Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Each winter (in January or February), the Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given 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 committee that selects the awards is part of the American Library Association. The author or illustrator must live in the United States or maintain dual residency/citizenship, and the book must have been published in the preceding year. Check out our list, with the most recent winners and honor books at the top. And for more excellent picks, try these Award-Winning African American Books.