The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are a prestigious honor presented annually to African American authors and illustrators who capture children’s imaginations and hearts through their work. Named for Coretta Scott King — a famous leader during the civil rights movement and an author, activist, and the wife of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. — the award highlights books that showcase the African American experience and universal human values. 

Since 1970, the winners have gone on to become time-honored classics and treasured family favorites.

Introduce Students to Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners

When you share these award-winners with your students, they’ll discover beautiful poetry, gripping stories, and captivating illustrations from talented authors and artists. Titles receiving the Coretta Scott King Book Award include picture books, chapter books, and folktale collections, with options for young readers and young adults alike. 

For example, One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia tells the story of sisters Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern who travel to Oakland, California, in 1968 to reunite with their mother, who had abandoned them years prior. Once they arrive, their mother enrolls them in a day camp run by the Black Panther Party. The sisters spend the summer learning about their family, themselves, and the inequalities of the world around them. 

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson takes readers along a thrilling journey with a young girl named Candice who discovers a letter in her attic in Lambert, South Carolina. Addressed to her grandmother, who left  the town in shame, Candice reads about a young woman, an injustice that happened decades before, and a mystery involving the letter writer. With the help of her friend Brandon, Candice begins to unravel the clues that lead them deep into the history of their town, their families, and long-held secrets. 

Meanwhile, King and the Dragonflies addresses moving themes of grief, friendship, and family. Twelve-year-old King has recently lost his older brother, Khalid, and is convinced that Khalid has transformed into a dragonfly so he can remain close to the bayou in their hometown in Louisiana. King wishes he could talk to his best friend, Sandy, about his grief, but just before he died, Khalid had warned King to stay away from Sandy because of all the rumors about him. But when Sandy runs away from his abusive father, King decides to join him as they survive in their own paradise in the bayou among the dragonflies, where they each have to confront their own grief and pain together. 

Shop Coretta Scott King Book Awards winners to add to your classroom library below! You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store.