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.
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Look back at our 50th anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards from 2019.
Congratulations to the 2024 CSK Winners and Honors!
Ibi Zoboi “Nigeria Jones,” published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, is a bold new YA coming-of-age story, which explores race, feminism and complicated family dynamics. 2024 Author Winner
Dare Coulter “An American Story," illustrated by Dare Coulter is the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Book winner. The book is written by Kwame Alexander and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group.2024 Illustrator Winner
2024 Honor Authors
“Big,” written and illustrated by Vashti Harrison and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
“How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee,” by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison and published by Candlewick Press
“Kin: Rooted in Hope,” by Carole Boston Weatherford illustrated by Jeffery Boston Weatherford and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.
2024 Honor Illustrators
“Big,” illustrated and written by Vashti Harrison and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
“Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes,” illustrated by Shannon Wright, written by Traci N. Todd and published by Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. “There Was a Party for Langston,” illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey, written by Jason Reynolds and published by Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. “There Goes the Neighborhood," written by Jade Adia and published by Hyperion, an imprint of Buena Vista Books, Inc. Christopher Paul Curtis Christopher Paul Curtis is the winner of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton. As a historical fiction novelist, Curtis writes in accessible ways for emerging readers to understand the world around them. His novels have received numerous starred reviews awards throughout ALA, like ALSC Notables, Odyssey, and YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. We see his influence all over Black creators today. Outreach Services at diversity@ala.org
John Steptoe New Talent Book Awards
2024 Author Award Winner
2024 Illustrator Award Winner
“We Could Fly,” illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu, written by Rhiannon Giddens and published by Candlewick Press.
2024 Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement