The Coretta Scott King Award

1. The Coretta Scott King Award

2. Background Information • In 1969, while attending an ALA meeting in New Jersey, Mabel McKissick and Glyndon Greer, two school librarians, had a chance meeting. • Both women were troubled because no African American authors and illustrators had been distinguished with awards for their work.

3. Background Information continued • The two women joined forces with John Carroll, a publisher, and the trio created the Coretta Scott King Award as a way of promoting African American children's literature. • The award was named after Coretta Scott King because of great admiration by the two librarians.

4. History of the Coretta Scott King Award • Inception in 1969 • Gained recognition in 1982 by the American Library Association (ALA) as an association award. This was 12 years after the first award was given. • Award is given to commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her continuing efforts in working for peace in civil rights issues.

5. Purpose of the Award • “To encourage the artistic expression of the African American experience via literature and the graphic arts, including biographical, historical and social history treatments by African American authors and illustrators”. • www.ala.org

6. The People Could Fly by: Virginia Hamilton

7. Selection Criteria a.Must portray some aspect of the African American experience, past, present, or future. • Must be written/illustrated by an African American. • Must be published in the U.S. in the year preceding presentation of the Award. • Must be original work

8. Copper Sun by: Sharon M. Draper

9. Criteria Continued e. Must be written for a youth audience in one of the three categories: • Preschool–grade 4 • Grades 5–8 • Grades 9–12 f. Must meet established standards of quality writing for youth which include: • Clear plot • Well-drawn characters which portray growth and development during the course of the story • Writing style which is consistent with and suitable to the age intended • Accuracy

10. Moses by: Carole Boston Weatherford

11. Criteria Continued • Particular attention will be paid to titles that seek to motivate readers to develop their own attitudes and behaviors as well as comprehend their personal duty and responsibility as citizens in a pluralistic society. • Illustrations should reflect established qualitative standards and “heighten and extend the reader's awareness of the world around him. They should lead him to an appreciation of beauty. The style and content of the illustrations should be...neither coy nor condescending...Storytelling qualities should enlarge upon the story elements that were hinted at in the text and should include details that will awaken and strengthen the imagination of the reader and permit him to interpret the works and pictures in a manner unique to him.”—Cianciolo, Illustrations in Children's Books (p. 24.25)

12. Jazzy MizMozettaby: Brenda C. Roberts

13. Facts about the CSK Award • Three Coretta Scott King awards are given each year. • Best Written Book • Best Illustrated Book • Best Book Written or Illustrated by a Newcomer • The Coretta Scott King Award is announced on the same day as the Newbery and Caldecott awards. • The awards are given to distinguished literature that crosses all genres. • The awards committee sift through as many as 85 or 90 books annually.

14. Fulfilling the Dream “Librarians and readers will remember her not only as a civil rights worker and the widow of a martyr, but as a remarkable woman who had a vision for the future– a vision that has put children and books together to create a better future, one child at a time and one book at a time.” -SherryYork