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- Golden Crown Literary Society Trailblazer Award, 2024
- 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 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