Honoring Voices: The Coretta Scott King Book Awards

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards celebrate exceptional books for children and young adults that honor African American culture and universal human values. Named after Coretta Scott King, a civil rights leader and advocate for peace and equality, the awards recognize the achievements of African American authors and illustrators whose works inspire and uplift.

The Coretta Scott King Book Award was founded in 1969 by librarians Mabel McKissick and Glyndon Greer during the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Atlantic City, NJ. The first award was presented in 1970 to Lillie Patterson for her biography, Martin Luther King, Jr.: Man of Peace. In 1974, George Ford became the first illustrator recipient for Ray Charles, written by Sharon Bell Mathis. In 1995, the Genesis Award, later renamed the John Steptoe Award for New Talent, was introduced to honor emerging African American authors and illustrators. Sharon Draper was the first recipient for Tears of a Tiger. The Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement was established in 2010. Walter Dean Myers received the inaugural award in 2010, followed by Dr. Henrietta M. Smith in 2011.

 

To read more about the awards and how to find books that have been awarded, click here.