Books in Coretta Scott King Award - Illustrator

Named for Coretta Scott King, wife of Martin Luther King Jr., this award recognizes outstanding books for young adults and children by African Americans that reflect the African American experience. Awards are given both to authors and to illustrators for universal human values.

2025

Book Author Award Level Completed
My Daddy is a Cowboy My Daddy is a Cowboy C. G. Esperanza Winner Log In To Like
Everywhere Beauty Is Harlem Everywhere Beauty Is Harlem Gary Golio Honor Log In To Like
Coretta Coretta Coretta Scott King Honor Log In To Like
Go Forth and Tell Go Forth and Tell Breanna J. McDaniel Honor Log In To Like

2024

Book Author Award Level Completed
An American Story An American Story Kwame Alexander Winner Log In To Like
Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes Jackie Ormes Honor Log In To Like
Big Big Vashti Harrison Honor Log In To Like
There Was a Party for Langston There Was a Party for Langston Jason Reynolds Honor Log In To Like

2023

Book Author Award Level Completed
Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual Carole Boston Weatherford Winner Log In To Like
Me and the Boss: A Story of Mending and Love Me and the Boss: A Story of Mending and Love April Harrison Honor Log In To Like
Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice Tommie Smith Honor Log In To Like
Swim Team Swim Team Johnnie Christmas Honor Log In To Like

2022

Book Author Award Level Completed
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre Carole Boston Weatherford Winner Log In To Like
Soul Food Sunday Soul Food Sunday Winsome Bingham Honor Log In To Like
We Wait for the Sun We Wait for the Sun Katie McCabe Honor Log In To Like
Nina: A Story of Nina Simone Nina: A Story of Nina Simone Traci N. Todd Honor Log In To Like

2021

Book Author Award Level Completed
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul Carole Boston Weatherford Winner Log In To Like
Me & Mama Me & Mama Cozbi A. Cabrera Honor Log In To Like
Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks Suzanne Slade Honor Log In To Like
Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration Samara Cole Doyon Honor Log In To Like

2020

Book Author Award Level Completed
The Undefeated The Undefeated Kwame Alexander Winner Log In To Like
The Bell Rang The Bell Rang James Ransome Honor Log In To Like
Sulwe Sulwe Lupita Nyong'o Honor Log In To Like
Infinite Hope: A Black Artist's Journey from World War II to Peace Infinite Hope: A Black Artist's Journey from World War II to Peace Ashley Bryan Honor Log In To Like

2019

Book Author Award Level Completed
The Stuff of Stars The Stuff of Stars Marion Dane Bauer Winner Log In To Like
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race Margot Lee Shetterly Honor Log In To Like
Let the Children March Let the Children March Monica Clark-Robinson Honor Log In To Like
Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop Alice Faye Honor Log In To Like

2018

Book Author Award Level Completed
Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets Kwame Alexander Winner Log In To Like
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut Derrick Barnes Honor Log In To Like
Before She Was Harriet: The Story of Harriet Tubman Before She Was Harriet: The Story of Harriet Tubman Lesa Cline-Ransome Ransome Honor Log In To Like

2017

Book Author Award Level Completed
Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat Javaka Steptoe Winner Log In To Like
In Plain Sight Richard Jackson Honor Log In To Like
Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan Ashley Bryan Honor Log In To Like
Freedom in Congo Square Freedom in Congo Square Carole Boston Weatherford Honor Log In To Like

2016

Book Author Award Level Completed
Trombone Shorty Trombone Shorty Troy Andrews Winner Log In To Like
The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth & Harlem's Greatest Bookstore The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth & Harlem's Greatest Bookstore Walter Mosley Honor Log In To Like
Last Stop on Market Street Last Stop on Market Street Matt de la Pena Honor Log In To Like

2015

Book Author Award Level Completed
Firebird Firebird Misty Copeland Winner Log In To Like
Little Melba and Her Big Trombone Little Melba and Her Big Trombone Katheryn Russell-Brown Honor Log In To Like
Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker Patricia Hruby Powell Honor Log In To Like

2014

Book Author Award Level Completed
Knock Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me Knock Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me Daniel Beaty Winner Log In To Like
Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela Kadir Nelson Honor Log In To Like

2013

Book Author Award Level Completed
I, Too, Am America I, Too, Am America Langston Hughes Winner Log In To Like
I Have a Dream: Martin Luther King Jr. I Have a Dream: Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. Honor Log In To Like
Ellen's Broom Ellen's Broom Kelly Starling Lyons Honor Log In To Like
H.O.R.S.E. H.O.R.S.E. Christopher Myers Honor Log In To Like

2012

Book Author Award Level Completed
Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom Shane W. Evans Winner Log In To Like
Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans Kadir Nelson Honor Log In To Like

2011

Book Author Award Level Completed
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave Laban Carrick Hill Winner Log In To Like
Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix Gary Golio Honor Log In To Like

2010

Book Author Award Level Completed
My People My People Langston Hughes Winner Log In To Like
The Negro Speaks of Rivers The Negro Speaks of Rivers Langston Hughes Honor Log In To Like

2009

Book Author Award Level Completed
The Blacker the Berry The Blacker the Berry Joyce Carol Thomas Winner Log In To Like
The Moon Over Star The Moon Over Star Dianna Hutts Aston Honor Log In To Like
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball Kadir Nelson Honor Log In To Like
Before John Was a Jazz Giant Before John Was a Jazz Giant Carole Boston Weatherford Honor Log In To Like

2008

Book Author Award Level Completed
Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals Ashley Bryan Winner Log In To Like
The Secret Olivia Told Me The Secret Olivia Told Me N. Joy Honor Log In To Like
Jazz on a Saturday Night Jazz on a Saturday Night Leo Dillon Honor Log In To Like

2007

Book Author Award Level Completed
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom Carole Boston Weatherford Winner Log In To Like
Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes Langston Hughes Honor Log In To Like
Jazz Jazz Walter Dean Myers Honor Log In To Like

2006

Book Author Award Level Completed
Rosa Rosa Nikki Giovanni Winner Log In To Like
Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan Mary Williams Honor Log In To Like

2005

Book Author Award Level Completed
Ellington Was Not a Street Ellington Was Not a Street Ntozake Shange Winner Log In To Like
The People Could Fly: The Picture Book The People Could Fly: The Picture Book Virginia Hamilton Honor Log In To Like
God Bless the Child Billie Holiday Honor Log In To Like

2004

Book Author Award Level Completed
Beautiful Blackbird Beautiful Blackbird Ashley Bryan Winner Log In To Like
Almost to Freedom Almost to Freedom Vaunda Micheaux Nelson Honor Log In To Like
Thunder Rose Thunder Rose Jerdine Nolen Honor Log In To Like
Rap a Tap Tap: Here's Bojangles Rap a Tap Tap: Here's Bojangles Leo Dillon Honor Log In To Like

2003

Book Author Award Level Completed
Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman Nikki Grimes Winner Log In To Like
Visiting Langston Visiting Langston Willie Perdomo Honor Log In To Like

2002

Book Author Award Level Completed
Goin' Someplace Special Goin' Someplace Special Patricia C. McKissack Winner Log In To Like
Martin's Big Words Martin's Big Words Doreen Rappaport Honor Log In To Like

2001

Book Author Award Level Completed
Uptown Uptown Bryan Collier Winner Log In To Like
Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard Honor Log In To Like
Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth Anne Rockwell Honor Log In To Like
Freedom River Freedom River Doreen Rappaport Honor Log In To Like

2000

Book Author Award Level Completed
In the Time of the Drums In the Time of the Drums Kim L. Siegelson Winner Log In To Like
Black Cat Black Cat Christopher Myers Honor Log In To Like
My Rows and Piles of Coins My Rows and Piles of Coins Tololwa M. Mollel Honor Log In To Like

1999

Book Author Award Level Completed
I See the Rhythm I See the Rhythm Toyomi Igus Winner Log In To Like
The Bat Boy and His Violin The Bat Boy and His Violin Gavin Curtis Honor Log In To Like
Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra Andrea Davis Pinkney Honor Log In To Like
I Have Heard of a Land I Have Heard of a Land Joyce Carol Thomas Honor Log In To Like

1998

Book Author Award Level Completed
In Daddy's Arms I am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers In Daddy's Arms I am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers Various Poets Winner Log In To Like
The Hunterman and the Crocodile The Hunterman and the Crocodile Baba Wagué Diakité Honor Log In To Like
Harlem Harlem Walter Dean Myers Honor Log In To Like
Ashley Bryan's ABC of African American Poetry Ashley Bryan's ABC of African American Poetry Ashley Bryan Honor Log In To Like

1997

Book Author Award Level Completed
Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman Alan Schroeder Winner Log In To Like
The Palm of My Heart: Poetry by African American Children Various (collected by Valerie Wilson Wesley) Honor Log In To Like
Running the Road to ABC Running the Road to ABC Denizé Lauture Honor Log In To Like
Neeny Coming, Neeny Going Neeny Coming, Neeny Going Karen English Honor Log In To Like

1996

Book Author Award Level Completed
The Middle Passage The Middle Passage Tom Feelings Winner Log In To Like
Her Stories Her Stories Virginia Hamilton Honor Log In To Like
The Faithful Friend The Faithful Friend Robert D. San Souci Honor Log In To Like

1995

Book Author Award Level Completed
The Creation The Creation James Weldon Johnson Winner Log In To Like
Meet Danitra Brown Meet Danitra Brown Nikki Grimes Honor Log In To Like
The Singing Man Teresa Shaffer Honor Log In To Like

1994

Book Author Award Level Completed
Soul Looks Back in Wonder Soul Looks Back in Wonder Various (edited by Phyllis Fogelman) Winner Log In To Like
Brown Honey in Broom Wheat Tea Brown Honey in Broom Wheat Tea Joyce Carol Thomas Honor Log In To Like
Uncle Jed's Barbershop Uncle Jed's Barbershop Margaree King Mitchell Honor Log In To Like

1993

Book Author Award Level Completed
The Origin of Life on Earth: An African Creation Myth The Origin of Life on Earth: An African Creation Myth Kathleen Atkins Wilson Winner Log In To Like
Little Eight John Little Eight John Jan Wahl Honor Log In To Like
Sukey and the Mermaid Sukey and the Mermaid Robert D. San Souci Honor Log In To Like
Working Cotton Working Cotton Sherley Anne Williams Honor Log In To Like

1992

Book Author Award Level Completed
Tar Beach Tar Beach Faith Ringgold Winner Log In To Like
Night on Neighborhood Street Night on Neighborhood Street Eloise Greenfield Honor Log In To Like
All Night, All Day: A Child's First Book of African American Spirituals All Night, All Day: A Child's First Book of African American Spirituals Ashley Bryan Honor Log In To Like

1991

Book Author Award Level Completed
Aida Aida Leontyne Price Winner Log In To Like

1990

Book Author Award Level Completed
Nathaniel Talking Nathaniel Talking Eloise Greenfield Winner Log In To Like
The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South Robert D. San Souci Honor Log In To Like

1989

Book Author Award Level Completed
Mirandy and Brother Wind Mirandy and Brother Wind Patricia C. McKissack Winner Log In To Like
Under the Sunday Tree Under the Sunday Tree Eloise Greenfield Honor Log In To Like
Storm in the Night Storm in the Night Mary Stolz Honor Log In To Like

1988

Book Author Award Level Completed
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale John Steptoe Winner Log In To Like
The Invisible Hunters: A Legend from the Miskito Indians of Nicaragua The Invisible Hunters: A Legend from the Miskito Indians of Nicaragua Harriet Rohmer Honor Log In To Like
What a Morning! The Christmas Story in Black Spirituals What a Morning! The Christmas Story in Black Spirituals Ashley Bryan Honor Log In To Like

1987

Book Author Award Level Completed
Half a Moon and One Whole Star Half a Moon and One Whole Star Crescent Dragonwagon Winner Log In To Like
Lion and the Ostrich Chicks and Other African Folk Tales Lion and the Ostrich Chicks and Other African Folk Tales Ashley Bryan Honor Log In To Like
C.L.O.U.D.S. C.L.O.U.D.S. Pat Cummings Honor Log In To Like

1986

Book Author Award Level Completed
The Patchwork Quilt The Patchwork Quilt Valerie Flournoy Winner Log In To Like
The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales Virginia Hamilton Honor Log In To Like

1984

Book Author Award Level Completed
My Mama Needs Me My Mama Needs Me Mildred Pitts Walter Winner Log In To Like

1983

Book Author Award Level Completed
Black Child Black Child Peter Magubane Winner Log In To Like
All the Colors of the Race All the Colors of the Race Arnold Adoff Honor Log In To Like
I'm Going to Sing: Black American Spirituals I'm Going to Sing: Black American Spirituals Ashley Bryan Honor Log In To Like
Just Us Women Jeanne Herod Honor Log In To Like

1982

Book Author Award Level Completed
Mother Crocodile: An Uncle Amadou Tale from Senegal Rosa Guy Winner Log In To Like
Daydreamers Daydreamers Eloise Greenfield Honor Log In To Like

1981

Book Author Award Level Completed
Beat the Story Drum, Pum-Pum Beat the Story Drum, Pum-Pum Ashley Bryan Winner Log In To Like
Count on Your Fingers African Style Wanda Honeywell Honor Log In To Like
Grandmama's Joy Grandmama's Joy Eloise Greenfield Honor Log In To Like

1980

Book Author Award Level Completed
Cornrows Cornrows Camille Yarbrough Winner Log In To Like

1979

Book Author Award Level Completed
Something on My Mind Nikki Grimes Winner Log In To Like

1978

Book Author Award Level Completed
Africa Dream Africa Dream Eloise Greenfield Winner Log In To Like

1974

Book Author Award Level Completed
Ray Charles Ray Charles Sharon Bell Mathers Winner Log In To Like