1989: Runner-up, Mother Goose Award (UK), for The Secret in the Matchbox (Andre Deutsch)

1989: Parent’s Choice Award (USA), for American edition of The Secret in the Matchbox (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, USA)

     (No children's books released in the West between 1991 - 2002)

2005: Runner-up, Fantasy section, SCBWI Portfolio Review (USA)

2007: Shortlisted, Sakura Prize (Japan) for The Boat in the Tree (Front Street, USA)

2007: Shortlisted, Cybils Award for The Boat in the Tree (Front Street, USA)

2008: Nominated, Rebecca Caudill Award MVP: Magellan Voyage Project (Front Street, USA)

2009: Nutmeg Award for MVP: Magellan Voyage Project (Front Street, USA) 

2009: Highlights Award (USA)  for feature What’s Big What’s Not2009: NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People for Family Reminders (Charlesbridge, USA)

2009: Master List, William Allen White Children's Book Award for Family Reminders (Charlesbridge, USA)

2009: Suggested Reading List, Intermediate grades, NYSRA Charlotte Award for Family Reminders (Charlesbridge, USA)

2009: Children's Book Master Reading List, Land of Enchantment Book Award, for Family Reminders (Charlesbridge, USA)

2014: Amazon Book of the Month for Stone Giant: Michelangelo's David and How He Came to Be (Charlesbridge, USA)

2014: NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, for Stone Giant: Michelangelo's David and How He Came to Be (Charlesbridge, USA)

2015: Bank Street CBC Best Children's Books of the Year, for Stone Giant: Michelangelo's David and How He Came to Be (Charlesbridge, USA)

2015: Wild Child Best Children’s Book for Spring, for Crinkle, Crackle, Crack: It’s Spring (Holiday House, USA)

2016: Finalist, Cybils Awards, Elementary/Juvenile Non-Fiction, for Will’s Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk (Charlesbridge, USA)

2017: Notable Children's Books in Language Arts Award (USA), for Will’s Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk (Charlesbridge, USA)

2017: Shortlisted, Cocheco Reader’s Award for Will’s Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk (Charlesbridge, USA)

2017: Shortlisted, Towner Award for Will’s Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk (Charlesbridge, USA)

2018: Nominated, Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (Sweden)

2019: Nominated, Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (Sweden) 

2020: Nominated, Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (Sweden)

2021: Nominated, Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (Sweden)

2022: Nominated, Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (Sweden)