Awards and Honors

• Best Books, School Library Journal, 1989, for Tell Me a Story, Mama
• Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award, United States Board on Books for Young People, 1991
• Coretta Scott King Honor Book, American Library Association Social Responsibilities Round Table, 1991, for When I Am Old with You
• Editor's Choice, Booklist, Best Books, School Library Journal, and Coretta Scott King Author Award, all for Toning the Sweep
• Coretta Scott King Author Award, 1998, for Heaven
• Coretta Scott King Honor Book citation, 1998, for The Other Side: Shorter Poems
• MacArthur Foundation "genius grant," 2003