Harrison's poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for young readers have been anthologized in more than 200 books, translated into twelve languages, sandblasted into a library sidewalk, painted on a bookmobile, and presented on television, radio, podcast, and video stream. Eighteen of his 108 books are professional works for teachers. He is currently serving as State of Missouri Poet Laureate (July 2023-June 2025) and Drury University Poet Laureate (1983-present).[2] David Harrison Elementary School in Springfield, Missouri, is named after him.[3] He has given keynote talks, college commencement addresses, and been featured at hundreds of conferences, workshops, literature festivals, and schools across America.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Drury University in 1959, a Master of Science degree from Emory University in 1960, and two Honorary Doctor of Letters degrees. His poetry collections, Pirates (2003) and Crawly School for Bugs (2018), represented Missouri at the National Book Fair in Washington, D.C.
Christopher Award, Christopher Foundation, 1973, for The Book of Giant Stories.[5]
Award for Outstanding Contributions to Children's Literature, Central State University, 1978.
Kentucky Blue Grass Award nominee, Kentucky State Reading Association, 1993, for Somebody Catch My Homework, 2022.
Celebrate Literacy Award, Springfield Council of the International Reading Association (IRA), 1994, 2002.
Celebrate Literacy Award, Missouri State Reading Association, 1994, 2023.
Friend of Education Award, Missouri State Teachers Association, 1994 and 2002.
Children's Choice Award, IRA/Children's Book Council, 1994, for Somebody Catch My Homework, 1995, for When Cows Come Home, and 1997, for A Thousand Cousins.
Inclusion on Recommended Reading List, Kansas State Reading Association, 1995, and Master List of Virginia Young Readers Program, Virginia State Reading Association, 1996–97, both for When Cows Come Home.
IRA Local Council Community Service Award, 2001, for "Sky High on Reading" literacy project.
