Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table (CSKBART)

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table honors the legacy of Mrs. Coretta Scott King by promoting distinguished award-winning children's & young adults’ literature by African American authors & illustrators that depict the Black experience.
Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table

About the Awards & CSKBART

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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.

CSKBART members administer the process and organize the related ceremonies and events.

A green and white graphic with text, features the words "CSKBART 55 Years" in bold letters.

Thank you for joining us for the 55th Anniversary Celebration of the CSK Book Awards!

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Featured

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CSK Book Awards - All Recipients, 1970-Present
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Submit a Title for Consideration
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Downloadable Discussion Guides for the Award Winners & Honor Books

2024 Winners Image Gallery

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View the complete list of winners with all details.

The book cover of "Nigeria Jones: A Novel" by Ibi Zoboi shows Nigeria sitting cross-legged, facing us, with her hands crossed at the wrist, resting on her ankles.
book cover of "An American Story" by Kwame Alexander, illustrations by Dare Coulter shows an American flag draped across a person's lap while their aged hands embroider the stars.
The book cover of "Big" by Vashti Harrison shows a little girl in a pink tutu holding the giant word "Big" over her head. The CSK Author Honor Award seal has been added to the cover.
The book cover of "How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee" by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison shows a skinny African-American girl in a dress standing in front of an old-time microphone on a stage. The Coretta Scott King Book Award seal has been added to the cover.
book cover of "Kin: Rooted in Hope" by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Jeffery Boston Weatherford shows an African-American woman with braided hair. Over her left shoulder is a drawing of a tree with many branches and leaves. The CSK Book Award seal has been added to the cover.
book cover of "There Was a Party for Langston Hughes, King O' Letters" by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey shows an African-American man (Langston) wearing a bow tie and suspenders and holding a paint brush in his hand being carried by two other party-goers, while seated on a crown with words printed on it: Mother. Rhythm. Sun. Dreams. America. Laughs. Harlem. Freedom. Neighborhood. Me. while two other people dance.
"Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes" by Traci N. Todd; illustrated by Shannon Wright shows cartoonist Jackie with an artist's pencil and paint brushes poking through her hair.
The book cover of "There Goes the Neighborhood" by Jade Adia shows a montage of photos of diverse teens, with the largest, centered photo being that of a young African-American woman. Street signs showing the intersection of Kofa Park Drive and Sosi Avenue are shown, and power lines and palm trees are in the sky. The award seal for the Steptoe award has been added to the cover.
book cover of "We Could Fly" by Rhiannon Giddens, illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu shows a woman and a girl facing each other, clasping hands.
The book cover of "Nigeria Jones: A Novel" by Ibi Zoboi shows Nigeria sitting cross-legged, facing us, with her hands crossed at the wrist, resting on her ankles.
book cover of "An American Story" by Kwame Alexander, illustrations by Dare Coulter shows an American flag draped across a person's lap while their aged hands embroider the stars.
The book cover of "Big" by Vashti Harrison shows a little girl in a pink tutu holding the giant word "Big" over her head. The CSK Author Honor Award seal has been added to the cover.
The book cover of "How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee" by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison shows a skinny African-American girl in a dress standing in front of an old-time microphone on a stage. The Coretta Scott King Book Award seal has been added to the cover.
book cover of "Kin: Rooted in Hope" by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Jeffery Boston Weatherford shows an African-American woman with braided hair. Over her left shoulder is a drawing of a tree with many branches and leaves. The CSK Book Award seal has been added to the cover.
book cover of "There Was a Party for Langston Hughes, King O' Letters" by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey shows an African-American man (Langston) wearing a bow tie and suspenders and holding a paint brush in his hand being carried by two other party-goers, while seated on a crown with words printed on it: Mother. Rhythm. Sun. Dreams. America. Laughs. Harlem. Freedom. Neighborhood. Me. while two other people dance.
"Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes" by Traci N. Todd; illustrated by Shannon Wright shows cartoonist Jackie with an artist's pencil and paint brushes poking through her hair.
The book cover of "There Goes the Neighborhood" by Jade Adia shows a montage of photos of diverse teens, with the largest, centered photo being that of a young African-American woman. Street signs showing the intersection of Kofa Park Drive and Sosi Avenue are shown, and power lines and palm trees are in the sky. The award seal for the Steptoe award has been added to the cover.
book cover of "We Could Fly" by Rhiannon Giddens, illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu shows a woman and a girl facing each other, clasping hands.

...and the 2024 Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement goes to ...

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Christopher Paul Curtis headshot

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Christopher Paul Curtis

Christopher Paul Curtis is the winner of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton. As a historical fiction novelist, Curtis writes in accessible ways for emerging readers to understand the world around them. His novels have received numerous starred reviews awards throughout 91´«Ã½, like ALSC Notables, Odyssey, and YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. We see his influence all over Black creators today.

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There are a number of CSKBART events at annual, including an Awards breakfast, a Chair's Program, a membership meeting, and programming.

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Become an 91´«Ã½ & CSKBART member!

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Join 91´«Ã½ and add CSKBART. Already a member? Add a prorated CSKBART membership today. Learn more about joining CSKBART.

Watch "Oral History of Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop"

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Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, professor emerita at Ohio State University, has been referred to as the "mother of" multicultural children's literature for her sociologically groundbreaking American children's literature research. She was awarded the 2017 Coretta Scott King - Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement and the recipient of the 2021 Children's Literature Lecture Award. This oral history was recorded by the 91´«Ã½ Coretta Scott King Book Round Table in October 2024. A project of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table Archives and History Committee.

Watch "A Tribute to Ashley Bryan"

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Introduction to the life of Coretta Scott King Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Bryan and his works. Hear shared memories from authors and illustrators: Jason Reynolds, Daniel Minter, Nikki Giovanni, Kwame Alexander, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, and Ashley himself. A project of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table Archives and History Committee.

CSKBART News

CSK Blog

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Staff Contacts

Danielle Ponton
Program Manager for Round Tables
dponton@ala.org

Jennifer Ledesma
Program Coordinator for Community Engagement, Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services
jledesma@ala.org

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