For the Body of Work

The Washington Post/Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award, 2000
The Mazza Medallion of Excellence for Artistic Diversity, The Mazza Museum, 2008

The Cup and the Crown

2013 Children’s Book Committee/Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year

The Silver Bowl

Booklist, Editors’ Choice
Kirkus, Best of Children’s Books, a Best Book of the Year
Booklist, Top Ten SF/Fantasy for Youth
Book Links, Lasting Connections of 2011
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices 2012
2012 – 2013 Maine Book Award nominee
New Hampshire’s 2012-2013 Great Stone Face Book Award nominee
Tennessee’s Volunteer State Award nominee
Kansas’ William Allen White Book Award nominee
2014 Nevada Young Readers’ Award nominee
Vermont’s Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award nominee
Starred Review, School Library Journal
Starred Review, Kirkus
Starred Review, Booklist

Saving Sky

The New England Children’s Booksellers Advisory Council, Top Ten Books for Fall
Bank Street College of Education, Best Books of the Year
2011 Arab American Book Award
Oklahoma’s Sequoyah Book Award nominee
New Mexico Battle of the Books selection
South Carolina Book Award nominee
New Hampshire’s Great Stone Face Award nominee
Toledo Blade Holiday Roundup
Starred Review, Booklist

Bella at Midnight

School Library Journal, Best Books of 2006
Booklist, Editors’ Choice 2006
Book Links, Lasting Connections of 2006
Book Links, Best New Books for the Classroom
Book Sense 2006 Summer Children’s Picks List
Anderson’s Bookshop Mock Newbery List, 2006
New York Public Library, Books for the Teen Age for 2007
Nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award
Nominee for the Georgia Book Award
Nominee for the Rhode Island Children’s Book Award
Starred Review, Booklist
Starred Review, School Library Journal
Starred Review, Kirkus

The Giant and the Beanstalk

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Medal Book Award
International Reading Association, Teachers’ Choice
Parent’s Choice Silver Honor Award
Texas Institute of Letters Award for Best Children’s Book
Starred Review, Publisher’s Weekly

Goldie and the Three Bears

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Medal Book Award
Book Sense, Children’s 76 Winter List
Miami Herald, Best Books of the Year
Parents’ Choice, Recommended Book
Nominee, Arkansas Armadillo Readers Choice Award
Starred Review, School Library Journal

Saladin: Noble Prince of Islam

American Library Association Notable Book
International Reading Association, Notable Books for a Global Society
Publishers Weekly, Best Children’s Books
Booklist, Best Books
Book Links, Best Books of the Year
Parents’ Choice, Recommended Award
Capitol Choices:  Noteworthy Books for Children
Nominee for the Maine Student Book Award
Starred Review, Booklist
Starred Review, Publisher’s Weekly

Michelangelo

Orbis Pictus Honor Book, National Council of Teachers of English
School Library Journal, Best Books
Booklist, Editor’s Choice
Booklist, Top Ten Youth Art Books
Booklinks, Lasting Connections
Association of Booksellers for Children, Booksellers’ Choices
New York Public Library, One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
Not Just For Children Anymore, Children’s Book Council
Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children
Voice of Youth Advocates, Nonfiction Honor Book
Featured on the CBS Early Show
Nominee, Utah State Book Award
Starred Review, Kirkus
Starred Review, Booklist
Starred Review, School Library Journal

Joan of Arc

American Library Association Notable Book
Publisher’s Weekly, Best Books
Booklist, Top of the List
Booklist, Editor’s Choice
Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books, Blue Ribbon Titles
Parenting Magazine, Best Books
International Reading Association, Teachers’ Choice
Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
Association of Booksellers for Children, Children’s Booksellers’ Choice
Nominee for Golden Kite Award, Nonfiction, SCBWI
Finalist, Riverbank Review Children’s Books of Distinction Award
New York Public Library, One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
Nominee for the Maine Student Book Award
Nominee for the South Carolina Book Award
Starred Review, Horn Book
Starred Review, School Library Journal
Starred Review, Booklist
Starred Review, Publisher’s Weekly

Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter

An American Library Association Notable Book
School Library Journal, Best Books
Booklist, Editor’s Choice
Children’s Choices, Association of Booksellers for Children
Family Fun Magazine, Best Books
New York Family, Best Books
Children’s Literature, Top Choice
Bank Street College of Education, Best Children’s Books
Nominee for Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Text, SCBWI
Storytelling World Magazine, Honor Book Award
New York Public Library, One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
Winner, Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Award
Winner, South Carolina Children’s Book Award
Winner, New Mexico Land of Enchantment Award
Second Place, Alabama Children’s Choice Award
Nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award
Nominee for the Georgia Picture Storybook Award
Nominee for the Delaware Blue Hen Award
Nominee for the North Dakota Library Association Flicker Tale Award
Nominee for the Nebraska Golden Sower Award
Starred Review, School Library Journal
Starred Review, Booklist
Starred Review, Publisher’s Weekly
Starred Review, Bureau for the Center of Children’s Books

The Mysterious Matter of I.M. Fine

Parent’s Guide To Children’s Media Award
Publisher’s Weekly’s “Cuffies,” Cleverest Sounding Spoof
Nominee for the Nebraska’s Golden Sower Award
Nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award
Nominee for the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children’s Book Award
Nominee for the Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award
Nominee for the South Carolina Children’s Book Award
Nominee for the Minnesota Youth Reading Award
Nominee for the Connecticut Book Award
Nominee for the Iowa Children’s Choice Award
Starred Review, Publisher’s Weekly

The Mysterious Case of the Allbright Academy

Missouri’s Mark Twain Reader Award Honor Book
Oklahoma’s Sequoyah Children’s Book Award Honor Book

Leonardo Da Vinci

Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, NCTE
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Honor Book for Non-Fiction
An American Library Association Notable Book
Publisher’s Weekly, Best Books
School Library Journal, Best Books
Booklist, Editor’s Choice
Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books, Blue Ribbon Titles
Parenting Magazine, Best Books
Boston Globe, Best Books
The Hungry Mind Review, Books of Distinction
Not Just for Children Anymore, Children’s Book Council
Society of School Librarians International Honor book, Social Studies category
Society of School Librarians International Honor book, Science category
New York Book Show, Second Place, Picture book Nonfiction
New York Book Show, Second Place, Picture book Nonfiction Jacket
Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
New York Public Library, One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
Child Study Children’s Book Committee, Children’s Books of the Year, starred
for outstanding merit
ABA/CBC, Children’s Books Mean Business List
Children’s Literature, Children’s Literature Choice
IRA/Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles’ 100 Best Books
Nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award
Nominee for the Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award
Nominee for the Maine Student Book Award
Nominee for the Kansas William Allen White Children’s Book Award
Nominee for the New Mexico Land of Enchantment Book Award
Starred Review, School Library Journal
Starred Review, Booklist
Pointer Review, Kirkus
Starred Review, Publisher’s Weekly
Starred Review, The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

A Time Apart

American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults
Booklist, Top Ten First Novels
International Reading Association, Young Adults’ Choices
International Reading Association, Teachers’ Choice
Parents’ Magazine, Parents’ Choice Silver Award
New York Public Library, Books for the Teen Age
Starred Review, Booklist

Saving Sweetness

School Library Journal, Best Books
American Bookseller, Pick of the Lists
Newsweek Magazine, The Best Kids’ Stuff
Copley News Service, Best Books of the Year
Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Text, SCBWI
Featured in U. S. News and World Report
Children’s Book Council, Not Just for Children Anymore
New York Public Library, One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
ABA/CBC, Children’s Books Mean Business List
Nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award
Nominee for the California Young Reader Medal
Nominee for the Vermont Red Clover Award
Nominee for the Arizona Young Readers’ Award
Starred Review, Horn Book
Starred Review, Booklist

Raising Sweetness

An American Library Association Notable Book
Horn Book, Fanfare Books
School Library Journal, Best Books
Smithsonian Magazine, Notable Books for Children
Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year
Miami Herald, Top Ten Books
Winner, Utah Book Award
Nominee for Indiana’s Young Hoosier Book Award
Starred Review, Horn Book
Starred Review, School Library Journal
Starred Review, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

The Time Traveling Twins: Joining the Boston Tea Party

IRA/CBC, Children’s Choices

Cleopatra

An American Library Association Notable Book
Booklist, Editor’s Choice
Publisher’s Weekly, Best Books
American Bookseller, Pick of the Lists
Parenting Magazine, Best Books
People Magazine, Recommended Books for Young Readers
USA Today, Recommended Books for Christmas
Chicago Tribune, The Year’s Best Books for Young Readers
Library of Congress Children’s Literature center, Recommended Books
ABA/CBC, Children’s Books Mean Business List
Nominee for the Pennsylvania Young Reader Award
Nominee for the Garden State Children’s Book Award
Starred Review, Booklist
Starred Review, Publisher’s Weekly

Charles Dickens: The Man Who Had Great Expectations

Time Magazine, Recommended Children’s Books for Christmas
American Bookseller, Pick of the Lists
Parenting Magazine, Best Books
ABA/CBC, Children’s Books Mean Business List
Association of Booksellers for Children, Best Books
Southern California Children’s Booksellers Association Choices
National Christian Schools Association, Children’s Crown Award nominee
Pointer Review, Kirkus
Starred Review, Publisher’s Weekly

Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare

Booklist, Top Of The List, Youth Non-Fiction
An American Library Association Notable Book
Horn Book, Fanfare Books
Parenting Magazine, Reading Magic Award, Ten Best Books
School Library Journal, Best Books
New York Times, The Best of the Children’s Picture Books
Booklist, Editor’s Choice
Publisher’s Weekly, 50 Best Books
Horn Book, 25 Best Nonfiction Books of the Year
Nominee for the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction, NCTE
Notable Children’s Books in The Language Arts
Publisher’s Weekly’s “Cuffies,” Honorable Mention, Nonfiction Book of the Year
Library of Congress, One Hundred Noteworthy Children’s Books
Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
American Booksellers Association, Kid’s Pick of the Lists
New York Public Library, One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
Nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award
Nominee for the Maine Student Book Award
Nominee for the Kansas William Allen White Children’s Book Award
Starred review, Horn Book
Starred review, School Library Journal
Starred review, Publisher’s Weekly

The True Adventures of Daniel Hall

Parenting Magazine, Best Books
International Reading Association, Teachers’ Choice
Notable Children’s Trade books in the Field of Social Studies
Nominee for Vermont’s Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award
Starred Review, Publisher’s Weekly

Elena

National Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs, Commended Book for the Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature

The Gentleman and the Kitchen Maid

American Bookseller, Pick of the Lists
Nominee for Indiana’s Young Hoosier Book Award
Starred Review, Publisher’s Weekly
Child Study Children’s Book Committee, Starred Children’s Books of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Selection

The Last Princess: The Story of Princess Ka’iulani of Hawai’i (by Fay Stanley)

An American Library Association Notable Book
National Council for the Social Studies, Carter G. Woodson Award
Booklist, Editor’s Choice
IRA/CBC, Children’s Choices
Parents’ Magazine, Best Kids Books
Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
New York Public Library, One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
Featured in Newsweek Magazine article on multi-cultural books
Featured in Honolulu Advertiser article on multicultural books
Hawaii State Library, Top Choice in the Picture Book Category
Nominee for the Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award
Nominee for the Virginia Young Readers Program
Nominee for Oklahoma’s Sequoyah Children’s Book Award
Starred Review, School Library Journal
Starred Review, Booklist

Moe the Dog in Tropical Paradise

Publisher’s Weekly‘s “Cuffies,” Honorable Mention, Most Memorable Character in a Leading Role
Featured as an animated segment of Shelly Duvall’s Bedtime Stories on the Showtime Network
Nominee for the Nevada Young Readers’ Award
Starred review, Publisher’s Weekly

Good Queen Bess: The Story of Elizabeth I of England

An American Library Association Notable Book
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Honor Book for Non-Fiction
International Reading Association, Teacher’s Choices
Parenting Magazine, Reading Magic Award, Ten Best Books
Parents’ Magazine, Best Kids Books
American Bookseller, Pick of the Lists
Booklist, Editor’s Choice
Upper Midwest Booksellers’ Association, Booksellers’ Choice
Notable Children’s Books in the Field of Social Studies
New York Public Library, One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
The Library of Congress, Recommended Books For Children
Nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award
Nominee for the Alabama Emphasis on Reading Award
Nominee for the Kentucky Bluegrass Award
Nominee for the Kansas William Allen White Children’s Book Award
Starred Review, Booklist
Starred Review, Horn Book

Siegfried

IRA/CBC, Children’s Choices

Fortune

American Bookseller, Pick of the Lists
New York Public Library, One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
Nominee for the Georgia Children’s Picture Storybook Award
Starred Review, Booklist

Shaka: King of the Zulus

A New York Times Best Illustrated Book
A New York Times Notable Book
Booklist, Editor’s Choice
Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
New York Public Library, One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
New York Book Show, Third Place, Juvenile Books
Featured in a Smithsonian Museum Film Display
Featured in the PBS series Long Ago and Far Away
The Library of Congress, Recommended Books For Children
American Library Association, World Book Partners in Excellence Reading Program
Nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award

Peter the Great

An American Library Association Notable Book
Booklist, Editor’s Choice
American Bookseller, Pick of the Lists
Bookselling This Week, Pick of the List
Golden Kite Award Honor Book for nonfiction, SCBWI
Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
Nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award
Nominee for the William Allen White Children’s Book Award
Nominee for the South Carolina Children’s Book Award
Featured in the PBS series Long Ago and Far Away

Captain Whiz-Bang

Parents’ Magazine, Best Books For Children Under Five
A Book-of-the-Month-Club selection

A Country Tale

New York Public Library, One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies

All Wet! All Wet! (by James Skofield)

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children

The Conversation Club

Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies

Sleeping Ugly (by Jane Yolen)

Featured in the PBS series Long Ago and Far Away
Recommended in Jim Trelese’s Read Aloud Handbook

The Month Brothers

School Library Journal, Best Books
Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
Featured in the PBS series Long Ago and Far Away

The Farmer in the Dell

American Reading Association, Children’s Choice
New York Public Library, One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing