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