The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.
Copper Sun
Author: Draper, Sharon
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2006
Plot summary: When pale strangers enter fifteen-year-old Amari's village, her entire tribe
welcomes them; for in her remote part of Africa, visitors are always a cause for
celebration. But these strangers are not here to celebrate. They are here to
capture the strongest, healthiest villagers and to murder the rest. They are
slave traders. And in the time it takes a gun to fire, Amari's life as she's
known it is destroyed, along with her family and village. This is the account of Amari's life and transition to freedom from her bondage.
Recommended audience: Grade 7 and above
Illustrations: N/A
Activities: One activity that students could do is to map out the story and figure out where Amari was at certain points in the book and try and relate to her through writing or creating a piece of art work.
A second activity that could be done with this story is to have the students work on their prediction skills by reading the first part of a chapter and then predicting before they finish the chapter and continue to do this throughout the book.
Book Review can be viewed here: http://www.amazon.com/Copper-Sun-Sharon-M-Draper/product-reviews/1416953485/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Author's website: http://www.amazon.com/Sharon-M.-Draper/e/B001IGNR7I/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2006
Plot summary: When pale strangers enter fifteen-year-old Amari's village, her entire tribe
welcomes them; for in her remote part of Africa, visitors are always a cause for
celebration. But these strangers are not here to celebrate. They are here to
capture the strongest, healthiest villagers and to murder the rest. They are
slave traders. And in the time it takes a gun to fire, Amari's life as she's
known it is destroyed, along with her family and village. This is the account of Amari's life and transition to freedom from her bondage.
Recommended audience: Grade 7 and above
Illustrations: N/A
Activities: One activity that students could do is to map out the story and figure out where Amari was at certain points in the book and try and relate to her through writing or creating a piece of art work.
A second activity that could be done with this story is to have the students work on their prediction skills by reading the first part of a chapter and then predicting before they finish the chapter and continue to do this throughout the book.
Book Review can be viewed here: http://www.amazon.com/Copper-Sun-Sharon-M-Draper/product-reviews/1416953485/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Author's website: http://www.amazon.com/Sharon-M.-Draper/e/B001IGNR7I/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Heart and Soul
Author: Nelson, Kadir
Illustrator: Nelson, Kadir
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2011
Plot summary: The story of America and African Americans is a story of hope and inspiration and unwavering courage. But it is also the story of injustice; of a country divided by law, education, and wealth; of a people whose struggles and
achievements helped define their country. This is the story of the men, women, and children who toiled in the hot sun picking cotton for their masters; it’s about the America ripped in two by Jim Crow laws; it’s about the brothers and sisters of all colors who rallied against those who would dare bar a child from an education. It’s a story of discrimination and broken promises, determination and triumphs.
Recommended audience: Grade 1 and above
Illustrations: Watercolor
Activities: One activity that students could do in the younger ages is to create a scene from the book and then share the scene with their peers and the teacher could talk about how a story can have a meaning to one person and a different meaning to another person.
Another activity that could be done would be to have the students write or tell about a time that an injustice happened to them and how that made them feel. This will get students thinking about injustices and how they happen in the world.
Book Review can be viewed here: http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Soul-America-African-Americans/product-reviews/0061730742/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Author's website: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/kadir-nelson
Illustrator: Nelson, Kadir
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2011
Plot summary: The story of America and African Americans is a story of hope and inspiration and unwavering courage. But it is also the story of injustice; of a country divided by law, education, and wealth; of a people whose struggles and
achievements helped define their country. This is the story of the men, women, and children who toiled in the hot sun picking cotton for their masters; it’s about the America ripped in two by Jim Crow laws; it’s about the brothers and sisters of all colors who rallied against those who would dare bar a child from an education. It’s a story of discrimination and broken promises, determination and triumphs.
Recommended audience: Grade 1 and above
Illustrations: Watercolor
Activities: One activity that students could do in the younger ages is to create a scene from the book and then share the scene with their peers and the teacher could talk about how a story can have a meaning to one person and a different meaning to another person.
Another activity that could be done would be to have the students write or tell about a time that an injustice happened to them and how that made them feel. This will get students thinking about injustices and how they happen in the world.
Book Review can be viewed here: http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Soul-America-African-Americans/product-reviews/0061730742/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Author's website: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/kadir-nelson
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball
Author: Nelson, Kadir
Illustrator: Nelson, Kadir
Publisher: Hyperion Book, 2008
Plot summary: The story of Negro League baseball is the story of gifted athletes and determined owners; of racial discrimination and international sportsmanship; of fortunes won and lost; of triumphs and defeats on and off the field. It is a perfect mirror for the social and political history of black America in the first half of the twentieth century. But most of all, the story of the Negro Leagues is about hundreds of unsung heroes who overcame segregation, hatred, terrible conditions, and low pay to do the one thing they loved more than anything else in the world: play ball.
Recommended audience: Grade 2 and above
Illustrations: Watercolor
Activities: One activity that students could do is to research the start of Baseball and write about the start using this book as a guide in their research. Depending on the grade they may be able to use the computer and find resources other than the book to expand their research.
Another activity that could be done would be to have the students compare and contrast the start of the Negro League Baseball and the White League Baseball teams. The students could use double bubble thinking maps or Venn diagrams to show the similarities and differences.
Book Review can be viewed here: http://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Ship-League-Baseball/product-reviews/0786808322/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Author's website: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/kadir-nelson
Illustrator: Nelson, Kadir
Publisher: Hyperion Book, 2008
Plot summary: The story of Negro League baseball is the story of gifted athletes and determined owners; of racial discrimination and international sportsmanship; of fortunes won and lost; of triumphs and defeats on and off the field. It is a perfect mirror for the social and political history of black America in the first half of the twentieth century. But most of all, the story of the Negro Leagues is about hundreds of unsung heroes who overcame segregation, hatred, terrible conditions, and low pay to do the one thing they loved more than anything else in the world: play ball.
Recommended audience: Grade 2 and above
Illustrations: Watercolor
Activities: One activity that students could do is to research the start of Baseball and write about the start using this book as a guide in their research. Depending on the grade they may be able to use the computer and find resources other than the book to expand their research.
Another activity that could be done would be to have the students compare and contrast the start of the Negro League Baseball and the White League Baseball teams. The students could use double bubble thinking maps or Venn diagrams to show the similarities and differences.
Book Review can be viewed here: http://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Ship-League-Baseball/product-reviews/0786808322/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Author's website: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/kadir-nelson
Bad News for Outlaws
Author: Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux
Illustrator: Christie, Gregory R.
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books, 2009
Plot summary: This book tells the life story of Bass Reeves, a former slave who was a Deputy U.S. Marshal for over three decades in what later became the state of Oklahoma. Bass, who never learned how to read, was a highly respected lawman who made more than 3,000 arrests during his career. Through a high-energy storyline, Bass Reeves’ actions come to life and readers learn how he broke barriers, consistently stood up for justice, and is an example of the often overlooked presence of African Americans of the Old West.
Recommended audience: Grade 3 and above
Illustrations: Full color illustrations depicting what is happening in the story.
Activities: One activity would be where the students could act out different parts of the story focusing on the main events from the story. This would be a great way for students and their peers to participate in the creation of this story and how the plot unfolds.
A second activity would be to create a timeline of the main character's life throughout the story.
Book Review can be viewed here: http://www.amazon.com/Bad-News-Outlaws-Exceptional-Intermediate/product-reviews/0822567644/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Author's website: http://thebrownbookshelf.com/2009/02/16/vaunda-micheaux-nelson/
Illustrator: Christie, Gregory R.
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books, 2009
Plot summary: This book tells the life story of Bass Reeves, a former slave who was a Deputy U.S. Marshal for over three decades in what later became the state of Oklahoma. Bass, who never learned how to read, was a highly respected lawman who made more than 3,000 arrests during his career. Through a high-energy storyline, Bass Reeves’ actions come to life and readers learn how he broke barriers, consistently stood up for justice, and is an example of the often overlooked presence of African Americans of the Old West.
Recommended audience: Grade 3 and above
Illustrations: Full color illustrations depicting what is happening in the story.
Activities: One activity would be where the students could act out different parts of the story focusing on the main events from the story. This would be a great way for students and their peers to participate in the creation of this story and how the plot unfolds.
A second activity would be to create a timeline of the main character's life throughout the story.
Book Review can be viewed here: http://www.amazon.com/Bad-News-Outlaws-Exceptional-Intermediate/product-reviews/0822567644/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Author's website: http://thebrownbookshelf.com/2009/02/16/vaunda-micheaux-nelson/
One Crazy Summer
Author: Williams-Garcia, Rita
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher, 2010
Plot summary: Delphine and her sisters are put on a plane from Brooklyn to Oakland, where they are to stay with their estranged mother, Cecile, for a month. Their dreams of a warm reception are quickly shattered when Cecile says, "I didn't send for you. Didn't want you in the first place. Should have gone to Mexico to get rid of you when I had the chance." It's 1968 when society is changing and men in berets carrying guns are shouting about black power. But it's also a personal time when the girls desperately want to know who their mother is and why she abandoned them. For meals, Cecile sends the girls for Chinese food, and to keep them out of her way, she sends them to the local Black Panther day camp. Over the course of the next four weeks, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern spend time learning about revolution even though what they want is a home-cooked meal and a real mother. Slowly, they become part of a larger community and the mysterious story of their mom's flight is untangled.
Recommended audience: Grade 3 and above
Illustrations: N/A
Activities: One activity that students could do to go along with this book is to write about their summer and what adventures they may have gone on throughout the summer. This would be a good Chance for you to get to know your students and to understand why the act as they do.
Another activity is to have students go through the book and pick out words that they feel are important to know and understand and let them as a class create a word wall. Have each student contribute 1 - 3 words each and then by the end of the book have them tell you what each word means and have them use it in context.
Book Review can be viewed here: http://www.amazon.com/One-Crazy-Summer-Rita-Williams-Garcia/product-reviews/0060760907/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Author's website: http://www.ritawg.com/
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher, 2010
Plot summary: Delphine and her sisters are put on a plane from Brooklyn to Oakland, where they are to stay with their estranged mother, Cecile, for a month. Their dreams of a warm reception are quickly shattered when Cecile says, "I didn't send for you. Didn't want you in the first place. Should have gone to Mexico to get rid of you when I had the chance." It's 1968 when society is changing and men in berets carrying guns are shouting about black power. But it's also a personal time when the girls desperately want to know who their mother is and why she abandoned them. For meals, Cecile sends the girls for Chinese food, and to keep them out of her way, she sends them to the local Black Panther day camp. Over the course of the next four weeks, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern spend time learning about revolution even though what they want is a home-cooked meal and a real mother. Slowly, they become part of a larger community and the mysterious story of their mom's flight is untangled.
Recommended audience: Grade 3 and above
Illustrations: N/A
Activities: One activity that students could do to go along with this book is to write about their summer and what adventures they may have gone on throughout the summer. This would be a good Chance for you to get to know your students and to understand why the act as they do.
Another activity is to have students go through the book and pick out words that they feel are important to know and understand and let them as a class create a word wall. Have each student contribute 1 - 3 words each and then by the end of the book have them tell you what each word means and have them use it in context.
Book Review can be viewed here: http://www.amazon.com/One-Crazy-Summer-Rita-Williams-Garcia/product-reviews/0060760907/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Author's website: http://www.ritawg.com/