“Designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards annually recognize outstanding books for young adults and children by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience.  Further, the Award encourages the artistic expression of the black experience via literature and the graphic arts in biographical, social, and historical treatments by African American authors and illustrators” (ALA.org).

Click on the titles below to view the primary source pairings:

2020

Author Award

Medal Winner:

New Kid, written and illustrated by Jerry Craft

Honor Books:

Look Both Ways, by Jason Reynolds

The Stars and the Blackness Between Them, by Junauda Petrus

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, by Kwame Mbalia

Illustrator Award

Medal Winner:

The Undefeated, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Kwame Alexander

Honor Books:

The Bell Rang, illustrated and written by James E. Ransome

Infinite Hope: A Black Artist’s Journey from World War II to Peace, illustrated and written by Ashley Bryan

Sulwe, illustrated by Vashti Harrison and written by Lupita Nyong’o

2019

Author Award

Medal Winner:

A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919, Written by Claire Hartfield

Honor Books:

Finding Langston, Written by Lesa Cline-Ransome

The Parker Inheritance, Written by Varian Johnson

The Season of Styx Malone, Written by Kekla Magoon

Illustrator Award

Medal Winner:

The Stuff of Stars, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes, Written by Marion Dane Bauer

Honor Books:

Hidden Figures, Illustrated by Laura Freeman, Written by Margot Lee Shetterly

Let the Children March, Illustrated by Frank Morrison, Written by Monica Clark-Robinson

Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, Written by Alice Faye Duncan

2018

Author Award

Medal Winner:

Piecing Me Together, Written by Renée Watson

Honor Books:

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, Written by Derrick Barnes, Illustrated by Gordon C. James

Long Way Down, Written by Jason Reynolds

The Hate U Give, Written by Angie Thomas

Illustrator Award

Medal Winner:

Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes, Written by Kwame Alexander with Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth

Honor Books:

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, Illustrated by Gordon C. James, Written by Derrick Barnes

Before She Was Harriet: The Story of Harriet Tubman, Illustrated by James E. Ransome, Written by Lesa Cline-Ransome

2017

Author Award

Medal Winner:

March: Book Three, Written John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, Illustrated by Nate Powell

Honor Books:

As Brave As You, Written by Jason Reynolds

Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan, Written and Illustrated by Ashley Bryan

Illustrator Award

Medal Winner:

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, Written and Illustrated by Javaka Steptoe

Honor Books:

Freedom in Congo Square, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, Written by Carole Boston Weatherford

Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan, Written and Illustrated by Ashley Bryan

In Plain Sight, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, Written by Richard Jackson

2016

Author Award

Medal Winner:

Gone Crazy in Alabama, Written by Rita Williams-Garcia

Honor Books:

All American Boys, Written by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

The Boy in the Black Suit, Written by Jason Reynolds

X: A Novel, Written by Ilyasah Shabazz with Kekla Magoo

Illustrator Award

Medal Winner:

Trombone Shorty, Illustrated by Bryan Collier, Written by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and Bill Taylor

Honor Books:

The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth & Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, Written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

Last Stop on Market Street, Illustrated by Christian Robinson, Written by Matt de la Peña

2015

Author Award

Medal Winner:

brown girl dreaming, Written by Jacqueline Woodson

Honor Books:

The Crossover, Written by Kwame Alexander

How I Discovered Poetry, Written by Marilyn Nelson, Illustrated by Hadley Hooper

Illustrator Award

Medal Winner:

Firebird, Illustrated by Christopher Myers, Written by Misty Copeland

Honor Books:

JOSEPHINE: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker, Illustrated by Christian Robinson, Written by Patricia Hruby Powell

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, Illustrated by Frank Morrison, Written by Katheryn Russell-Brown

2014

Author Award

Medal Winner:

P.S. Be Eleven, Written by Rita Williams-Garcia

Honor Books:

March: Book One, Written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, Illustrated by Nate Powell

Darius & Twig, Written by Walter Dean Myers

Words with Wings, Written by Nikki Grimes

Illustrator Award

Medal Winner:

Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me, Illustrated by Bryan Collier, Written by Daniel Beaty

Honor Book:

Nelson Mandela, Written and Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

2013

Author Award

Medal Winner:

Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America, Written by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Honor Books:

Each Kindness, Written by Jacqueline Woodson, Illustrated by E. B. Lewis

No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller, Written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Illustrator Award

Medal Winner:

I, Too, Am America, Illustrated by Bryan Collier, Written by Langston Hughes

Honor Books:

Ellen’s Broom, Illustrated by Kelly Starling Lyons, Written by Daniel Minter

H. O. R. S. E., Written and Illustrated by Christopher Myers

I Have a Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr., Illustrated by Kadir Nelson, Written by Martin Luther King, Jr.