| 2025 | Outside | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2021 | The Lion of Mars | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Older Readers | |
| 2021 | The Lion of Mars | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books for Youth: Fiction, Middle Readers | |
| 2019 | Sunny Rolls The Dice | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2017 | Full of Beans | Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Historical Fiction | |
| 2017 | Swing It, Sunny | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2016 | Full of Beans | New York Public Library Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books for Kids | |
| 2016 | Full Of Beans | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2016 | Full of Beans | Horn Book Fanfare source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2015 | Sunny Side Up | Horn Book Fanfare source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2015 | Sunny Side Up | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2014 | The Fourteenth Goldfish | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Middle Grade & Children's | |
| 2014 | The Fourteenth Goldfish | New York Public Library Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books for Kids | |
| 2014 | The Fourteenth Goldfish | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Older Readers | |
| 2014 | Comics Squad: Recess! | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Younger Readers | |
| 2011 | Turtle in Paradise | John Newbery Medal source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Children's Literature | |
| 2011 | Brave New Pond | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Younger Readers | |
| 2011 | Squish, Super Amoeba | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's | |
| 2010 | Turtle in Paradise | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Older Readers | |
| 2010 | Turtle in Paradise | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books for Youth: Fiction, Middle Readers | |
| 2010 | Turtle in Paradise | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's | |
| 2007 | Penny from Heaven | John Newbery Medal source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Children's Literature | |