Coretta Scott King Award

Curtis, C. (1995). The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963. New York. Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers.

Kenny, Byron, and Joetta Watson are your average brothers and sister. They love their family and usually do what they are told without too many arguments. That’s until Byron decides to push the limits with his parents. He would light matches in the bathroom while “making a movie”. After repeatedly being told not to, momma was at her wits end and tried to burn his fingers so that he would know what it felt like and he wouldn’t do it again. Byron also took a perm to his hair and straightened it out. Once his father came in and shaved him bald, it was decided that he would go and live with their grandmother for a while until things were back under control. Coming from Flint Michigan across country to Birmingham Alabama was quite an adventure including being part of the Civil Rights Movement.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Interest Level: 5-8
Reading Level: 5.0
Awards: Newbery Medal-Honor Book 1996, ALA Notable Books 1996, Coretta Scott King Award-Honor Book 1996.


Weatherford, C. (2008). Before John was a jazz giant: a song of John Coltrane. (S. Qualls, Illus.). New York. Henry Holt.

This biography of John Coltrane tells of the sounds he heard as a child growing up. He heard simple sounds like “hambones knocking in Grandma’s pots” to “momma cranking the phonograph” which he turned into music later on in life. Although several members of his family passed away and money became tight, he was able to pour his life into his music. John started out playing the clarinet and then switched to the alto saxophone. The pictures in this story are deep blues, reds, and yellows which show the sounds that John experienced.
Genre: Biography
Interest Level: K-3
Reading Level: 3.8
Awards: Coretta Scott King Award- Honor Book 2009; ALA Notable Book 2009; Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2009