First given in 1970, the Coretta Scott King Award annually recognizes an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults.
Past Coretta Scott King Award Winners
2016: Rita Williams-Garcia, author of Gone Crazy in Alabama; Bryan Collier, illustrator of Trombone Shorty
2015: Jacqueline Woodson, author of Brown Girl Dreaming; Christopher Myers, illustrator of Firebird
2014:Rita Williams-Garcia, author of P.S. Be Eleven; Bryan Collier, illustrator of Knock-Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me
2013: Andrea Davis Pinkney, author of Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America; Bryan Collier, illustrator of I, Too, Am America
2012: Kadir Nelson, author and illustrator of Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans; Shane W. Evans, illustrator and author of Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom
2011: Rita Williams-Garcia, author of One Crazy Summer; Bryan Collier, illustrator of Dave the Potter
2010: Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, author of Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal; Charles S. Smith, Jr., illustrator of My People
2009: Kadir Nelson, author of We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball; Floyd Cooper, illustrator of The Blacker the Berry
2008: Christopher Paul Curtis, author of Elijah of Buxton; Ashley Bryan, illustrator of Let It Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals
2007: Sharon Draper, author of Copper Sun; Kadir Nelson, illustrator of Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
2006: Julius Lester, author of Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue; Bryan Collier, illustrator of Rosa
2005: Toni Morrison, author of Remember: The Journey to School Integration; Kadir Nelson, illustrator of Ellington Was Not a Street
2004: Angela Johnson, author of The First Part Last; Ashley Bryan, illustrator of Beautiful Blackbird
2003: Nikki Grimes, author of Bronx Masquerade; E. B. Lewis, illustrator of Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman
2002: Mildred Taylor, author of The Land; Jerry Pinkney, illustrator of Goin' Someplace Special
2001: Jacqueline Woodson, author of Miracle's Boys; Bryan Collier, illustrator of Uptown
2000: Christopher Paul Curtis, author of Bud, Not Buddy; Brian Pinkney, illustrator of In the Time of the Drums
1999: Angela Johnson, author of Heaven; Michele Wood, illustrator of i see the rhythm
1998: Sharon Draper, author of Forged by Fire; Javaka Steptoe, illustrator of In Daddy's Arms I am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers
1997: Walter Dean Myers, author of Slam; Jerry Pinkney, illustrator of Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman
1996: Virginia Hamilton, author of Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True Tales; Tom Feelings, illustrator for The Middle Passage
1995: Patricia C. and Fred L. McKissack, authors of Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters; James Ransome, illustrator of The Creation
1994: Angela Johnson, author of Toning the Sweep; Tom Feelings, illustrator of The Soul Looks Back in Wonder
1993: Patricia C. McKissack, author of Supernatural; Kathleen Atkins Wilson, illustrator of The Origin of Life on Earth: An African Creation Myth
1992: Walter Dean Myers, author of Now is Your Time: The African American Struggle for Freedom; Faith Ringgold, illustrator of Tar Beach
1991: Mildred Taylor, author of The Road to Memphis; Leo and Diane Dillon, illustrators of Aida
1990: Patricia C. and Fred L. McKissack, authors of A Long Hard Journey: The Story of the Pullman Porter; Jan Spivey Gilchrist, illustrator of Nathaniel Talking
1989: Walter Dean Myers, author of Fallen Angels; Jerry Pinkney, illustrator of Mirandy and Brother Wind
1988: Mildred Taylor, author of The Friendship; John Steptoe, illustrator of Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
1987: Mildred Pitts Walter, author of Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World; Jerry Pinkney, illustrator of Half a Moon and One Whole Star
1986: Virginia Hamilton, author of The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales; Jerry Pinkney, illustrator of The Patchwork Quilt
1985: Walter Dean Myers, author of Motown and Didi: A Love Story; no illustrator medal given
1984: Lucille Clifton, author of Everett Anderson's Good-bye; Pat Cummings, illustrator of My Mama Needs Me
1983: Virginia Hamilton, author of Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush; Peter Magubane, illustrator of Black Child
1982: Mildred Taylor, author of Let the Circle Be Unbroken; John Steptoe, illustrator of Mother Crocodile: An Uncle Amadou Tale From Senegal
1981: Sidney Poitier, author of This Life; Ashley Bryan, illustrator of Beat the Drum, Pum-Pum
1980: Walter Dean Myers, author of The Young Landlords; Carole Byard, illustrator of Cornrows
1979: Ossie Davis, author of Escape to Freedom; Tom Feelings, illustrator of Something On My Mind
1978: Eloise Greenfield, author of Africa Dreams; Carole Byard, illustrator of Africa Dream
1977: James Haskins, author of The Story of Stevie Wonder; illustrator medal not given
1976: Pearl Bailey, author of Duey's Tale; illustrator medal not given
1975: Dorothy Robinson, author of The Legend of Africania; illustrator medal not given
1974: Sharon Bell Mathis, author of Ray Charles; George Ford, illustrator of Ray Charles
1973: Alfred Duckett, author of I Never Had It Made: The Autobiography of Jackie Robinson, as told to Alfred Duckett; illustrator medal not given
1972: Eton C. Fax, author of 17 Black Artists; illustrator medal not given
1971: Charlemae Rollins, author of Black Troubador: Langston Hughes; illustrator medal not given
1970: Lillie Patterson, author of Martin Luther King, Jr.: Man of Peace
