Coretta Scott King Award

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually 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.  

 

                    Hughes, L., & Lewis, E. B. (2009). The negro speaks of rivers. New     York, NY. Jump At The Sun Books.  

            Illustrated Children's Picture Book: Poetry.  Langston Hughes (1902-1967) wrote this poem at the age of eighteen, and E.B.  Lewis illustratively interprets his words almost a century later. Hughes may have written more memorable poems, but this one (1920) captures the ancestral and living metaphor of a river flowing in the veins of an African-American. Lewis’ watercolors narrate Hughes’ poem, and provide a breath-taking full page lay-out for each of the poem’s lines. View as an appropriate read aloud for ages 4-11 in teaching poetry and historic significance. A must read for ages 10-adult, owing to the significance and unique presentment of poetry with contemporary illustration in a children’s publication. Awarded the Coretta Scott King Award in 2010.



             Johnson, J., & Sadler, S. (2010). Seeds of change. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books.

              Illustrated Children’s Book: Biography. Wangarri Maathai learns as a child in Kenya the importance of the mugumo tree, a source of sustenance for many living things.

As she becomes educated, she focuses on environmental issues, finishing her PhD in the United States. Returning to Africa, she sees the devastation that deforesting has caused in the pursuit of building coffee plantations and other business operations. Wangarri founds the Green Belt Movement in 1977, dedicated to planting trees. She brings it world-wide and is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. Illustrations by Sadler are ethnically influenced and feature leaves or trees throughout. The metaphor of a woman growing in the confidence of her chosen passion and the trees taking root and thriving are present throughout the story. View as an appropriate read aloud for ages 5-11; younger children will gain an appreciation of story line throughout a person’s life, as well as an understanding of cause and effect when we change just one thing in our environment. Older children will be enriched by the metaphor and theme. Independent read-aloud for ages 9-adult. Awarded the Coretta Scott King Book Award in 2011.

Collier, B., & Hill, L. (2010). Dave the potter: Artist, poet, slave. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

            Illustrated Children’s Book: Poetry/Biography. Dave was an American slave that threw significant pottery, sometimes inscribed with his poetry (circa 1834-1858). Today his pieces are collectibles and this is his story, written in free-verse by Laban Hill. Bryan Collier illustrates Hill’s poem with empowering watercolors, while embedding the text in collage inlays. Five photographs of Dave’s art work are also included. Hill ends the book with a biographical note on how Dave’s pottery became recognized. View as a read-aloud for ages 5-10 as an introduction or a furthering of students’ knowledge in poetic story-telling, biographical genre and United States history. View as an independent read for ages 11 through adult for its historical and artistic value. Awarded the Coretta Scott King Book Award in 2011.