| 2025 | Orris and Timble | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2024 | Ferris | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Younger Readers | |
| 2024 | Orris and Timble: The Beginning | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Younger Readers | |
| 2024 | Orris and Timble: The Beginning | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Chapter Books | |
| 2024 | Ferris | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2024 | Orris and Timble | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2023 | The Puppets of Spelhorst | Barnes & Noble Book of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Book of the Year | |
| 2023 | The Beatryce Prophecy | Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Children's Literature | |
| 2023 | The Puppets of Spelhorst | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Younger Readers | |
| 2023 | The Puppets of Spelhorst | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2021 | The Beatryce Prophecy | Horn Book Fanfare source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2021 | The Beatryce Prophecy | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2021 | The Beatryce Prophecy | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2021 | The Beatryce Prophecy | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2019 | A Piglet Named Mercy | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Picture Books | |
| 2019 | Beverly, Right Here | Horn Book Fanfare source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2019 | Beverly, Right Here | The Globe and Mail Globe 100 source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Kids' Books | |
| 2019 | Beverly, Right Here | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2018 | Louisiana's Way Home | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Middle Grade & Children's | |
| 2018 | Louisiana's Way Home | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2018 | Louisiana’s Way Home | Horn Book Fanfare source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2016 | Raymie Nightingale | National Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Young People's Literature | |
| 2016 | Raymie Nightingale | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Middle Grade & Children's | |
| 2016 | Raymie Nightingale | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2016 | Raymie Nightingale | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2016 | Raymie Nightingale | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2016 | Raymie Nightingale | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2016 | Raymie Nightingale | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2014 | Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures | John Newbery Medal source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Children's Literature | |
| 2014 | Leroy Ninker Saddles Up | New York Public Library Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books for Kids | |
| 2014 | Leroy Ninker Saddles up | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Younger Readers | |
| 2013 | Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures | National Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Young People's Literature | |
| 2013 | Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Older Readers | |
| 2013 | Flora And Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2013 | Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books for Youth: Fiction, Middle Readers | |
| 2013 | Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's Fiction | |
| 2013 | Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2013 | Flora & Ulysses | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2013 | Flora & Ulysses | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2012 | Bink & Gollie: Two for One | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Younger Readers | |
| 2011 | Bink and Gollie | Theodor Seuss Geisel Award source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Beginning Reader | |
| 2010 | Bink & Gollie | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Younger Readers | |
| 2010 | Bink & Gollie | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's | |
| 2009 | The Magician’s Elephant | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Younger Readers | |
| 2009 | The Magician’s Elephant | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books for Youth: Middle Readers | |
| 2009 | The Magician's Elephant | The Guardian Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's | |
| 2007 | Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride | Theodor Seuss Geisel Award source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Beginning Reader | |
| 2006 | The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane | Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Fiction and Poetry | |
| 2006 | The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2006 | The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books for Youth: The Young | |
| 2006 | The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's Fiction | |
| 2006 | The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane | Amazon Editors' Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Top 50 | |