Target Age Group: Picture Book
More Info
Illustrator Honor
Nina: A Story of Nina Simone
by Traci N. Todd, Illustrated by Christian Robinson
List Price: $18.99G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers (Sep 28, 2021)
Nonfiction, Hardcover, 56 pages
Target Age Group: Picture Book
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Illustrator Honor
Soul Food Sunday
by Winsome Bingham, Illustrated by C. G. Esperanza
List Price: $17.99Harry N. Abrams (Nov 16, 2021)
Fiction, Hardcover, 48 pages
Target Age Group: Picture Book
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Illustrator Honor
We Wait For The Sun
by Katie McCabe, Illustrated by Raissa Figueroa
List Price: $18.99Roaring Brook Press (Feb 09, 2021)
Nonfiction, Hardcover, 40 pages
Target Age Group: Picture Book
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John Steptoe Award for New Talent
Me (Moth)
by Amber McBride
List Price: $18.99Feiwel & Friends (Aug 17, 2021)
Fiction, Hardcover, 256 pages
Target Age Group: Young Adult
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John Steptoe Illustrator Award for New Talent
The Me I Choose to Be
by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, Illustrated by Kahran and Regis Bethencourt
List Price: $17.99Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Oct 12, 2021)
Fiction, Hardcover, 40 pages
Target Age Group: Picture Book
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