Every year, a small group of dedicated librarians gathers to read hundreds of books and decide which African American authors and illustrators deserve to be honored with one of children’s literature’s most prestigious awards. The Coretta Scott King Book Award has shaped what gets published, taught, and treasured in classrooms across America since 1970.
Whether you’re an educator building a diverse reading list, a parent seeking meaningful books, or a curious reader who wants to understand how this award works, this guide breaks down everything. I’ll walk you through how the Coretta Scott King Book Award is decided, who sits on the jury, what the eight official criteria actually say, and why this award matters for the future of children’s literature.
Table of Contents
What Is the Coretta Scott King Book Award?
The Coretta Scott King Book Award is an annual honor given by the American Library Association (ALA) to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults.
Established to commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination, the award recognizes books that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. More than a literary prize, it serves as a cultural marker that signals to educators, librarians, and parents which books authentically represent the Black experience.
The award is administered by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table (CSKBART), a round table within the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT) of the ALA. The award is given annually at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, typically in January, alongside other notable children’s book awards.
The History and Founding of the Award
The Coretta Scott King Book Award was founded in 1969, and the first award was given in 1970.
The award was proposed by two librarians, Mabel McKissick and Glyndon Greer, who saw a critical gap in children’s literature. At the time, books by and about African Americans were scarce on library shelves, and the stories that did exist often failed to capture authentic Black experiences. McKissick and Greer wanted to create an award that would both honor excellence and inspire more Black voices in publishing.
In 1969, the founders established the Coretta Scott King Award under the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) of the ALA. A year later, in 1970, the first awards were presented. Illustrator awards were added later, with the first Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award given in 1974 to George Ford for “Ray Charles” by Sharon Bell Mathis.
Over the decades, the award has evolved to include multiple categories and companion honors. In 1995, the John Steptoe Award for New Talent was added to recognize debut African American authors and illustrators. More recently, the Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement was introduced to celebrate an author or illustrator whose body of work has made a significant and lasting contribution to literature for youth.
Throughout its history, the award has shifted affiliations within the ALA, moving from the SRRT to EMIERT, but its core mission has remained the same: to promote understanding and appreciation of the cultures of all people, with particular emphasis on the African American experience.
Who Decides the Winners? The Jury Committee Structure?
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards Jury is a committee of ALA members who read, deliberate, and ultimately select the winners each year.
The jury typically consists of seven to nine members, including a chairperson. Members are drawn from a wide range of professional backgrounds: school librarians, public librarians, academic librarians, children’s literature scholars, and educators. The ALA appoints jury members to ensure diverse perspectives and expertise.
Jury members serve multi-year terms, usually three years, with rotating membership. This staggered structure ensures institutional knowledge stays within the committee while bringing in fresh voices. A chair, often with prior jury experience, leads the group and coordinates the review process.
The committee begins its work in the spring following the publication year and reads intensively throughout the summer and fall. By the time they meet for final deliberations in late fall or early winter, each juror has read hundreds of books. The committee then meets in person or virtually to discuss, debate, and vote.
During deliberations, jurors advocate for individual titles, weigh them against the eight official criteria, and reach consensus on winners. Multiple rounds of voting narrow the field until the final selections emerge: a Coretta Scott King Author Award winner, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner, and several Honor Books in each category.
The 8 Official Selection Criteria
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are governed by eight official selection criteria. These criteria were developed by the ALA to ensure fairness, consistency, and recognition of literary and cultural excellence.
Portrayal of African American Experience: The book must portray the African American experience, including but not limited to historical, cultural, social, and political contexts.
African American Author or Illustrator: The author and/or illustrator must be African American, residing in the United States or its territories at the time of creation.
Quality of Writing and Illustration: The book must demonstrate exceptional literary merit, including writing style, characterization, plot development, and artistic expression.
Inspirational and Educational Contributions: The book should offer inspirational and educational value to young readers, encouraging reflection and growth.
Originality and Creative Approach: The work must show originality in concept, execution, and presentation, rather than derivative or formulaic storytelling.
Promoting Understanding of Pluralistic Society: The book must promote understanding and appreciation of the diversity within American society and the broader world.
Age-Appropriate Content: The content must be appropriate for children or young adults and meet high standards for the intended age group.
US Publication in the Award Year: The book must be published in the United States during the calendar year preceding the award announcement.
These eight criteria guide every decision the jury makes. They balance literary quality with cultural significance, ensuring that winning books are both well-crafted and meaningfully representative of Black experiences.
Eligibility Requirements for Authors and Illustrators
Eligibility for the Coretta Scott King Book Award is determined by a specific set of requirements covering the author, illustrator, and the book itself.
To be eligible, the author or illustrator must be:
An African American individual
A resident of the United States or its territories at the time of book creation
Living at the time of the award selection (posthumous awards are not given)
For the book itself, eligibility requires:
Publication in the United States during the calendar year preceding the award (for example, books published in 2026 are eligible for the 2026 award cycle)
An original work (reprints, compilations, and previously published editions are generally not eligible)
Intended audience of children or young adults (typically preschool through grade 12)
Written in English or with an English translation available at time of consideration
Publishers typically submit books for consideration, though the jury reviews any qualifying book they identify. Self-published works may be eligible if they meet the publication and distribution standards required by the ALA.
Books that have previously won the Newbery, Caldecott, or other major ALA awards may also be eligible for the Coretta Scott King Award. The two honor systems operate independently, recognizing different aspects of literary excellence.
The Award Categories: Author, Illustrator, and Honor Books
The Coretta Scott King Book Award includes three main recognition tiers across two categories: the Author Award, the Illustrator Award, and Honor Books.
The Coretta Scott King Author Award recognizes an African American author for the most outstanding inspirational and educational contribution published during the preceding year. The Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award honors an African American illustrator for excellence in artistic expression.
Honor Books are runners-up that meet the award’s high standards. Multiple Honor Books may be selected in any year, in either the author or illustrator category. These titles receive a seal and recognition at the same announcement ceremony, giving them visibility alongside the winners.
The jury does not require a winner to be selected every year. If no book meets the criteria to the jury’s satisfaction, the committee may decline to award in a category. This standard maintains the prestige of the recognition.
The Award Seal and Its Symbolism
Each Coretta Scott King Award winner and Honor Book receives a distinctive seal to affix to the cover. The seal is more than a logo; it carries deep symbolism.
The seal was designed by artist Lev Mills in 1974. The design features a stylized portrait of Coretta Scott King encircled by the words “Coretta Scott King Book Award.” The portrait captures her dignified, determined gaze, embodying the strength and grace that defined her life and activism.
Different seal colors distinguish the type of recognition:
Bronze seal: Affixed to Author Award winners
Silver seal: Affixed to Illustrator Award winners
Green seal: Affixed to Honor Books
The colors were chosen to harmonize with the warm tones of book covers while still standing out as markers of distinction. The seal serves as an immediate visual cue for educators, librarians, and parents browsing shelves, signaling which books have been vetted and honored by the jury.
Related Awards: John Steptoe and Virginia Hamilton
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table administers two companion awards that recognize different aspects of African American contribution to children’s literature.
The John Steptoe Award for New Talent was established in 1995 to honor African American authors and illustrators at the beginning of their careers. It recognizes new talent whose work shows exceptional promise. Named after illustrator John Steptoe, who began his publishing career as a teenager with “Stevie” in 1969, the award celebrates emerging voices.
The Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement honors an African American author, illustrator, or author/illustrator whose body of work has made a significant and lasting contribution to literature for youth. Named for the celebrated novelist Virginia Hamilton, this award acknowledges sustained excellence across a career, not a single book.
Together, these awards create a comprehensive recognition system. The Steptoe Award spotlights newcomers, the Virginia Hamilton Award honors veterans, and the Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizes the best work of each year.
How Winners Are Announced Each Year?
Winners of the Coretta Scott King Book Award are announced each January during the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting, as part of the broader Youth Media Awards announcements.
The ALA Youth Media Awards is a press conference held during the Midwinter Meeting, where multiple awards are announced in quick succession, including the Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King awards. Publishers, authors, illustrators, librarians, and media gather (in person and virtually) for the live unveiling.
The announcement is highly anticipated. Authors, illustrators, and publishers often learn the news in real time, and reactions are shared widely on social media. For the children’s literature community, January is the equivalent of awards season in film, and the Coretta Scott King honors are among the most celebrated.
Following the announcement, winning titles receive wide promotion through library displays, bookstore features, school reading lists, and media coverage. The recognition often boosts sales and library circulation, amplifying the reach of important Black voices in children’s literature.
FAQs
What are the criteria for the Coretta Scott King Award?
The Coretta Scott King Book Award uses eight official criteria: the book must portray the African American experience, the author or illustrator must be African American, it must show high literary and artistic quality, offer inspirational and educational value, demonstrate originality, promote understanding of a pluralistic society, contain age-appropriate content, and have been published in the US during the preceding calendar year.
Who decides the winners of book awards?
Winners are decided by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Jury, a committee of seven to nine ALA members including librarians, educators, and children’s literature specialists. Members serve staggered three-year terms and read hundreds of books each cycle before deliberating and voting on winners.
What is the purpose of the Coretta Scott King Book Award?
The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and honors Coretta Scott King’s courage and determination. It recognizes outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults, while promoting understanding and appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.
Who is eligible to receive the Coretta Scott King Book Award?
African American authors or illustrators who are US residents and living at the time of selection are eligible. The book itself must be an original work published in the United States during the calendar year preceding the award, intended for children or young adults.
How often is the Coretta Scott King Award given?
The Coretta Scott King Book Award is given annually. Winners are announced each January at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting, alongside other major youth media awards.
What is the meaning of the Coretta Scott King Award?
The award carries deep symbolic meaning. It honors Black excellence in children’s literature, preserves cultural memory, and signals to readers which books authentically represent African American experiences. The seal itself, designed by Lev Mills in 1974, features a portrait of Coretta Scott King and serves as a permanent visual marker of recognized quality.
Conclusion
The Coretta Scott King Book Award is decided through a careful, multi-step process: publishers submit books, a jury of seven to nine ALA members reads and deliberates over hundreds of titles, and winners are chosen based on eight official criteria covering cultural authenticity, literary excellence, and educational value.
Founded in 1969 and first awarded in 1970, the award has grown from a single honor into a comprehensive recognition system that includes the Author Award, Illustrator Award, Honor Books, the John Steptoe Award for New Talent, and the Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. Together, these honors shape what gets read, taught, and remembered in children’s literature.
For parents, educators, and librarians, the award seal is more than a sticker on a cover. It is a promise of quality, authenticity, and meaningful representation. When you pick up a Coretta Scott King Book Award winner, you’re holding the result of months of careful reading by experts who care deeply about both literature and cultural truth.