Award-Winning Children's Books

California Young Reader Award

Caldecott Medal

Coretta Scott King Award

John & Patricia Beatty Award

Michael L. Printz Award

Newbery Award

Pura Belpré Award

Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually 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. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.    

2010s | 2000s | 1990s | 1980s | 1970s

Find more children's book awards winners here.

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2010s

Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Year of Award: 2013

I, Too, Am America by Bryan Collier

Year of Award: 2013

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson

Year of Award: 2012

Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom by Shane W. Evans

Year of Award: 2012

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Year of Award: 2011

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill; Bryan Collier, Illus.

Year of Award: 2011

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

Year of Award: 2010

My People by Langston Hughes; Charles R. Smith, Jr., Illus.

Year of Award: 2010

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2000s

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson

Year of Award: 2009

The Blacker the Berry by Joyce Carol Thomas; Floyd Cooper, Illus.

Year of Award: 2009

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

Year of Award: 2008

Let it Shine by Ashley Bryan

Year of Award: 2008

Copper Sun by Sharon Draper

Year of Award: 2007

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford; Kadir Nelson, Illus.

Year of Award: 2007

Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue  by Julius Lester

Year of Award: 2006

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni; Bryan Collier, Illus.

Year of Award: 2006

Remember: The Journey to School Integration by Toni Morrison

Year of Award: 2005

Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange; Kadir A. Nelson, Illus.

Year of Award: 2005

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson

Year of Award: 2004

Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan

Year of Award: 2004

Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

Year of Award: 2003

Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman by Nikki Grimes; E.B. Lewis, Illus.

Year of Award: 2003

The Land by Mildred Taylor

Year of Award: 2002

Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia McKissack; Jerry Pinkney, Illus.

Year of Award: 2002

Miracle's Boys by Jacqueline Woodson

Year of Award: 2001

Uptown  by Bryan Collier

Year of Award: 2001

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Year of Award: 2000

In the Time of the Drums by Kim L. Siegelson; Brian Pinkney, Illus.

Year of Award: 2000

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1990s

Heaven by Angela Johnson

Year of Award: 1999

I See the Rhythm by Toyomi Igus; Michele Wood, Illus.

Year of Award: 1999

Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper

Year of Award: 1998

In Daddy's Arms I am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers by Alan Schroeder; Javaka Steptoe, Illus.

Year of Award: 1998

Slam by Walter Dean Myers

Year of Award: 1997

Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder; Jerry Pinkney, Illus.

Year of Award: 1997

Her Stories by Virginia Hamilton

Year of Award: 1996

The Middle Passage: White Ships Black Cargo by Tom Feelings

Year of Award: 1996

Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters by Patricia C. & Frederick L. McKissack

Year of Award: 1995

The Creation by James Weldon Johnson; James Ransome, Illus.

Year of Award: 1995

Toning the Sweep by Angela Johnson

Year of Award: 1994

Soul Looks Back in Wonder by Phyllis Fogelman; Tom Feelings, Illus.

Year of Award: 1994

Dark Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural  by Patricia A. McKissack

Year of Award: 1993

The Origin of Life on Earth: An African Creation Myth by retold by David A. Anderson; Kathleen Atkins Wilson, Illus.

Year of Award: 1993

Now is Your Time: The African American Struggle for Freedom by Walter Dean Myers

Year of Award: 1992

Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

Year of Award: 1992

The Road to Memphis by Mildred D. Taylor

Year of Award: 1991

Aida by Leontyne Price; Leo & Diane Dillon, Illus.

Year of Award: 1991

A Long Hard Journey: The Story of the Pullman Porter  by Patricia C. & Frederick L. McKissack

Year of Award: 1990

Nathaniel Talking by Eloise Greenfield; Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Illus.

Year of Award: 1990

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1980s

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

Year of Award: 1989

Mirandy and Brother Wind by Patricia McKissack; Jerry Pinkney, Illus.

Year of Award: 1989

 

The Friendship by Mildred L. Taylor

Year of Award: 1988

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe

Year of Award: 1988

Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World by Mildred Pitts Walter

Year of Award: 1987

Half Moon and One Whole Star by Crescent Dragonwagon; Jerry Pinkney, Illus.

Year of Award: 1987

The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy; Jerry Pinkney, Illus.

Year of Award: 1986

The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales by Virginia Hamilton

Year of Award: 1986

Everett Anderson's Good-bye  by Lucille Clifton

Year of Award: 1984

My Mama Needs Me by Mildred Pitts Walter; Pat Cummings, Illus.

Year of Award: 1984

Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush by Virginia Hamilton

Year of Award: 1983

 

Black Child by Peter Magubane

Year of Award: 1983

Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor

Year of Award: 1982

Motown and Didi by Walter Dean Myers

Year of Award: 1985

Mother Crocodile: An Uncle Amadou Tale from Sengal by Rosa Guy; John Steptoe, Illus.

Year of Award: 1982

 

This Life by Sidney Poitier

Year of Award: 1981

Beat the Story Drum, Pum-Pum by Ashley Bryan

Year of Award: 1981

The Young Landlords by Walter Dean Myers

Year of Award: 1980

Cornrows by Camille Yarborough; Carole Byard, Illus.

Year of Award: 1980

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1970s

Escape to Freedom by Ossie Davis

Year of Award: 1979

 

Something on My Mind by Nikki Grimes; Tom Feelings, Illus.

Year of Award: 1979

Africa Dream by Eloise Greenfield; Carole Bayard, Illus.

Year of Award: 1978

 

The Story of Stevie Wonder by James Haskins

Year of Award: 1977

 

Duey's Tale by Pearl Bailey

Year of Award: 1976

 

 The Legend of Africana by Dorothy Robinson

Year of Award: 1975

Ray Charles by Sharon Bell Mathis; George Ford, Illus.

Year of Award: 1974

I Never Had It Made: The Autobiography of Jackie Robinson by as told to Alfred Duckett

Year of Award: 1973

 

17 Black Artists by Elton C. Fax

Year of Award: 1972

 

 Black Troubador: Langston Hughes by Charlemae Rollins

Year of Award: 1971

 

 Martin Luther King, Jr.: Man of Peace by Lillie Patterson

Year of Award: 1970

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