Awards and Honors

Awards for Always Matt

  • Finalist, Russell Freedman Award for Nonfiction for a Better World, 2024
  • QSpirit Top 23 Best LGBTQ Christian Book of 2023

Awards for The Fairest in the Land

  • American Library Association Rainbow List, 2024

Bookstagang Picture Book Awards 2023 Winning SubmissionAwards for The Babka Sisters

  • Bookstagang Best Future Classic of 2023
  • Winner, Bookstagang Best of 2023
  • PJ Library Author Incentive Award, 2022

Awards for Alicia and the Hurricane: A Story of Puerto Rico/Alicia y el huracán: Un Cuento de Puerto Rico

  • Finalist, Delaware Diamonds Elementary List, 2023 – 2024
  • Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Picture Books of the Year in Spanish (2023 Edition) Starred Book
  • Center for Children’s Multicultural Literature Best Books of the Year List, 2022
  • Junior Library Guild Selection, 2022

Awards for As Babies Dream

  • Foreword Indies Book of the Year Award, 2021
  • Kirkus Best 100 Picture Books of the Year List, 2021
  • Kirkus Best Bedtime Books List, 2021

Awards for A-B-C Cats

  • Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2021
  • Certificate of Excellence, Cat Writers Association, 2022

Awards for 1-2-3 Cats

  • Margaret Wise Brown Board Book List, 2023
  • Certificate of Excellence, Cat Writers Association, 2022
  • Chicago Public Libraries Best Books of the Year List, 2021
  • Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2021

Awards for Remembering Ethan

  • Bank Street College Best Books of the Year, 2021

Awards for Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail

  • Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Book, 2021 – 2022
  • Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Award, 2021
  • National Jewish Book Award, 2020
  • Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices List, 2021
  • Muse Medallion, Cat Writers’ Association, 2021
  • Certificate of Excellence, Cat Writers’ Association, 2020
  • Research for Readers Best Mentor Texts of the Year, 2020
  • Tablet Magazine Best Jewish Children’s Books of the Year, 2020
  • School Library Journal Holiday Books List, 2020
  • Winner, Northern Dawn Religious/Spiritual Children’s Book Award, 2020

Awards for Gittel’s Journey: An Ellis Island Story

  • Finalist, Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award, 2021-2022
  • Bank Street College Best Books of the Year, 2020
  • Massachusetts Center for the Book “Must Read” Title, 2020
  • National Jewish Book Award WinnerAssociation of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor HonorWinner, Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Silver Medal, 2020
  • Winner, National Jewish Book Award, 2019
  • Wall Street Journal Top Ten Children’s Book of the Year, 2019
  • Tablet Magazine Top Ten Children’s Book of the Year, 2019
  • Washington Post Best Children’s Books of the Year List, 2019
  • New York Public Library Best Children’s Books of the Year List, 2019
  • A Mighty Girl’s Book of the Year, 2019

Awards for Sparkle Boy

  • Finalist, International School of Beijing Panda Book Awards, 2019-2020
  • Honor Book, Massachusetts Book Awards, 2018
  • Bank Street College of Education Best Books of the Year List, 2018
  • Honor Book, Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature Irma Black Award, 2018
  • Storytelling World Resource Award Honors Title, 2018

Awards for My Name Is Aviva

  • Sugarman Family Children’s Book Award, 2015

Awards for Heather Has Two Mommies (Candlewick Edition)

  • Book Riot Best Children’s Books of All Time, 2022
  • Golden Crown Literary Society Lee Lynch Classic Award, 2017
  • Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) Choices, 2016

Awards for Ketzel: The Cat Who Composed

  • Winner, Greater Kansas City Association of School Librarians Great Kids Can Read Award, 2017-2018
  • Winner, Missouri Association of School Librarians Show Me Award, 2018
  • Finalist, Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award, 2017-2018
  • Winner, Massachusetts Book Award 2016
  • Winner, World’s Best Cat Litter-ary Contest, 2016
  • Winner, Cat Writers’ Association Muse Medallion for Best Children’s Book, 2015
  • Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) Choices, 2016
  • Winner, Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Award, 2016
  • Junior Library Guild Best Jewish Children’s Books, 2015
  • Los Angeles Public Library List of Best Children’s Books, 2015
  • School Library Journal’s Give the Gift of Music “Great Books” List, 2015
  • All the Wonders Best Nonfiction Books, 2015
  • Junior Library Guild Selection, 2015

Awards for Here Is The World: A Year Of Jewish Holidays

  • Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Notable Book, 2014

Awards for October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard

  • Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award Master List, 2017
  • Nominee, South Carolina Young Adult Book Award, 2014-2015
  • Winner, Florida Council of Teachers of English Joan F. Kaywell Books Save Lives Award, 2014
  • Kentucky Bluegrass Award Master List, 2014
  • Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Outstanding Books for the College Bound selection (Literature and Language Arts category) 2014
  • Featured Book, Diversity Author Series (Campus-Wide Read), Lawrence Academy, Groton, MA 2013-2014
  • Arkansas Teen Book Awards Young Adult List, 2013-2014
  • “Read On” Wisconsin Selection, 2013-2014
  • National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Notable Poetry List, 2013
  • Maine State Library “Cream of the Crop” Fiction List, 2013
  • Texas Library Association TAYSHAS High School Reading List, 2014
  • Nominee, Missouri Association of School Librarians Gateway Readers Award, 2014-2015
  • Finalist, Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Award 2014-2015
  • Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the Year List, 2013
  • Massachusetts Book Awards “Must-Read” Book, 2013
  • Finalist, New York State Reading Association Charlotte Book Award, 2014
  • Winner, International Reading Association Young Adults’ Choices Reading List, 2013
  • Finalist, Audie Award, multiple-voice performance category, 2013
  • Young Adult Library Services Association Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults, 2013
  • Audie Award, Multiple-Voice Performance Category, 2013
  • American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book, 2013
  • American Library Association LGBT Round Table Rainbow Book, 2013
  • Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, 2013
  • Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Best Fiction for Young Adults Book, 2013
  • Nominee, Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Reader’s Choice List, 2013
  • Campus Book-in Common, Spalding University, 2012-2013
  • Nerdy Book Club Poetry Award, 2012
  • Poetry Foundation Children’s Poet Laureate Pick November 2012 (Chosen by J. Patrick Lewis)
  • Starred Review, Booklist, September 15, 2012
  • Audiofile Earphones Award, 2012 (audiobook)

Awards for Donovan’s Big Day

  • Finalist, Martin Luther King “Living the Dream” Book Award, 2013

Awards for A Sweet Passover

  • Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Notable Book, 2013

Awards for Mommy, Mama, and Me and Daddy, Papa, and Me

  • American Library Association Stonewall Book Awards Honor Books, 2010
  • American Library Association Rainbow List of GLBT Books for Children and Teens
  • Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) Choices 2010
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Best Book Awards 2010
  • American Library Association Notable Children’s Books 2010 (Mommy, Mama, and Meonly)

Awards for Hachiko Waits

  • Winner, Voice of Youth Award, Skokie Public Library, Skokie, IL 2011
  • Winner, Illinois Bluestem Award: Grades 3-5 Readers Choice Award. 2010
  • Nominee, Young Hoosier Book Award, Intermediate Category, 2007-2008
  • Nominee, West Virginia Children’s Book Award, 2006-2007
  • Nominee, Children’s Crown Award, 2006-2007
  • Third Place Winner, Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award, 2007
  • Winner, Emphasis on Reading Alabama’s Children’s Choice Book Award, 2005-2006
  • Nominee, William Allen White Children’s Book Award, 2006-2007
  • Dog Writers Association of America Maxwell Medal, Best Book of Fiction, 2005
  • Booksense Pick of the List, Fall 2004
  • Nomination, Great Lakes’ Great Book Award, 2006
  • Nominee, Volunteer State Book Award, 2006-2007
  • Bank Street College of Education, Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2005
  • Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List, 2005
  • ASPCA Henry Bergh Honor Book, 2005
  • Kiriyama Prize Honor Book, 2005

Awards for Jailbait

  • New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age, 2006
  • Nomination, Best Books for Young Adults, 2006
  • Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2006

Awards for A Fire Engine for Ruthie

  • ALA Amelia Bloomer List of Feminist Titles for Young Readers, 2006
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Book Award, Gold Seal, 2005

Awards for The Best Cat in the World

  • Children’s Book Council & International Reading Assoc. Children’s Choices List, 2005
  • Muse Medallion, Best Children’s Book, Cat Writers Association, 2004
  • Show Me Readers Award Master List, 2006-2007

Awards for The Boy Who Cried Fabulous

  • Seal of Approval, National Parenting Center, 2004
  • Booksense Pick of the List, Spring/Summer 2004

Awards for Runaway Dreidel!

  • Notable Book for Younger Readers, Association of Jewish Libraries, 2002

Awards for Felicia’s Favorite Story

  • Finalist, Lambda Literary Award, Children’s Book Category, 2002

Awards for Cats, Cats, Cats!

  • Parents’ Choice Recommended Award Winner, 2001
  • American Booksellers Association Pick of the Lists, Picture Books, 2001

Awards for Fat Chance

  • Finalist, Iowa Teen Award, 1997-1998
  • Silver Award, The Parents’ Choice Foundation, 1994

Awards for Remember That

  • Winner, Highlights For Children Fiction Writing Contest, 1992
  • Author of the Month: Highlights For Children, December 1992

Awards for Saturday is Pattyday

  • Finalist, Lambda Literary Award, Children’s Book Category, 1994

Awards for Still Life with Buddy

  • Creative Writing Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts, 1997

Awards for Heather Has Two Mommies (Alyson Publications edition)

  • Finalist, Lambda Literary Award, 1990