Celebrate Black History Month by reading a book by a Coretta Scott King Award-winning author or illustrator! Coretta Scott King Awards and honors are given “to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.”* First awarded by the American Library Association in 1970 to author Lillie Patterson for her book Martin Luther King, Jr.: Man of Peace, this award is now given annually in both author and illustrator categories and honors the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Additionally, the John Steptoe Award for New Talent is given to recognize excellent authors and illustrators at the beginnings of their careers.
Here are some outstanding award winners and honor books for your family to explore together.
With Young Children:
- Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James
- In Plain Sight, by Richard Jackson, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
- Last Stop on Market Street, by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson
- Let It Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals, written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan
- The Stuff of Stars, by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Ekua Holmes
- Sulwe, by Lupita Nyong’o, illustrated by Vashti Harrison
- Thank You, Omu!, written and illustrated by Oge Mora
- Trombone Shorty, by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews & Bill Taylor, illustrated by Bryan Collier
With Older Children:
- Before She Was Harriet: The Story of Harriet Tubman, by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome
- Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson
- Firebird, by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers
- Genesis Begins Again, by Alicia D. Williams
- New Kid, written and illustrated by Jerry Craft
- The Season of Styx Malone, by Kekla Magoon
- Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, by Kwame Mbalia
- The Undefeated, by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
With Teens:
- The Boy in the Black Suit, by Jason Reynolds
- Copper Sun, by Sharon Draper
- A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919, by Claire Hartfield
- The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
- March: Book One, by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell
- Monday’s Not Coming, by Tiffany D. Jackson
- The Stars and the Blackness Between Them, by Junauda Petrus
- The Sun is Also a Star, by Nicola Yoon
You can also browse and borrow these titles on our Coretta Scott King Award cloudLibrary shelf.
For more information and award winners, check out the American Library Association’s website: http://www.ala.org/rt/emiert/cskbookawards/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-all-recipients-1970-present
*“The History of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards” Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table http://www.ala.org/rt/emiert/cskbookawards/about Date of Access 1/7/2021. Published in Ask the ALA Librarian (Hawkins, Valerie. Ask the ALA Librarian. (blog) American Library Association, October 10, 2012.)
