stanley is the author and/or illustrator of fifty books for children, noted especially for her series of picture book biographies. "shaka, king of the zulus" was named a new york times best illustrated book and "leonardo da vinci" received the orbis pictus award for outstanding nonfiction from the national council for teachers of english. many of her books have been honored as american library association notable books and she has twice received both the boston globe/hornbook award and the society of children's book writers' golden kite award. she was the recipient of the washington post/children's book guild award for the body of her work.