Coretta Scott King Book Awards

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are presented annually by the American Library Association 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 awards are named after Coretta Scott King, the late wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and were established in 1969. They were first given at a meeting of the American Library Association and have grown into one of the most important recognitions in children's and young adult publishing. Two main awards are presented each year: the Author Award and the Illustrator Award. The awards recognise works published in the preceding year. The Author Award is given to an African American author for a text that best promotes understanding of the African American experience; the Illustrator Award is given to an African American illustrator for outstanding artistic achievement. Honor Books may also be named in both categories. The awards honour the African American literary tradition and have recognised a remarkable range of works — picture books, middle grade, young adult fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Past winners include Jacqueline Woodson, Rita Williams-Garcia, John Lewis, Jerry Craft, Jason Reynolds, Ekua Holmes, Bryan Collier, and many others.