Syd's work has won numerous awards:
- American Library Association
- The American Library Association gave four of Syd's recordings Notable Children's awards.
- Storytelling World Magazine
- Storytelling World Magazine gave their Gold Award to three of Syd's recordings.
- Parents' Choice
- Parents' Choice gave their Gold Award to two of Syd's recordings.
- IBM and Good Housekeeping
- IBM and Good Housekeeping sent Syd's recording "Joseph the Tailor" to every elementary school in the nation as part of their Tell-Me-a-Tale Celebration.
- National Storytelling Network
- National Storytelling Network inducted Syd into its Circle of Excellence.
- Chicago's Golden Apple Foundation
- Chicago's Golden Apple Foundation awarded Syd their prestigious Golden Apple Award for his work as a high school English teacher.
- Major institutions and organizations such as the Smithsonian and NASA have commissioned Syd to write and perform hour-long histories.