7 Best Coretta Scott King Award Winning Books

African-American authors are wildly under-represented in the children's literature industry, though they offer some of the most awe-inspiring stories and illustrations of our time.

Many African Americans feel that their young children are unable to identify with the main character of some of the most famous children's books that fill our libraries and bookstores.

Not unlike many other industries, African Americans have had to fight to get recognition for their contributions.

The Coretta Scott King Award aims to bridge the gap by honoring African-American authors. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Piecing Me Together - Renée Watson
2. Long Way Down - Jason Reynolds
3. The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas
4. Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut - Derrick Barnes, Illustrated by Gordon C. James
5. Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets - Kwame Alexander, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
6. Before She was Harriet - Lesa Cline-Ransome, Illustrated by James Ransome
7. The Stars Beneath Our Feet - David Barclay Moore