Established in 1969, The Coretta Scott King Award is awarded to an African American author and an African American illustrator who commemorates the life and teachings of Martin Luther King Jr., and celebrates Coretta Scott King’s continued work. Here are a few of my favorite Coretta Scott King award winning books.
Enjoy!
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Oh, Brother!
Written by Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by Mike BerryOh, Brother! is written by a Nikki Grimes, a Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator winner. In her latest book, Grimes explores a little boy’s emotions as he adjusts to his mother marrying a man with a son. Xavier knows that things are better now that his father and mother are no longer together, and he knows that his mother’s new marriage is a good thing. But Xavier is not happy with his “Mr. Perfect” stepbrother. Eventually, Xavier realizes that he and his new brother are not that different from each other after all.
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Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Written by Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Bryan Collier2002 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor
Many memorable quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. have survived through his published books and speeches. Ten of those quotes are highlighted in this book about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and several key events from the civil rights movement. With the mixed media illustrations this book is a lovely way to introduce Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Order Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from Bookshop Santa Cruz
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Elijah, of Buxton
Written by Christopher Paul Curtis
2008 Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner
Elijah, of Buxton is a fabulous book about the first child born in the town of Buxton, Ontario, Canada. What makes Elijah and his birth so special is that he was born in a town of freed slaves. Seeking a way to free his slaves Rev. William King took the 15 slaves he inherited to Canada and helped establish a community where his former slaves could build a meaningful and rich life. Eventually word got out about Buxton and it became a destination on the Underground Railroad. To this day, Buxton exist, as a community comprised of mostly of the descendents of freed slaves.
Just like in Bud, not Buddy, Curtis infuses humor, and mischief to lighten the bleak reality, in this case, of slavery. The end result is a great book that I look forward to re-reading.
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Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue
Written by Julius Lester
2006 Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner
In 1859, a large slave auction was held to sell Pierce Butler’s slaves. During the 2-day slave auction, over 400 slaves were sold. For the duration of the auction, a heavy torrential rain fell from the sky, and because of the rain, this moment in history was known as “the weeping time.” From this historical event, the author Julius Lester wove fact with fiction to tell a compelling story about the attitudes towards slavery and how this large slave auctions affected the slaves involved.
Another interesting thing about this book is its format. Though Lester did not intend Day of Tears to be a play, the format of the book makes it possible to read the book aloud in a group setting. The format also makes it easier for the readers to visualize the story as it unfolds, and makes the characters and events even more real and poignant. In addition to the narration, Lester included flashback memories from each key character in the book and interspersed them within the narrations. This gives the reader a more rounded picture of each character.
Order Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue from Bookshop Santa Cruz