The Carter G. Woodson Book Award is an American literary award started in 1973 by the Racism and Social Justice Committee of the National Council for the Social Studies. Its goal is to help children and young adults learn about different cultures.

The award was first given in 1974 and is named after Carter G. Woodson, an American historian, writer, and journalist. Today, the award has three levels: elementary, middle, and secondary. The middle level was added in 2001, while the other two levels began in 1989.

The award also recognizes books that have "outstanding merit," which was the name used from 1980 to 1996 for these books. In 1999, a seal with a picture of Woodson was introduced. Gold seals are placed on winning books, and silver seals are placed on books that receive special recognition.

As of 2024, Brent Ashabranner is the only author whose books have won the award three times. He is also the only person to have two winning books in the same year. Don Tate had a book win the Woodson Award in 2016, and he also illustrated another book that won the same year.