The Coretta Scott King Award

This award goes to "authors and illustrators of African descent whose distinguished books promote an understanding and appreciation of the 'American Dream.'" Separate awards go to authors and illustrators; there are Award winners and Honor books. Additional resources follow the listings.

Coretta Scott King Author Award winners:

• 2010: Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal, by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson.
• 2009: We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, by Kadir Nelson (also a CSK Illustrator Honor book).
• 2008: Elijah of Buxton, by Christopher Paul Curtis (also a Newbery Honor and Scott O'Dell Award winner).
• 2007: Copper Sun, by Sharon Draper.
• 2006: Day of Tears, a Novel in Dialogue by Julius Lester.
• 2005: Remember: The Journey to School Integration, by Toni Morrison.
• 2004: The First Part Last, by Angela Johnson (also a Printz Award winner).
• 2003: Bronx Masquerade, by Nikki Grimes.
• 2002: The Land, by Mildred Taylor.

  Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winners:

• 2010: My People, illustrated by Charles R. Smith Jr., written by Langston Hughes.
• 2009: The Blacker the Berry, illustrated by Floyd Cooper, written by Joyce Carol Thomas (also a CSK Author Honor book).
• 2008: Let It Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals, by Ashley Bryan.
• 2007: Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Carole Boston Weatherford. Also a Caldecott Honor book.
• 2006: Rosa, illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Nikki Giovanni.
• 2005: Ellington Was Not a Street, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, by Ntozake Shange.
• 2004: Beautiful Blackbird, by Ashley Bryan.
• 2003: Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman, illustrated by E.B. Lewis, by Nikki Grimes.
• 2002: Goin' Someplace Special, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, written by Patricia McKissack.

Coretta Scott King Honor books:

Author

• 2010:
  • Mare's War, by Tanita S. Davis.
• 2009:
  • Keeping the Night Watch, by Hope Anita Smith.
  • The Blacker the Berry, by Joyce Carol Thomas.
  • Becoming Billie Holiday, by Carole Boston Weatherford.
• 2008:
  • November Blues, by Sharon Draper.
  • Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali, by Charles R. Smith Jr.
• 2007:
  • The Road to Paris, by Nikki Grimes.
• 2006:
  • Maritcha: A Remarkable Nineteenth Century American Girl by Tonya Bolden.
  • Dark Sons by Nikki Grimes.
  • A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson.
• 2005:
  • The Legend of Buddy Bush by Shelia P. Moses.
  • Who Am I Without Him? : Short Stories... by Sharon G. Flake.
  • Fortune's Bones: The Manumission Requiem by Marilyn Nelson.
• 2004:
  • The Battle of Jericho by Sharon Draper.
  • Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson.
  • Days of Jubilee: The End of Slavery in the United States by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack.
• 2003:
  • The Red Rose Box, by Brenda Woods.
  • Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman, by Nikki Grimes.
• 2002:
  • Money Hungry by Sharon G. Flake.
  • Carver: A Life in Poems, by Marilyn Nelson.

Illustrator

• 2010:
  • The Negro Speaks of Rivers, illustrated by E. B. Lewis, written by Langston Hughes.
• 2009:
  • We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson.
  • The Moon Over Star, by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney.
  • Before John Was a Jazz Giant, by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Sean Qualls.
• 2008:
  • The Secret Olivia Told Me, by N. Joy, illustrated by Nancy Devard.
  • Jazz On A Saturday Night, by Leo and Diane Dillon.
• 2007:
  • Jazz, by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Christopher Myers.
  • Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes, illustrated by Benny Andrews.
• 2006:
  • Brothers in Hope by Mary Williams, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.
• 2005:
  • God Bless the Child, by Billie Holiday, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney.
  • The People Could Fly: The Picture Book, by Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon.
• 2004:
  • Almost to Freedom, illustrated by Colin Bootman, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson.
  • Thunder Rose, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Jerdine Nolen.
• 2003:
  • Rap a Tap Tap: Here’s Bojangles—Think of That, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon.
  • Visiting Langston, illustrated by Bryan Collier.
• 2002:
  • Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Doreen Rappaport.

More information:

• Coretta Scott King Book Award Online Curriculum Resource Center: A database of audio recordings of CSK award and honor winners reading from their books, created by TeachingBooks.net. Lesson plans and other materials are also available.
• More information about the Coretta Scott King Award: this link leads to the official site for the Award, which includes a complete list of past winners.
• John Steptoe Award for New Talent: An award for emerging talent given by the CSK committee.
• To buy: Past Coretta Scott King Winners and Honor Books: this link leads to a list of those available for purchase at Amazon.com.
• To buy: Coretta Scott King books available at BookCloseouts.com: these are discontinued or otherwise discounted titles.

Children's Book Awards Index page

Newbery Medal | Caldecott Medal | Lifetime Achievement Awards | Young Adult Awards
Sibert Informational Book Award | Pura Belpré Award | Scott O'Dell Award

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