Coretta Scott King Book Award Round Table announces updates to the Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement

CHICAGO — Kadir Nelson is the recipient of the 2026 Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award was announced on Monday, January 26, 2026, during the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards in Chicago. The Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement is named in memory of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton.

“We are so proud of and excited for Kadir—this is a well-deserved honor for an extraordinary artist. We look forward to celebrating him at the June 2026 ALA Annual Conference and invite everyone to learn more about his remarkable work at ala.org/cskbart. As we honor the 2026 Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement award-winner, we are also excited to share updates about this distinguished and enduring award,” said CSKBART Chair Kacie Armstrong.

Beginning with the fall 2026 nomination period, the award will be presented annually to both an African American author/illustrator and a practitioner, recognizing excellence across the full spectrum of literary creation and youth engagement.

Previously, the award alternated by year. In even years (i.e., 2026, 2024), it was presented to an African American author, illustrator, or author/illustrator for a body of published books for children and/or young adults that made a significant and lasting literary contribution. In odd years (i.e., 2025, 2023), the award was presented to a practitioner for substantial contributions through active engagement with youth using award-winning African American literature for children and/or young adults via reading and reading-related programs and activities.

Under the updated structure, both honorees will now be recognized in the same award year, affirming Virginia Hamilton’s legacy as both a literary trailblazer and a champion for young readers and the professionals who serve them. Practitioners may include public, academic, or school librarians (public or private), educators, or youth literature advocates whose vocation, work, volunteer service, or sustained promotion of books with and/or on behalf of youth has been significant.

Virginia Hamilton was an award-winning author of children’s books. She wrote more than 35 books throughout her career, including M. C. Higgins, the Great, for which she won the 1975 Newbery Medal. During her lifetime, Hamilton received numerous honors, including the Coretta Scott King Book Award, the Edgar Allan Poe Award, the Atlanta Globe-Horn Book Award, and the Hans Christian Andersen Award.

Members of the 2026 Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement Committee are Chair, Dr. Andrea Jamison, Illinois State University, Gladys Smiley Bell, Hampton University, Harvey Library, Virginia; Dr. LaKeshia Darden, St. Philip's College, San Antonio; Dr. Cynthia Landrum, Simmons University GSLIS, Boston; and Tamara Steward, Cleveland Public Library.

About the American Library Association
The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

For more information on the Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement, please visit www.ala.org/cskbart.