Coretta Scott King Award Winners

Designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards annually recognize outstanding books for young adults and children by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience.  Further, the Award encourages the artistic expression of the black experience via literature and the graphic arts in biographical, social, and historical treatments by African American authors and illustrators.

2013 Honor

Nelson, K. (2012). I have a dream: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. New York, NY: Schwartz & Wade Books.

Beautifully illustrated, Nelson uses excerpt from the speech delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on August 28, 1963.  The speech is in its entirety at the back of the book.  The detailed paintings show scenes of the crowd gathered at the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King, and illustrated scenes the speech invokes.

Follow-up:  Read these books with similar themes of African American, Civil Rights Movement, and/or  Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bolden, T., & Pitcairn, A. (2003). Portraits of African-American heroes. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

King, C., Osborne, L. B., & Brooks, J. (1997). Oh, freedom!: kids talk about the Civil Rights Movement with the people who made it happen. New York: A.A. Knopf.

Norwich, G., & Fredrickson, M. (2012). I am Martin Luther King, Jr.. New York: Scholastic.

Robinet, H. (2000). Walking to the bus-rider blues. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Another follow-up:  Since the book includes a CD of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s original speech, students could create a speech trailer using Animoto.  They could find photographs online to illustrate selected excerpts from the speech.

2011 Honor

Neri, G. (2010). Yummy: The last days of a Southside Shorty. New York: NY. Lee & Low Books Inc.

Trouble always seems to find Yummy, who is just a Shorty, a little guy.  He belongs to a gang called the Black Disciples.  Wanting to prove himself to the higher ups in his gang, Yummy shoots an innocent young girl while trying to shoot some so-called rivals.  For a while his gang helps him hide from the police, but eventually they become tired of the police attention. The story in this graphic novel, told by a fictitious narrator, is based on the true story of Robert “Yummy” Sandifer, an eleven-year-old African American gang member from Chicago who shot a young girl and was then shot by his own gang members.

Follow-up:  View this very cool book trailer done as a rap.  http://vimeo.com/13876464

Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty from Greg Neri on Vimeo.