Book Awards & Distinctions
for Kwame Alexander
116 Total Book Awards
The Undefeated (22)
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2024
Commended, 2020
CCBC Choices
Selection, 2020
Carter G. Woodson Book Award, 1974-2024
Winner, 2020
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2013-2023
Selection, 2019
Children’s Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2020
Coretta Scott King Book Awards, 1970-2024
Illustrator Winner, 2020
Golden Kite Awards, 1974-2024
Picture Book Text Honor, 2020
Horn Book Fanfare, 2001-2023
Selection, 2019
John Newbery Medal, 1922-2024
Honor, 2020
Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2024
Character Building Selection, 2019
Kids’ Book Choice Awards, 2008-2022
Winner, 2020
Notable Books for a Global Society, 1996-2024
Selection, 2020
Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2011-2025
Selection, 2020
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2015-2024
Contemporary Concerns Selection, 2020
Publishers Weekly Best Books, 2010-2024
Picture Book Selection, 2019
Randolph Caldecott Medal, 1938-2024
Winner, 2020
Read for Empathy Collections, 2017-2024
Selection, 2021
SLJ Best Books of the Year, 2010 - 2023
Selection, 2019
Teacher Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2020
The Crossover (14)
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2024
Commended, 2015
Best Fiction for Young Adults, 2011-2024
Top 10 Selection, 2015
CCBC Choices
Selection, 2015
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2013-2023
Selection, 2014
Charlotte Huck Award, 2015-2025
Honor, 2015
Coretta Scott King Book Awards, 1970-2024
Author Honor, 2015
John Newbery Medal, 1922-2024
Winner, 2015
Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2024
Sports Selection, 2014
Lee Bennett Hopkins Award, 1993-2024
Winner, 2015
Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 1997-2024
Selection, 2015
Publishers Weekly Best Books, 2010-2024
Middle Grade Selection, 2014
SLJ Best Books of the Year, 2010 - 2023
Selection, 2014
Young Adult Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2015
Booked (13)
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2024
Commended, 2017
Best Fiction for Young Adults, 2011-2024
Selection, 2017
CCBC Choices
Selection, 2017
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2013-2023
Selection, 2016
Children’s Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2017
Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2024
Sports Selection, 2016
Lasting Connections, 2000 - 2020
Selection, 2016
Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 1997-2024
Selection, 2017
Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2011-2025
Selection, 2017
Read for Empathy Collections, 2017-2024
Selection, 2019
Teacher Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2017
Young Adult Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2017
An American Story (11)
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2024
Commended, 2024
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2013-2023
Selection, 2023
Children’s Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2024
Coretta Scott King Book Awards, 1970-2024
Illustrator Winner, 2024
Horn Book Fanfare, 2001-2023
Selection, 2023
Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2024
Elementary Selection, 2023
Librarian Favorites Award, 2023-2024
Selection, 2024
Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2011-2025
Selection, 2024
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2015-2024
History, Life, Culture in the Americas Selection, 2024
Publishers Weekly Best Books, 2010-2024
Picture Book Selection, 2023
Teacher Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2024
The Door of No Return (10)
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2024
Commended, 2023
Best Fiction for Young Adults, 2011-2024
Top 10 Selection, 2023
CCBC Choices
Selection, 2023
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2013-2023
Selection, 2022
Children’s Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2023
Horn Book Fanfare, 2001-2023
Selection, 2022
Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2011-2025
Selection, 2023
Publishers Weekly Best Books, 2010-2024
Middle Grade Selection, 2022
Teacher Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2023
Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets (10)
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2024
Commended, 2018
CCBC Choices
Selection, 2018
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2013-2023
Selection, 2017
Children’s Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2018
Coretta Scott King Book Awards, 1970-2024
Illustrator Winner, 2018
Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2024
Arts Selection, 2017
Lasting Connections, 2000 - 2020
Selection, 2017
Notable Books for a Global Society, 1996-2024
Selection, 2018
Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 1997-2024
Selection, 2018
Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2011-2025
Selection, 2018
Rebound (7)
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2024
Commended, 2019
CCBC Choices
Selection, 2019
Horn Book Fanfare, 2001-2023
Selection, 2018
Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2024
Sports Selection, 2018
Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2011-2025
Selection, 2019
Teacher Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2019
Young Adult Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2019
Becoming Muhammad Ali (5)
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2024
Commended, 2021
CCBC Choices
Selection, 2021
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2013-2023
Selection, 2020
Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2011-2025
Selection, 2021
Publishers Weekly Best Books, 2010-2024
Middle Grade Selection, 2020
How to Read a Book (5)
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2024
Commended, 2020
CCBC Choices
Selection, 2020
Lee Bennett Hopkins Award, 1993-2024
Winner, 2020
Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2011-2025
Selection, 2020
SLJ Best Books of the Year, 2010 - 2023
Selection, 2019
How to Write a Poem (5)
Best Illustrated Children’s Books, 1952-2024
Selection, 2023
Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2024
Arts Selection, 2023
Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 1997-2024
Selection, 2024
Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2011-2025
Selection, 2024
SLJ Best Books of the Year, 2010 - 2023
Selection, 2023
The Crossover (Graphic Novel) (4)
Children’s Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2020
Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2007-2024
Commended, 2020
Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2024
Sports Selection, 2020
Solo (2)
Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2024
Young Adult Selection, 2017
Animal Ark: Celebrating Our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures (1)
Black Star (1)
Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2011-2025
Selection, 2025
Booked (1)
Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2007-2024
Commended, 2023
He Said, She Said (1)
Our Story Begins: Your Favorite Authors and Illustrators Share Fun, Inspiring, and Occasionally Ridiculous Things They Wrote and Drew as Kids (1)
Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2024
Biography Selection, 2017
The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life (1)
Surf's Up (1)
Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2024
Elementary Selection, 2016
Swing (1)
Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2024
Hi-Lo Selection, 2019