• Golden Crown Literary Society Trailblazer Award, 2024
  Acceptance speech
• Advocate Person of the Year, 2023
• Massachusetts Poetry Community Award, 2023
• Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Body of Work Award, 2020
• Matthew Shepard Foundation Making A Difference Award, 2018
• Poet Laureate, Northampton, MA 2008-2010
• Induction, Jericho High School Hall of Fame, 1999
• Poetry Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts, 1997
• Poetry Fellowship, Massachusetts Artists Foundation, 1989

Awards for Joyful Song: A Naming Story

• American Library Association Rainbow Round Table Rainbow Book List, 2025
• Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title for Outstanding Writing in Picture Books, 2025
• ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) Notable Children’s Book List, 2025
• Finalist, Golden Crown Award (Picture Book Illustration Category), 2025
• Finalist, Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Award, 2025
• Winner, Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Silver Medal, 2024
• Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2024
• School Library Journal Best Picture Books of the Year, 2024
• Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Books of the Year, 2024
• The Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of the Year, 2024
• The Boston Globe Best Books of the Year, 2024
• Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Books of the Year, 2024
• Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books, 2024
• New York Public Library Best Books for Kids, 2024
• Junior Library Guild Selection, 2024
• Finalist, California Indie Booksellers Association (CALIBA) Golden Poppy Award, 2024
• Finalist, Center for Jewish History JewCE All Ages Award, 2024
• Finalist, Center for Jewish History JewCE Diverse Representation Award, 2024
• Finalist, Center for Jewish History JewCE Tradition and Folktale Award, 2024

Awards for Bless the World

• PJ Library Author Incentive Award, 2024

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

Awards 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
• Winner, Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Silver Medal, 2020
• Winner, National Jewish Book Award, 2019
• Christopher 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