2020 Author Winner: New Kid by Jerry Craft
2020 Illustrator Award Winner: The Undefeated; illustrated by Kadir Nelson
2020 John Steptoe New Talent Author Award Winner: Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams
2020 John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award Winner: What is Given From the Heart; illustrated by April Harrison
The following books were 2023 CSK Book Award Winners
2023 Author Winner: Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
2023 Illustrator Winner: Standing in the Need of Prayer; illustrated by Frank Morrison
2023 John Steptoe New Talent Author Award Winner: We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds
2023 John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award Winner: Choosing Brave; illustrated by Janelle Washington
This week I will feature award winners and honors from the Coretta Scott Book Awards. This year’s winners and honors:
2025 Author Winner: Twenty-four Seconds From Now by Jason Reynolds
2025 Illustrator Award Winner: My Daddy is a Cowboy illustrated by C. G. Esperanza
2025 Author Honor Book: Black Girl You are Atlas by Renee Watson
2025 Illustrator Honor Book: Coretta, The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King illustrated by Ekua Holmes
These three books are from the 2025 Miself in Book list. You can view the list here.
Book 1 (Elementary): Black Star by Kwame Alexander
Book 2 (Middle Grade): One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Book 3 (Young Adult): Knucklehead Poems by Tony Keith, Jr.
The Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) will soon be publishing the 2025 Best of the Best Books (BOTB). In the meantime, check out these books from the 2024 BOTB list.
Elementary: A Voice of Hope The Myrlie Evers-Williams Story by Nadia Saloman; illustrated by London Ladd
Middle Grade: Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride
Young Adult Tanglefoot by Kalela Williams
Here is a sneak preview of the 2025 MISelf Booklist . MISelf Books is a list of books developed by Michigan school libraries. More titles will be revealed at a later date.
Book 1: Gamerville A Graphic Novel by Johnnie Christmas
Book 2: Boy 2.0 by Tracey Baptiste
Since 2020, BCALA has published a list of Best of the Best (BOTB) Books for PreK-Grade 12. These books are selected based on criteria, that represents the black experience with authenticity. The 2025 BOTB will be published early next year. In the meantime, I will post a medley of books from the 2024 BOTB list.
Book 1: Bridges Instead of Walls The Story of Mavis Staples by Mavis Staples and Carole Boston Weatherford ; illustrated by Steffi Walthall
Book 2: Moko Magic Carnival Chaos by Tracey Baptiste
Book 3: Love Requires Chocolate by Rayvnn K. Stringfield
Today’s posts will feature books from the 2024 MiSelf in Books PK-Grade 12 booklist. These are diverse, are exemplary in literary merit and authentic representation.
Book 1: Bros by Carole Boston Weatherford; illustrated by Reggie Brown. (Grades PreK-1)
Book 2: The Last Stand by Atwan Eady; illustrated by Jarrett & Jerome Pumphrey (Grades 2-3)
Book 3: Duel by Jessixa Bagley; illustrated by Aaron Bagley (Grades 3-7)
Book 4: The Order of Things by Kaija Langley (Grades 6-8)
Book 5: Forever is Now by Mariama J. Lockington (Grades 9-12)
These two books feature strong male tween characters.
Book 1: Will’s Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Book 2: The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes
This middle grade book about a middle grade student who was grieving over the loss of his best friend, was long listed for the National Book Awards. A noteworthy read!
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