Kadir Nelson 2026 recipient of the Coretta Scott King-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 today during the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards Announcements in Chicago.

“The jury recognizes Kadir Nelson as a brilliant artist whose contributions to children’s literature capture the African American experience with a beauty and depth that cannot be erased,” said Award Committee Chair Dr. Andrea Jamison.

Nelson is a renowned artist and storyteller whose work as both author and illustrator appears in over 30 children’s books. He has received numerous honors for his contributions to children’s literature, including the Caldecott Medal, Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, Robert F. Sibert Medal and multiple New York Times Best Illustrated Book distinctions.

The Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement is named in memory of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton. The annual award is presented in odd years (i.e., 2027, 2029) to a practitioner for substantial contributions through active engagement with youth using award-winning African American literature for children and/or young adults, via implementation of reading and reading-related activities/programs. The recipient may be a public librarian, academic librarian, school librarian (public or private), an educator or youth literature advocate whose vocation, work, volunteer service or ongoing promotion of books with and/or on behalf of youth is significant and sustained.

In even years (i.e., 2026, 2028), the award is presented to an African American author, illustrator or author/illustrator for a body of his or her published books for children and/or young adults, and who has made a significant and lasting literary contribution.

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 awards 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, Normal; 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, Ohio.

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 and other ALA Youth Media Awards, please visit www.ala.org/yma.

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