Book Awards & Distinctions
for Rafael López
88 Total Book Awards
Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music (14)

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

Américas Award, 1993-2024
Commended, 2016

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2016

Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2013-2024
Selection, 2015

Charlotte Zolotow Award, 1998-2025
Winner, 2016

International Latino Book Awards, 2000-2024
First Place Winner, 2016

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

Pura Belpré Awards, 1996-2025
Illustrator Winner, 2016

Rise: A Feminist Book Project Top Ten, 2011-2025
Commended, 2016

SLJ Best Books of the Year, 2010 - 2024
Selection, 2015
The Day You Begin (13)

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

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2019

Charlotte Huck Award, 2015-2025
Commended, 2019

Charlotte Zolotow Award, 1998-2025
Commended, 2019

Jane Addams Children's Book Awards, 1953-2025
Books for Younger Children Winner, 2019

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

Notable Books for a Global Society, 1996-2025
Selection, 2019

Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 1997-2025
Selection, 2019

Publishers Weekly Best Books, 2010-2024
Picture Book Selection, 2018

SLJ Best Books of the Year, 2010 - 2024
Selection, 2018

Teacher Favorites Award, 2015-2025
Selection, 2019
Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood (10)

ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2025
Commended, 2017

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2017

Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2013-2024
Selection, 2016

Charlotte Zolotow Award, 1998-2025
Commended, 2017

International Latino Book Awards, 2000-2024
First Place Winner, 2016

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

Tomás Rivera Book Award, 1996-2025
Winner, 2017
Bravo!: Poems about Amazing Hispanics (8)

Américas Award, 1993-2024
Commended, 2018

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2018

International Latino Book Awards, 2000-2024
First Place Winner, 2018

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2025
Multicultural Selection, 2017

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2015-2025
Biography Selection, 2018

Original Art Medal, 2002-2024
Silver Winner, 2017

SLJ Best Books of the Year, 2010 - 2024
Selection, 2017
The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred (6)

ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2025
Commended, 2012

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2012

Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 1997-2025
Selection, 2012

Pura Belpré Awards, 1996-2025
Illustrator Honor, 2012
Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln (6)

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

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

International Latino Book Awards, 2000-2024
Second Place Winner, 2020

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2015-2025
Biography Selection, 2020

Pura Belpré Awards, 1996-2025
Illustrator Winner, 2020
Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day / Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros (5)

Américas Award, 1993-2024
Commended, 2010

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2010

Pura Belpré Awards, 1996-2025
Illustrator Winner, 2010
Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You (4)

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2020

Schneider Family Book Award, 2004-2025
Winner, 2020

Teacher Favorites Award, 2015-2025
Selection, 2020
Tito Puente, Mambo King / Tito Puente, rey del mambo (4)

ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995-2025
Commended, 2014

Américas Award, 1993-2024
Commended, 2014

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2025
Spanish Selection, 2013

Pura Belpré Awards, 1996-2025
Illustrator Honor, 2014
El día en que descubres quién eres (3)

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

Notable Books for a Global Society, 1996-2025
Selection, 2019
Quizás algo hermoso: cómo el arte transformó un barrio (3)
The Year We Learned to Fly (3)

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

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2015-2025
Social Interactions & Relationships Selection, 2023
My Name Is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz / Me llamo Celia: La vida de Celia Cruz (2)
Yum! MmMm! Qué Rico!: America's Sproutings (2)
¡Bravo!: Poemas Sobre Hispanos Extraordinarios (1)
¡Solo Pregunta!: Sé Diferente, Sé Valiente, Sé Tú (1)
El año en que aprendimos a volar (1)

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