[1][4] In 2014, Barton pitched the idea of the Modern First Library (MFL) to BookPeople, an independent bookstore in Austin, which they followed up on.

In 2009, The Day Glo Brothers was named one of the best children's books of the year by Publishers Weekly,[16] School Library Journal,[17] and The Washington Post.

[19] Barnes & Noble,[20] Kirkus Reviews,[21] Parents,[22] Publishers Weekly,[23] School Library Journal,[24] and The Washington Post[25] named it one of the best children's books of 2010.

was named one of the best picture books of the year by the American Booksellers Association,[27] Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature,[28] and Kirkus Reviews.

was named one of the best children's books of the year by Kirkus Reviews,[36] and the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.

[37] The following year, the Bank Street College of Education ranked it as a book of outstanding merit,[38] and Booklist included it on their "Top 10 Biographies for Youth" list.

[39] In 2022, School Library Journal named Moving Forward one of the best nonfiction children's books of year.