The very first Coretta Scott King Award was given in 1970 to Lillie Patterson for her work, Martin Luther King, Jr.: Man of Peace. Lev Mills designed an Award Seal for display on the books in 1974. Bronze awards are given for winning books. Pewter awards are given for honor books, and through revisions over time a bronze and black seal has been adopted for winners and honored books.

Below is a listing of Coretta Scott King Award winners organized by year:

2009-author-Kadir Nelson-We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

2009-illustrator-Floyd Cooper-Blacker the Berry,The Blacker the Berry (2008 novel)

2008-author-Christopher Paul Curtis-Elijah of Buxton

2008-illustrator-Ashley Bryan-Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals

2007-author-Sharon Draper-Copper Sun

2007-illustrator-Kadir Nelson-Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

2006-author-Julius Lester -Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue

2006-illustrator-Bryan Collier-Rosa

2005-author-Toni Morrison-Remember: The Journey to School Integration

2005-illustrator-Kadir Nelson-Ellington Was Not a Street

2004-author-Angela Johnson-The First Part Last

2004-illustrator-Ashley Bryan-Beautiful Blackbird

2003-author-Nikki Grimes-Bronx Masquerade

2003-illustrator-E. B. Lewis-Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman

2002-author-Mildred Taylor-The Land

2002-illustrator-Jerry Pinkney-Goin' Someplace Special

2001-author-Jacqueline Woodson-Miracle's Boys

2001-illustrator-Bryan Collier-Uptown

2000-author-Christopher Paul Curtis-Bud, Not Buddy

2000-illustrator-Brian Pinkney-In the Time of the Drums

1999-author-Angela Johnson-Heaven

1999-illustrator-Michele Wood-i see the rhythm

1998-author-Sharon Draper-Forged By Fire
1998-illustrator-Javaka Steptoe-In Daddy's Arms I am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers

1997-author-Walter Dean Myers-Slam

1997-illustrator-Jerry Pinkney-Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman

1996-author-Virginia Hamilton-Her Stories: African American folktales, fairy tales, and true tales

1996-illustrator-Tom Feelings-The Middle Passage

1995-author-Patricia C. and Fred L. McKissack-Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters

1995-illustrator-James Ransome-The Creation

1994-author-Angela Johnson-Toning the Sweep

1994-illustrator-Tom Feelings-Soul Looks Back in Wonder

1993-author-Patricia C. McKissack-Dark Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural

1993-illustrator-Kathleen Atkins Wilson-Origin of Life on Earth: An African Creation Myth

1992-author-Walter Dean Myers-Now is Your Time: the African American Struggle for Freedom

1992-illustrator-Faith Ringgold-Tar Beach

1991-author-Mildred Taylor-The Road to Memphis (book)

1991-illustrator-Leo and Diane Dillon-Aida

1990-author-Patricia C. and Fred L. McKissack-Long Hard Journey: the Story of the Pullman Porter

1990-illustrator-Jan Spivey Gilchrist-Nathaniel Talking

1989-author-Walter Dean Myers-Fallen Angels

1989-illustrator-Jerry Pinkney-Mirandy and Brother Wind

1988-author-Mildred Taylor-The Friendship

1988-illustrator-John Steptoe -Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale

1987-author-Mildred Pitts Walter-Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World

1987-illustrator-Jerry Pinkney-Half a Moon and One Whole Star

1986-author-Virginia Hamilton-People Could Fly: American Black Folktales,The

1986-illustrator-Jerry Pinkney-The Patchwork Quilt

1985-author-Walter Dean Myers-Motown and Didi: a love story

1984-author-Lucille Clifton Everett-Anderson’s Good-bye

1984-illustrator-Pat Cummings-My Mama Needs Me

1983-author-Virginia Hamilton-Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush

1983-illustrator-Peter Magubane-Black Child

1982-author-Mildred Taylor-Let the Circle Be Unbroken

1982-illustrator-John Steptoe-Mother Crocodile: An Uncle Amadou Tale from Sengal

1981-author-Sidney Poitier-This Life

1981-illustrator-Ashley Bryan-Beat the Story Drum, Pum-Pum

1980-author-Walter Dean Myers-The Young Landlords

1980-illustrator-Carole Byard-Cornrows

1979-author-Ossie Davis-Escape to Freedom

1979-illustrator-Tom Feelings-Something on My Mind

1978-author-Eloise Greenfield-Africa Dream

1978-illustrator-Carole Bayard-Africa Dream

1977-author-James Haskins-The Story of Stevie Wonder

1976-author-Pearl Bailey-Duey's Tale

1975-author-Dorothy Robinson-The Legend of Africania

1974-author-Sharon Bell Mathis-Ray Charles

1974-illustrator-George Ford-Ray Charles (book)

1973-author-Alfred Duckett-I Never Had It Made: the Autobiography of Jackie Robinson, as told to Alfred Duckett

1972-author-Eton C. Fax-17 Black Artists

1971-author-Charlemae Rollins-Black Troubador: Langston Hughes

1970-author-Lillie Patterson-Martin Luther King, Jr.: Man of Peace