Coretta Scott King Awards 2004
The American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting in San Diego announced the winners of the Coretta Scott King Award in January. The Coretta Scott King Award is presented annually by the Coretta Scott King Task Force of the American Library Association's Social Responsibilities Round Table. Recipients are authors and illustrators of African descent whose distinguished books promote an understanding and appreciation of the "American Dream."
The Award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and honors his widow, Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination in continuing the work for peace and world brotherhood. Winners of the Coretta Scott King Award receive a framed citation, an honorarium, and a set of Encyclopaedia Britannica or World Book Encyclopedias. Both the winning and honored books are reviewed below.
Author Award Winner
The First Part Last
Angela Johnson
This tender story of a teenage father in New York City resonates with the realities of issues facing young people today. Bobby Morris, a sixteen-year-old senior, is trying to cope with taking care of his infant daughter while finishing his high school education. With literary artistry, the author--a two time Coretta Scott King Award winner--weaves a story that alternates skillfully between present and past. Chapter by chapter, the reader learns more and more about Bobby, the reasons he has ended up with the child, and the tragic whereabouts of the baby's mother. The language is teen-friendly--filled with images of the city--and sparse enough to make it a fast read for busy middle and high school students. A spin-off story from Johnson's novel, Heaven, it will be appreciated by that cadre of readers. Good messages for adolescents dealing with the pressures of teenage relationships, and eye-opening truisms about having and caring for babies. 2003, Simon & Schuster, $15.95, Ages 12 to 18. Reviewer: Jane Harrington (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
Best Books for Young Adults, 2004 Top Ten; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
Capital Choices, 2003; The Capital Choices Committee; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2004; Children's Literature; United States
Choices, 2004; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2003; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, June 16, 2003; Cahners; United States
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2004; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, June 2003; Cahners; United States
Top 10 Black History Titles for Youth, 2004; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Winner 2004 Author United States
Michael L. Printz Award Winner 2004 United States
Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Honor Book 2003 Language Arts Grades 7-12 Novels United States
ISBN: 0-689-84922-2
Honor Books
Days of Jubilee: The End of Slavery in The United States
Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick L. McKissack
Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, authors of multiple Coretta Scott King Honor books, have outdone themselves again. Their distinguished collection of non-fiction books include "Rebels Against Slavery: American Slave Revolts," "Soujourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman?" and "Black Hands, White Sails: The Story of African-American Whalers." For "Days of Jubilee: The End of Slavery in the United States," the husband and wife team tackle the most pivotal moment in the history of African-Americans: January 1, 1863 when the Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect, banning slavery in the United States. On that historic day, all salves were declared forever free in the eyes of the executive government, the military and naval authorities, and the public on both sides of the Mason-Dixon. The book gives a thoroughly engaging and meticulously researched account of these liberated slaves and the triumphant days following one of the most crucial turning points in American history. Children ages 8 through 13 will find the book an honest and accurate history well worth reading. Numerous black-and-white photographs, slave narratives, letters and journal entries make this authoritative collection of stories and facts a reliable tool for classroom study and research. 2003, Scholastic Press, 134 pages, $18.95. Reviewer: Vicki Arkoff (Midwest Book Review, "Vicki's Bookshelf" column, June 2003)
Best Books:
Choices, 2004; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Honor Book 2004 Author United States
ISBN: 0-590-10764-X
Locomotion
Jacqueline Woodson
Lonnie has a lot to deal with in his life. He is living with his foster mother, Ms. Edna and her sons. He hates being separated from his sister and still mourns the deaths of his parents in a house fire. He is picked on because he is the "new boy" in school until the ringleader of the class is hospitalized with sickle cell anemia and another boy joins the class. Mrs. Marcus, Lonnie's teacher, shows Lonnie how to make sense of his jumbled feelings through poetry. Locomotion is the result. Lonnie writes about everything he is dealing with in a series of poems as a way to deal with all his issues. Lonnie tells us that Eric is changed when he rejoins the class after his stay in the hospital. His sister, Lili, is going to be adopted by her foster parents but they get to spend some time together at summer camp. Lonnie also learns that church can help him deal with his life. Fans of Jacqueline Woodson's novels should enjoy this collection of poems portraying the pain and joy of a young African American boy struggling to grow up in an urban environment. 2003, G. P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Putnam Books, $15.99 and $24.00, Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Terri L. Lent (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
Best Books for Young Adults, 2004; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
he Children's Literature Choice List, 2004; Children's Literature; United States
Choices, 2004; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2004; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, November 25, 2002; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books, 2003; Cahners; United States
Top 10 Black History Titles for Youth, 2004; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Boston Globe--Horn Book Awards Honor Book 2003 Fiction and Poetry United States
Coretta Scott King Awards Honor Book 2004 Author United States
National Book Awards Finalist 2003 Young People's Literature United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Vermont
ISBN: 0-399-23115-3
The Battle of Jericho
Sharon M. Draper
Jericho has it made--he gets a car for Christmas from his Dad and step-mother, has a pretty and intelligent girl friend, and has been asked to pledge for the Warriors of Distinction, a high school private club. This club has a long history of good deeds and public work in the community, and many prominent people Jericho knows were once members during high school. But the pledging process strikes Jericho as demeaning and weird. Dana, the only girl in the group, seems to be getting more than her share of the abuse, and he starts wondering about this seemingly wonderful club. When he has to decide between a concert recital that could earn him a scholarship to Julliard, or whether to take part in the pledging rituals, Jericho chooses the rituals. The last night of pledging leads to a horrible consequence, and he realizes that he made a big mistake. The book outlines why hazing rituals are outlawed in many places in North America. It also shows how the participants can be caught up in the process, and do not realize how wrong it is until something goes very badly. Jericho is a typical African-American teenager and the side story of his life with a new stepmother and his dealings with girls add more poignancy to the story. This is a touching and scary novel that is excellently written. 2003, Simon and Schuster Publishing, $16.95, Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Jennifer-Lynn Draper (Children's Literature)
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Honor Book 2004 Author United States
Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Best Book 2003 Language Arts Grades 7-12 Novels United States
ISBN: 0-689-84232-5
Illustrator Award Winner
Beautiful Blackbird
Ashley Bryan
Utilizing simple, colorful, cut-paper collages, this book is an adaptation of an African folk tale from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia. Blackbird is admired by the other birds of the forest because his feathers gleam with all the colors of the sun, and all the other birds are just one color each. Blackbird offers to mix up a special blackening brew and share it with the other birds, even though he also tells them that "Color on the outside is not what's on the inside." He gives the other birds black highlights, and the book concludes with the words, "Black is beautiful, UH-HUH!" Very simple, rhythmic text accompanies equally simple illustrations. The book does not include any source material for the folk tale. Because of its uncomplicated presentation, this book would be useful in making an African folk tale accessible to a very young audience, and the colorful illustrations and cheerful theme would please most young children. 2003, Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster, $16.95, Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Leslie Rounds (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capital Choices, 2003; The Capital Choices Committee; United States
Choices, 2004; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Winner 2004 Illustrator United States
ISBN: 0-689-84731-9
Honor Books
Almost to Freedom
Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Illustrations by Colin Bootman
"No more'n a bunch of rags on a Virginia plantation," Sally the rag doll tells her story in the vernacular. She is the much-loved companion of Lindy, who picks cotton with her mother listening to the tales of "somethin' called Freedom." One night they escape through the Underground Railroad. It is a harrowing trip, but they are helped all along the way. Climbing out of a hiding place, Lindy accidentally leaves Sally behind. Her sad loneliness is ended when another young fugitive takes her in her arms for comfort on her way to freedom. Paintings, full and double page, emphasize the melodramatic emotions. Set primarily at night, Bootman's narrative scenes emerge out of the enveloping dark, faces illuminated by moonlight or other non-specific source. In this naturalistic scenario with strong emotional content, the human relationships are depicted with particular attention to family. The Author's Note adds information on the Underground Railroad and the doll she saw in a museum that inspired the story. A useful glossary of historic words is included. 2003, Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing Group, $15.95, Ages 6 to 9. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Honor Book 2004 Illustrator United States
ISBN: 1-5750-5342-X
Thunder Rose
Jerdine Nolen
Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
An uplifting tale for Black History Month is Thunder Rose by Maryland author Jerdine Nolen. Born the night of a fearsome storm, baby Rose amazes her parents with powerful snores that rival the "booming thunder." No shrinking violet, the newborn soon grows into a youngun' capable of putting up fences, subduing stampedes and inventing barbed wire. Why, Rose even tames a tornado and brings a soothing rain to her parched homeland. In her author's note, Nolen mentions her desire to write a black folktale that extols the "bold, brave, and adventurous spirits" that settled the Old West following the Civil War and freedom from slavery. With watercolors and pencil, Kadir Nelson captures this same can-do spirit in Rose as she strides the plains with her thunderous song. 2003, Harcourt, $16.00, Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature)
This original tale of a larger-than-life cowgirl heroine was constructed by the author to create a black folk tale of the Old West not "out of sorrow" as some from the past, but "out of love and joy." Born on a night of thunder and lightning, Thunder Rose soon shows that she can perform amazing feats of strength, bending metal to make her own thunderbolt, herding cattle, taming a gang of desperadoes. When drought threatens and she is challenged by a storm, she uses her power of song to "touch the heart of the clouds." Told with humor and a Western twang, Thunder Rose's story puts her up with Paul Bunyan and other legendary heroes. Nelson depicts her as a sassy, energetic youngster in oil, watercolor and pencil naturalistic illustrations, often seen from ground level to add stature to her adventures. Both people and cows are treated with respect; the "special effects" of the twister add real excitement. Perhaps we can expect further adventures in the future from this newly created folk heroine with genuine eye appeal. 2003, Silver Whistle/Harcourt, $16.00, Ages 5 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Honor Book 2004 Illustrator United States
ISBN: 0-15-216472-3
Coretta Scott King Award - 2003
Coretta Scott King Award - 2002
Coretta Scott King Award - 2001
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