- 2010 Margaret A. Edwards Award
- 2 ALA Newbery Honor Book Awards
- ALA Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award
- ALA Robert F. Sibert Honor Book Award
- National Book Award Finalist Medal
- 3 NCTE Orbis Pictus Awards
- 3 Jefferson Cup Awards
- 2 SCBWI’s Golden Kite Award
- The Washington Post/Children’s Book Guild Award for Distinguished Nonfiction
- Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
Two-time Newbery Honor Book Winner