Book Awards & Distinctions
for James Ransome
1 Lifetime Achievement Award 95 Total Book Awards
Before She Was Harriet (13)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2018

Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2013-2024
Selection, 2017

Charlotte Zolotow Award, 1998-2025
Commended, 2018

Coretta Scott King Book Awards, 1970-2025
Illustrator Honor, 2018

Jane Addams Children's Book Awards, 1953-2025
Books for Younger Children Honor, 2018

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2025
Nonfiction Selection, 2018

Lasting Connections, 2000 - 2020
Selection, 2017

Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 1997-2025
Selection, 2018

Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2011-2025
Selection, 2018

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2015-2025
Women's History Selection, 2018

SLJ Best Books of the Year, 2010 - 2024
Selection, 2017

Teacher Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2018
The Bell Rang (9)

ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2025
Commended, 2020

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2020

Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2013-2024
Selection, 2019

Coretta Scott King Book Awards, 1970-2025
Illustrator Honor, 2020

Horn Book Fanfare, 2001-2024
Selection, 2019

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2025
Emergent Selection, 2019

Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 1997-2025
Selection, 2020

Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2011-2025
Selection, 2020

Teacher Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2020
Hardcourt: Stories from 75 Years of the National Basketball Association (7)

Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2013-2024
Selection, 2022

Children’s Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2023

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2025
Sports Selection, 2022

Librarian Favorites Award, 2023-2024
Selection, 2023

Notable Books for a Global Society, 1996-2025
Selection, 2023

Orbis Pictus Award, 2000-2025
Honor, 2023

Teacher Favorites Award, 2015-2024
Selection, 2023
My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle's Journey to Alvin Ailey (6)

ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2025
Commended, 2016

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2016

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2025
Arts Selection, 2016

Notable Books for a Global Society, 1996-2025
Selection, 2016

Orbis Pictus Award, 2000-2025
Commended, 2016
Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams (5)

ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2025
Commended, 2019

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2019

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2025
Sports Selection, 2018

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2015-2025
Biography Selection, 2019

Orbis Pictus Award, 2000-2025
Commended, 2019
Overground Railroad (5)

ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2025
Commended, 2021

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2021

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2025
Emergent Selection, 2020

Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 1997-2025
Selection, 2021

SLJ Best Books of the Year, 2010 - 2024
Selection, 2020
Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis (4)

ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2025
Commended, 2025

Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2013-2024
Selection, 2024

Golden Kite Awards, 1974-2025
Nonfiction Text for Young Readers Finalist, 2025

Libby Book Awards, 2024-2025
Picture Book Finalist, 2025
They Call Me Teach (4)

Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2013-2024
Selection, 2024

Jane Addams Children's Book Awards, 1953-2025
Picture Book Winner, 2025
This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration (4)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2014

Charlotte Zolotow Award, 1998-2025
Honor, 2014

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2015-2025
History, Life, Culture in the Americas Selection, 2014

Publishers Weekly Best Books, 2010-2024
Picture Book Selection, 2013
The Creation (3)

ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2025
Commended, 1995

CCBC Choices
Selection, 1994

Coretta Scott King Book Awards, 1970-2025
Illustrator Winner, 1995
Light in the Darkness (3)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2014

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2025
Elementary Selection, 2013
Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building (3)
Benny Goodman & Teddy Wilson: Taking the Stage as the First Black-And-White Jazz Band in History (2)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2015
Do Like Kyla (2)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 1990
Granddaddy's Turn: A Journey to the Ballot Box (2)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2016

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2015-2025
History, Life, Culture in the Americas Selection, 2016
Satchel Paige (2)

ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2025
Commended, 2001

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2001
Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge (2)

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2025
City Selection, 2022

Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2011-2025
Selection, 2022
Uncle Jed's Barbershop (2)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 1993

Coretta Scott King Book Awards, 1970-2025
Illustrator Honor, 1994
Visiting Day (2)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2003

Skipping Stones Honor Awards, 1994-2024
Multicultural and International Honor, 2003
All the Lights in the Night (1)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 1991
Aunt Flossie's Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) (1)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 1991
Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl (1)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2004
Christmas Tugboat: How the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Came to New York City (1)

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2025
Elementary Selection, 2012
The Creation (1)

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2025
Religious Selection, 2019
Freedom's School (1)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2016
How Many Stars in the Sky? (1)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 1991
Joltin' Joe DiMaggio (1)

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2025
Sports Selection, 2014
The Nutcracker in Harlem (1)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2018
The Old Dog (1)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 1995
On Her Wings: The Story of Toni Morrison (1)

Notable Books for a Global Society, 1996-2025
Selection, 2023
A Pride of African Tales (1)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2005
The Story of the Saxophone (1)
Under the Quilt of Night (1)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2003