This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised in the Intermediate category by the Young Hoosier Book Award. It was recognised by the Great Lakes Book Award. It also was recognised in the Grades 3-5 category by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award. It was recognised in the Grades K-3 category by the Volunteer State Book Award. Also it was recognised in the Picture Book category by the North Carolina Children's Book Award. It was recognised in the Ages 7-10 Years category by the Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens. It was recognised by the Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award. It was recognised in the Younger Children category by the Jane Addams Children's Book Award.

This book has been graded for interest at 6-9 years.

This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2006 by Farrar Straus Giroux .