2025 Coretta Scott King Award Contenders | PreK-12 Books & Hands-on Learning | Free Resources & PDF Tool

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2025 Coretta Scott King Award Contenders

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are a set of annual awards to honor African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults. The awards were established in 1969 to recognize the life and work of Coretta Scott King, the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was an advocate for civil rights and an active supporter of children’s literacy. The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given in two main categories:

  1. Author Award: Recognizes an African American author for an outstanding book for children or young adults. The book must be an exemplary work of literature that addresses the African American experience or themes of social justice, equality, and human rights.
  2. Illustrator Award: Recognizes an African American illustrator for an outstanding illustrated book for children or young adults. Like the author award, the book should offer a significant contribution to literature for children and reflect high artistic standards.

Additionally, there are Honor Awards given in both categories to recognize other distinguished works that were not selected as the winners but are still deemed exceptional.

Our expert certified librarians at Follett Content compile a list of contenders for the award. This list is available to research, share, or download with our free export options.

All Award Seals and images are owned and trademarked by the American Library Association (ALA). © 1996–2024 American Library Association 

The Secret Library

By Magoon, Kekla
Fiction
Upper Elementary
6 Professional reviews
Resources Available

Black Star (Door of No Return)

By Alexander, Kwame
Fiction
Middle School
3 Professional reviews

Black Girl You Are Atlas

By Watson, Renee
Nonfiction
Young Adult
4 Professional reviews
Resources Available

Warrior on the Mound

By Headen, Sandra W
Fiction
Upper Elementary
5 Professional reviews

The Color of a Lie

By Johnson, Kim
Fiction
Young Adult
6 Professional reviews

The Black Girl Survives in This One : Horror Stories

Fiction; Story Collection
Young Adult
5 Professional reviews

Shark Teeth (Wolf Brother, Book 1)

By Winston, Sherri
Fiction
Middle School
5 Professional reviews

Onyx & Beyond

By McBride, Amber
Fiction
Upper Elementary
4 Professional reviews

One Big Open Sky

By Cline-Ransome, Lesa
Fiction
Upper Elementary
5 Professional reviews

My Hair Is a Book

By Oso, Maisha
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
2 Professional reviews

My Block Looks Like

By Harper, Janelle
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
6 Professional reviews

Mid Air

By Williams, Alicia
Fiction
Middle School
3 Professional reviews

Jimmy's Rhythm & Blues : the Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin

By Meadows, Michelle
Biography; Nonfiction
Lower Elementary
6 Professional reviews

Go Forth and Tell : the Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller

By McDaniel, Breanna J
Biography; Nonfiction
Lower Elementary
6 Professional reviews

Fighting With Love : the Legacy of John Lewis

By Cline-Ransome, Lesa
Biography; Nonfiction
Lower Elementary
7 Professional reviews

Coretta : the Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King

By King, Coretta Scott
Autobiography; Nonfiction
Lower Elementary
5 Professional reviews

Barracoon

By Kendi, Ibram X
Biography; Nonfiction
Young Adult
5 Professional reviews

A Crown of Stories : the Life and Language of Beloved Writer Toni Morrison

By Weatherford, Carole Boston
Biography; Nonfiction
Lower Elementary
6 Professional reviews

My Daddy Is a Cowboy

By Seales, Stephanie
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
4 Professional reviews

The Last Stand

By Eady, Antwan
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
6 Professional reviews
Resources Available

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