Awards

Professional Honors

2014

  • OHTLI Award. For services to Mexican Community Abroad.
    Mexican Government.

2012

  • Outstanding Cultural Award.
    American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education [AAHHE]
  • The school library of Cardenas Elementary School in Los Angeles Unified School District now is named Alma Flor Ada Library.

2011

  • Annual Award.
    California Council for Higher Education Award

2008

  • Hispanic Research Issues Award for Research in Elementary, Secondary or Postsecondary Education.
    American Educational Research Association [AERA]
  • Lifetime Achievement Award.
    California Association for Bilingual Education [CABE]

2005

  • Reading the World Conference Award.
    School of Education, University of San Francisco

1991

  • Los Angeles Bilingual Directors’ Association Award

1990

  • California PTA State Association Award

1989

  • Alumnae Society Award.
    School of Education, University of San Francisco

1985

  • Distinguished Teaching Award.
    University of San Francisco

1984

  • Wayne Doyle Faculty Award for Excellence In Research
    School of Education, University of San Francisco

1974

  • Michigan Endowment for the Arts Grant, Detroit, Michigan

1971

  • Faculty Research Grant.
    Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

1966-68

  • Radcliffe Institute Scholar – Two consecutive appointments.
    Harvard University

1965-67

  • Fulbright Scholar Research Grant.
    Institute of International Education

1959

  • Beca de Honor, Estudios Hispánicos.
    Universidad Complutense, Madrid

1957-58

  • Teaching Assistantship.
    Barry University, Miami, Florida

1955-56

  • Teaching Assistantship.
    Loretto Heights College, Denver, Colorado

Literary Awards

2014

  • First Prize International Latino Book Awards.
    [For Yes! We are Latinos, co-authored with F. Isabel Campoy]

2013

  • First Prize International Latino Book Awards.
    [For Dancing Home, co-authored with Gabriel Zubizarreta]

2012

  • Virginia Hamilton Literary Award
  • Second Prize International Latino Book Awards.
    [For Love Amalia, co-authored with Gabriel Zubizarreta]

2000

  • Pura Belpré Award Medal, American Library Association
    [For Under the Royal Palms]
  • Laurate, San Francisco Public Library

1998

  • Once Upon a World Award, Simon Weisenthal Center, Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles, California
    [For Gathering the Sun]

1997

  • Premio Mundial José Martí, Honors, San José, Costa Rica
  • Gold Medal (Folklore category), National Association of Parenting Publications
    [For The Lizard and the Sun/La lagartija y el sol]

1996

  • Latina Writers Award
  • AEsop Accolade from the American Folklore Association
    [For Mediopollito/Half-chicken]

1994

  • Parents’ Choice Honor Award
    [For Dear Peter Rabbit]

1991

  • Christopher Award Medal
    [For The Gold Coin]

1987

  • Marta Salotti Gold Medal, International Award for Children’s Literature, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    [For Encaje de piedra]

1981

  • Second Prize, Premio Latinoamericano de Poesía, Rubén Darío, Casa Nicaragua. (Jury presided by Fernando Alegría), San Francisco, California.
    [For Cuando el amor se funda en la mirada]

OTHER LITERARY RECOGNITIONS

2015

  • Island Treasures
    Junior Literary Guild Selection

2014

  • Yes! We are Latinos
    Junior Literary Guild Selection

2011

  • Ten Little Puppies/Diez Perritos
    Junior Literary Guild Selection
  • Nacer bailando
    Junior Literary Guild Selection

2009

  • MuuMoo Animal Nursery Rhymes
    CCBC Choice from Cooperative Children Books Center

2006

  • Tales Our Abuelitas Told:
    • Best Folklore in Best Books of the Year, Nick Jr. Family Magazine
    • Kirkus Best Books, Kirkus Review
    • A Parent’s Choice Recommended Book
    • Best Books of the Year. Books for a Global Society SIG – American Library Association
    • Notable Book in the area of Language Arts
  • Cuentos que contaban nuestras abuelas
    • Junior Literary Guild Selection

2004

  • ¡Pío Peep!
    • Best Ten Books for Babies, Beginning with Books, Center for Early Literacy
    • Best Book of the Year, Nick Jr. Magazine
    • Media Award, Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media
    • 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, New York Public Library
    • Books of the Year Award, Parenting Magazines
    • 2 x 2 Reading List, Texas Library Association
    • Starred Review, School Library Journal
    • Starred Review, Críticas

2000

  • Under the Royal Palms
    • Best Books of the Year 2000, American Library Association

1997, 1993

  • The Gold Coin, My Name is María Isabel
    • Notable Book in the area of Social Studies by the National Council of Social Studies and the Children’s Book Council

2006, 1998, 1997

  • Tales our Abuelitas Told, Under the Royal Palms, Gathering the Sun
    • Notable Book in the area of Language Arts
    • Best Books of the Year, Kirkus Review

1997, 1993

  • Gathering the Sun, Dear Peter Rabbit, The Gold Coin, My Name is Maria Isabel
    • “Pick of the List,” American Booksellers Association

1993

  • The rooster who went to his uncle’s wedding
    • One of the Best Books of the Year – Bank Street College