About this Award
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.
The award is sponsored by ALA's Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT).
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2019! The award was founded in 1969 by Mabel McKissick and Glyndon Greer at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The first award was given to Lillie Patterson in 1970 for her biography, "Martin Luther King, Jr.: Man of Peace" (Garrard). In 1982, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards became an officially recognized ALA award. Learn more about the 50th anniversary celebration.
Three awards are given annually: Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award, Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award, and Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award.
Use the message board below to discuss any books you feel are contenders for the 2021 Coretta Scott King awards. Keep conversation civil and respectful. Your post may be listed as anonymous. If so, please sign your name to make it easier for discussion participants to converse.
For the Coretta Scott King book awards, include the award you believe the book is eligible for: Author, Ilustrator, New Talent (author) or New Talent (illustrator).
