| 2023 | A Walk in the Woods | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2023 | A Walk in the Woods | Smithsonian Magazine Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's | |
| 2023 | Garvey’s Choice: The Graphic Novel | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Graphic Novels | |
| 2023 | A Walk in the Woods | Horn Book Fanfare source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Picture Books | |
| 2023 | A Walk in the Woods | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Picture Books | |
| 2023 | A Walk in the Woods | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Picture Books | |
| 2023 | A Walk in the Woods | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Top 10 | |
| 2022 | Playtime for Restless Rascals | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Picture Books | |
| 2021 | Legacy | Kirkus Prize source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Young Readers' Literature | |
| 2021 | Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance | New York Public Library Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books for Kids | |
| 2021 | Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Informational Books for Older Readers | |
| 2021 | Legacy | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2021 | Legacy | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade & Chapter Books | |
| 2021 | Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Poetry | |
| 2020 | Ordinary Hazards: A Memoir | Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Informational Book | |
| 2020 | Ordinary Hazards: A Memoir | Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | Ordinary Hazards: A Memoir | Michael L. Printz Award source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Young Adult Literature | |
| 2020 | Bedtime for Sweet Creatures | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Picture Books | |
| 2020 | Bedtime for Sweet Creatures | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Picture Books | |
| 2020 | Bedtime for Sweet Creatures | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Picture Books | |
| 2019 | Ordinary Hazards: A Memoir | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Teen Nonfiction | |
| 2019 | Ordinary Hazards | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Older Readers | |
| 2019 | Ordinary Hazards: A Memoir | Horn Book Fanfare source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Poetry | |
| 2017 | One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance | Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Fiction and Poetry | |
| 2017 | One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance | New York Public Library Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books for Kids | |
| 2017 | One Last Word: Wisdom From the Harlem Renaissance | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Informational Books for Older Readers | |
| 2017 | One Last Word | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2017 | One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2017 | The Watcher | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Picture Books | |
| 2016 | Garvey's Choice | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Older Readers | |
| 2016 | Garvey's Choice | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2016 | Garvey's Choice | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2015 | Chasing Freedom: The Life Journeys of Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony, Inspired by Historical Facts | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Informational Books for Older Readers | |
| 2015 | Poems in the Attic | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2014 | Words with Wings | Coretta Scott King Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Author | |
| 2013 | Words With Wings | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2010 | Almost Zero | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Younger Readers | |
| 2009 | Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Younger Readers | |
| 2009 | Rich: A Dyamonde Daniel Book | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Younger Readers | |
| 2007 | The Road to Paris | Coretta Scott King Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Author | |
| 2006 | Dark Sons | Coretta Scott King Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Author | |
| 2006 | The Road to Paris | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books for Youth: Middle Readers | |