The Coretta Scott King Awards Discussion Guide

This essential resource transforms Coretta Scott King Award-winning literature into powerful tools for civic education and social awareness, providing educators and book club leaders with structured frameworks for meaningful dialogue. Phelps masterfully dissects each honored book's narrative elements—from character motivations to thematic undercurrents—to reveal how these stories reflect and inform democratic values. The guide doesn't merely summarize plots but illuminates the connective tissue between fictional narratives and real-world citizenship, making literary analysis immediately relevant to contemporary social issues. Each chapter serves as both literary criticism and civic lesson plan, bridging the gap between classroom reading and community engagement.

What distinguishes this discussion guide is its methodical approach to extracting universal democratic principles from culturally specific stories, creating accessible entry points for readers across different backgrounds. Phelps demonstrates how these award-winning works naturally embody concepts like justice, equality, and collective responsibility without reducing complex literature to simple moral lessons. The practical discussion strategies empower facilitators to navigate sensitive topics while fostering critical thinking about what it means to participate in a diverse society. This becomes more than just a teaching aid—it's a roadmap for using literature to build more thoughtful, engaged citizens.