In Coretta Scott King's name: something for every young reader.

THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION (ALA) announced the winners of its Coretta Scott King Awards for African American authors and illustrators of children's books at its Midwinter Meeting in San Antonio, just days before Mrs. King's death on January 30.

The Coretta Scott King Committee of the ALA's Ethnic Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table presents the award annually to an African American author and an African American illustrator for an "outstandingly inspirational and educational contribution."

According to ALA, the award is for books that "promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream." It commemorates the work of Mrs. King and her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to achieve "peace and world brotherhood" through the Civil Rights Movement. Since the award began in 1969, more than 175 titles have been honored.

After Mrs. King's death, Fran Ware, chair of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee, said: "For thirty-six years, she was an inspiration and positive influence on our committee. Her dedication to the dream of her beloved husband, Martin, and the rights of suppressed people everywhere served as a model for our committee ... Today is both our 'Day of Tears,' as we hang our heads low in sorrow, and our 'Day of Jubilee" as we celebrate the legacy of our beloved Mrs. King. May she rest in peace"

The awards announced January 23 for books published in 2005 were: Coretta Scott King (author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:

Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue, written by Julius Lester. Jump at the Sun, an imprint of Hyperion Books for Children, is the publisher.

Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books selected were Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl by Tonya Bolden (Harry N. Abrams, Inc.); Dark Sons by Nikki Grimes (Jump at the Sun); and A Wreath for Emmett Till written by Marilyn Nelson, illustrated by Philippe Lardy (Houghton Mifflin Company).

Coretta Scott King (illustrator) Book Award: Rosa (shown above) illustrated by Bryan Collier. The book was written by Nikki Giovanni and published by Henry Holt and Company.

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book: Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by R. Gregory Christie (Lee & Low Books).

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award: Jimi & Me written by Jaime Adoff (Jump at the Sun).

In addition, the ALA's Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults went to Jacqueline Woodson. She is the author of I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This (Putnam Juvenile, June 2006), If You Come Softly and Miracle's Boys (both Putnam Juvenile, 2000) among other books.

African Americans were also among winners of the Caldecott, King, Newbery and Printz Awards announced by ALA at the same time.

Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Hudson Talbott and published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, won a John Newbery Honor Book citation (most outstanding contribution to children's literature).

Rosa was also selected as a Caldecott Honor Book (most distinguished American picture book for children); and A Wreath for Emmett Till was honored as one of the Printz Honor Books (excellence in literature written for young adults).

Among winners of the Alex Awards (for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences) were Upstate, written by Kalisha Buckhanon (St Martin's Press); Anansi Boys, written by Neil Gaiman (William Morrow & Company); and My Jim, written by Nancy Rawles (Crown).

For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit the ALA Web site at www.ala.org.