Awards

2014 Heritage Keepers Award, Indiana State Museum
2013 Girl Scout Leadership Award
2013 Lifetime Rabbinic Service Award, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
2013 Sagamore of the Wabash (highest civilian honor awarded by the State of Indiana)
2012 Touchstone Award, Girl’s Inc.
2010 Spirit of the Prairie Award, Conner Prairie Interactive History Park
2004 Helen Keating Ott Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Literature
1997 One of the Influential Women in Indiana by the Indianapolis Business Journal
1996 One of Indy’s Most Influential Clergy in NUVO News Weekly
1995 Sagamore of the Wabash (highest civilian honor awarded by the State of Indiana)
1995 Cover story in Indianapolis Woman magazine, “Women of Faith”

HONORARY DOCTORATES

2013 Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, Ohio
2007 Franklin College, Franklin, Indiana
2000 Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana
1999 Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana
1986 DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana

Book Awards

The Shemah in the Mezuzah (2012)

National Jewish Book Award for Best Illustrated Children’s Book – Jewish Book Council

Creation’s First Light (2013)

National Jewish Book Award Finalist for Best Illustrated Children’s Book – Jewish Book Council

But God Remembered (2008)

“Best Book of the Year” – Publishers Weekly
“Best Book of the Year” – American Library Association’s Booklist
“Top Pick, Youth Religion Books” – American Library Association’s Booklist
A Children’s Book Council Not Just for Children Anymore! Selection

Adam and Eve’s First Sunset (2006)

One of the “Best Spiritual Books of the Year” – Spirituality & Health Magazine

Abuelita’s Secret Matzahs (2005)

Sugarman Family Children’s Book Award
Best Book of Indiana in Children’s Literature Award – Center for the Book, Library of Congress

A Prayer for Earth | Noah’s Wife: The Story of Naamah (2002)

“Best Book of the Year” – Publishers Weekly

God Said Amen (2000)

One of the “Best Spiritual Books of the Year” – Spirituality & Health Magazine
Nautilus Award

For Heaven’s Sake (1999)

Selected as Outstanding by Parent Council

God in Between (1998)

Visionary Award, Coalition of Visionary Retailers, Runner-Up

In God’s Name (1994)

Selected as Outstanding by Parent Council
Finalist, Hungry Mind Review Books of Distinction
Special Mention, New York Times Book Review
Selected by One Spirit/Book-of-the-Month Club
A Children’s Book Council Not Just for Children Anymore! Selection

God’s Paintbrush (2004)