Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man (1997)
- Boston Globe / Horn Book Honor Book
- National Parenting Publications Gold Award
- Marion Vannett Ridgway Memorial Award Honor Book
- New York Public Library 100 Title for Reading and Sharing
- Vermont Red Clover Reading List
- Texas Bluebonnet Reading List
- Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Books of the Year
- New Jersey Garden State Children’s Book Award / Non-Fiction Winner
- IRA Teacher’s Choice
- ALA Notable Book
- New York Times 1997 Top Ten Books for Children
- Paterson Prize Book for Young People
- Finalist 1997 SCBWI Golden Kite Award
- The Society of Illustrators Original Art Show
Tambourine Moon (1999)
- ABA Pick of the List
- The Society of Illustrators Original Art Show
- “This Land is Our Land” Traveling Exhibit
The Babe and I (1999)
- The Society of Illustrators Original Art Show
- Miami Herald Best Children’s Books
- ABA Pick of the List
- California Young Reader Gold Medal
- SCBWI Golden Kite Honor Book
- Jefferson Cup Honor Book
- Working Mother Magazine Best Book
- Smithsonian Magazine Notable Book for Children
- NCSS / CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
- The Bluegrass Award Favorite Book 2000-2001
Peg and the Whale (2000)
- ALA Booklist Editors Choice
- Canadian Children’s Book Centre “Our Choice” Selection
Shoe Magic (2000)
- Nest Library Classics Fall 2000 Selection
- Bank Street College Best Book of the Year
America’s Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle (2000)
- School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
- Child Magazine Best Book of the Year
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year
- ABA Pick of the List
- Booklist Editors Choice
- Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book
- ALA Notable Children’s Book
- NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book
- Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award
- Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
Christmas Cobwebs (2001)
- Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award
- Junior Library Guild List
The Twins and the Bird of Darkness (2002)
- NCSS /CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
Girl Wonder (2003)
- Jane Addams Honor Book
- Parents Choice Gold Award
- Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr. Family Magazine Best Book of the Year Award
- Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award
Nonna’s Porch (2004)
- Georgia Book Award Picture Book List
Roy Makes a Car (2005)
- The Society of Illustrators Original Art Show
- Aesop Award Prize
- New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
- Parents Choice Award
Joe Louis : America’s Fighter (2005)
- NCSS / CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
- New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
- Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
- Storytelling World Honor Award
- The Society of Illustrators Original Art Show
Satchel Paige – Don’t Look Back (2007)
- Junior Library Guild Premier Selection Award
- Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
Steel Town (2007)
- The Society of Illustrators Original Art Show
- NCSS / CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
The House of Joyful Living (2008)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
You Never Heard of Willie Mays?! (2013)
- Booklist Top 10 Black History Books for Youth 2013
- New York Times Editors Choice
- Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book Award 2013
- Booklist Top 10 Biographies for Youth 2013
- Junior Library Guild Selection
- Kirkus Starred Review
- Booklist Starred Review
- Publishers Weekly Starred Review
- The Bulletin Starred Review
- 2014 CCBC Choices Book
The Kite that Bridged Two Nations (2013)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year, age 9-12 (2014)
- 2014 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award (CA/HI)
- 2014 California Reading Association Eureka! Honor Award
- 2014 New York State Summer Reading List
- 2016-2017 California Young Reader Medal Nominnee
- The New York State 2016 Reading List
- Art featured at Niagara, New York Amtrak Station
The Streak (2014)
- 2015 Kansas NEA Reading Circle Catalogue Title
- NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Non-Fiction for Children Recommended Book
- Featured review in USA Today
- Publishers Weekly Starred Review
- 2015 New Books for Missouri Students
- The Missouri State Teachers Association’s MSTA Reading Circle list – 2015
- Chicago Tribune Summer Reading List 2018
- The New York State 2016 Summer Reading List
- Children’s Book Council featured showcase “Book Power!”
My Name is James Madison Hemings (2016)
- New York Times Notable Children’s Book of 2016
- The Bulletin Starred Review
- Junior Library Guild Selection
- 2017 Bank Street College of Education and Children’s Book Committee Best Book of the Year
- NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2017
- 2017 Oklahoma Book Award Illustration Award – Gold Medal