| 2024 | The Dictionary Story | Barnes & Noble Book of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Book of the Year | |
| 2024 | The Dictionary Story | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2024 | Where to Hide a Star | The Guardian Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's | |
| 2024 | The Dictionary Story | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Picture Books | |
| 2023 | Begin Again | The Guardian Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's | |
| 2022 | Meanwhile Back on Earth | The Guardian Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's and young adult | |
| 2020 | What We'll Build: Plans for Our Together Future | Barnes & Noble Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2020 | What We’ll Build | The Guardian Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's and young adult | |
| 2019 | The Fate of Fausto: A Painted Fable | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Younger Readers | |
| 2017 | Here We Are: Notes For Living On Planet Earth | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2017 | Here We Are | Smithsonian Magazine Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's | |
| 2017 | Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth | The Irish Times Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children’s | |
| 2016 | Once Upon an Alphabet | CILIP Carnegie Medals (Writing and Kate Greenaway Illustration) source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Shortlist · Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration | |
| 2016 | A Child of Books | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Picture Books | |
| 2016 | A Child Of Books | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2016 | A Child of Books | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Picture Books | |
| 2015 | Once Upon an Alphabet | Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Picture Book | |
| 2014 | Once Upon an Alphabet | Waterstones Book of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Shortlist · Book of the Year | |
| 2014 | The Day the Crayons Quit | CILIP Carnegie Medals (Writing and Kate Greenaway Illustration) source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Shortlist · Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration | |
| 2014 | Once Upon an Alphabet | New York Public Library Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books for Kids | |
| 2014 | Once Upon an Alphabet | Horn Book Fanfare source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Picture Books | |
| 2014 | Once upon an Alphabet | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Picture Books | |
| 2014 | Once upon an Alphabet: Short Stories for All the Letters | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Picture Books | |
| 2013 | The Day the Crayons Quit | The Irish Times Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books of the Year | |
| 2011 | Stuck | British Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Shortlist · Children's Book of the Year | |
| 2011 | The Heart and the Bottle | CILIP Carnegie Medals (Writing and Kate Greenaway Illustration) source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Shortlist · Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration | |
| 2010 | The Great Paper Caper | CILIP Carnegie Medals (Writing and Kate Greenaway Illustration) source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Shortlist · Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration | |
| 2009 | The Way Back Home | CILIP Carnegie Medals (Writing and Kate Greenaway Illustration) source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Shortlist · Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration | |
| 2007 | The Incredible Book Eating Boy | British Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Shortlist · Children's Book of the Year | |