The Aesop Prize and Aesop Accolades are literary awards conferred annually by the Children's Folklore Section of the American Folklore Society upon English language books for children and young adults, both fiction and nonfiction.
About the prize The Prize and the Accolades are for books published in the previous two years. Winners are announced at the annual meeting of the American Folklore Society each October. The Prize was first awarded in 1992. The Accolades were first awarded in 1993.
Prize review criteria Folklore should be central to the book's content and, if appropriate, to its illustrations. The folklore presented in the book should accurately reflect the culture and worldview of the people whose folklore is the focus of the book. The reader's understanding of folklore should be enhanced by the book, as should the book be enhanced by the presence of folklore. The book should reflect the high artistic standards of the best of children's literature and have strong appeal to the child reader. Folklore sources must be fully acknowledged and annotations referenced within the bound contents of the publication.
Recipients of the prize and accolades 2023 Aesop Prize
The Real Dada Mother Goose: A Treasury of Complete Nonsense. Written by Jon Scieszka. Illustrated by Julia Rothman. Candlewick. 2022.
2023 Aesop Accolades
Nine Color Deer. Written and illustrated by Kailin Duan. Translated by Jeremy Tiang. Levine Querido. 2022. Ancient Night. Written by David Bowles. Illustrated by David Alvarez. Levine Querido. 2023.
2022 Aesop Prize
Blancaflor, The Hero with Secret Powers: A Folktale from Latin America. Written by Nadja Spiegelman. Illustrated by Sergio García Sánchez. Toon Books and Toon Graphics. 2021. A Bedtime Full of Stories: 50 Folk Tales and Legends from Around the World. Written by Angela McAllister. Illustrated by Anna Shepeta. Frances Lincoln Children's Books. 2021.
2022 Aesop Accolades
The Man of the Moon: And Other Stories from Greenland. Retold by Gunvor Bjerre. illustrated by Miki Jacobsen. Translated from Danish by Charlotte Barslund. Inhabit Media. 2021. Across the Rainbow Bridge: Stories of Norse Gods and Humans. Written by Kevin Crossley-Holland. Illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love. Candlewick Studio. 2021.
2021 Aesop Prize
Feathered Serpent and the Five Suns: A Mesoamerican Creation Myth. Written and Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh. Abrams Books for Young Readers.
2021 Aesop Accolades
The Shaman's Apprentice. By Zacharias Kunuk. Illustrated by Megan Kyak-Monteith. Inhabit Media Inc. ISBN 978-1-77227-268-0. The Book of Secrets. Written and Illustrated by Mat Tonti, Color work by Dan Siber. Kar-Ben Publishing. El Cucuy is Scared, Too! By Donna Barba Higuera. Illustrated by Juliana Perdomo. Abrams Books, 2021.
2020 Aesop Prize
The Fabled Life of Aesop, by Ian Lendler. Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020)
2020 Aesop Accolades
Under the Cottonwood Tree: El Susto de la Curandera, by Paul and Carlos Meyer. Art by Margaret Hardy (Los Angeles: North Fourth Publications, 2019) Lola: A Ghost Story, by J. Torres. Illustrated by Elbert Or (Portland: Oni Press Publication, 2020) The Moose of Ewenki, by Gerelchimeg Blackcrane. Illustrated by Jiu Er. Translated by Helen Mixter (Vancouver: Greystone Kids, 2020) A World of Spooky Stories: 50 Tales to Make your Spine Tingle, by Angela McAllister. Illustrated by Madalina Andronic (London: Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2019)
2019 Aesop Prizes
Peg Bearskin, as told by Mrs. Elizabeth Brewer. Adapted by Philip Dinn and Andy Jones. Illustrated by Denise Gallagher (Newfoundland: Running the Goat Books & Broadsides Inc., 2019) Raisins and Almonds: A Yiddish Lullaby, by Susan Tarcov. Illustrated by Sonia Sánchez (Minneapolis: Kar-Ben Publishing, 2019)
2019 Aesop Accolades
Honu and Moa, by Edna Cabcabin Moran (Kane'ohe: BeachHouse Publishing, 2018) Takaanaaluk, by Herve Paniaq. Illustrated by Germaine Arnaktauyok (Iqaluit: Inhabit Media Inc., 2018) Riding a Donkey Backwards: Wise and Foolish Tales of Mulla Nasruddin, retold by Sean Taylor and the Khayaal Theatre. Illustrated by Shirin Adl (Somerville: Candlewick Press, 2018)
2018 Aesop Prize
The Dragon Slayer: Folktales from Latin America, by Jaime Hernandez. Illustrated by F. Isabel Campoy (New York: Toon Books, 2017)
2018 Aesop Accolades
Spirited Away: Fairy Stories of Old Newfoundland, by Tom Dawe. Illustrated by Veselina Tomova (Newfoundland: Running the Goat Books & Broadsides Inc., 2017) Muskrat and Skunk: A Lakota Drum Story, retold and illustrated by Donald F. Montileaux (Pierre: South Dakota Historical Society Press, 2017) Norse Myths: Tales of Odin, Thor, and Loki, by Kevin Crossley-Holland. Illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love (Somerville: Candlewick Studio, 2017) Wordwings, by Sydelle Pearl (Toronto: Guernica Editions, 2017)
2017 Aesop Prize
Noodleheads See the Future, by Tedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton, and Mitch Weiss. Illustrated by Tedd Arnold (New York: Holiday House, 2017)
2017 Aesop Accolades
The Secret of the Kelpie, retold by Lari Don and Illustrated by Phillip Longson (Edinburgh: Floris Books, 2016) The Wishing Foxes, by Margaret REad MacDonlad. Illustrated by Kitty Harvill with Jen Whitman and Nat Whitman (New Orleans: Plum Street Publishers, 2017) Yokki and the Parno Gry. by Richard O'Neill and Catherine Quarmby. Illustrated by Miarieke Nelissen (Swindon: Child's Play, 2017)
2016 Aesop Prizes Lowriders to the Center of the Earth, by Cathy Camper and Raúl the Third (San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2016) I Am Pan!, by Mordecai Gerstein (New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2016) 2016 Aesop Accolades The Princess and the Warrior, by Duncan Tonatiuh (New York: Abrams, 2016) The Storyteller, Evan Turk (New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2016)
2015 Aesop Prize West of the Moon, by Margi Preus (New York: Amulet Books, 2014) Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes, by Rick Riordan, illustr. by John Rocco (New York: Disney/Hyperion, 2015) 2015 Aesop Accolades Tree Matters, by Gangu Bai, V. Geetha and Gita Wolf (Tara Books Private Limited, 2014) My Grandfather's Coat, by Jim Aylesworth and Barbara McClintock (Scholastic Press, 2014) The Legend of the Beaver's Tail, by Stephanie Shaw (Ann Arbor: Sleeping Bear Press, 2015)
2014 Aesop Prize Chinese Fables: “The Dragon Slayer” and Other Timeless Tales of Wisdom, by Shiho S. Nunes (Tokyo/Rutland, Vermont: Tuttle Publishing, 2013) 2014 Aesop Accolades Never Say a Mean Word Again: A Tale from Medieval Spain, by Jacqueline Jules (Bloomington, Indiana: Wisdom Tales Press, 2014) We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song, by Debbie Levy (New York: Disney Jump At the Sun, 2013) Tasunka: A Lakota Horse Legend, by Donald Montileaux (Pierre, SD: South Dakota State Historical Society Press) Gobble you up!, by Gita Wolf (Berkeley, CA: Publishers Group West: Tara Books, 2013)
2013 Aesop Prize Looks Like Daylight, by Deborah Ellis (Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2013) 2013 Aesop Accolades Written in Stone, by Rosanne Parry (New York, New York, Random House, 2013) Nasreddine, by Odile Weulersse, illustr. by Rébecca Dautremer (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2013) Whiskers, Tails & Wings: Animal Folktales from Mexico, by Judy Goldman, illustr. by Fabricio VandenBroeck (Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2013)
2012 Aesop Prize Which Side Are You On?, by George Ella Lyon, illustr. by Christopher Cardinale (El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press, 2011) 2012 Aesop Accolades Mouse & Lion, by Rand Burkert, illustr. by Nancy Ekholm Burkert (New York: Michael di Capua/Scholastic, 2011) The Matatu, by Eric Waters, illustr. by Eva Campbell (Victoria, BC: Orca 2012) Walking on Earth & Touching the Sky: Poetry and Prose by Lakota Youth at Red Cloud Indian School, by Timothy P. McLaughlin, illustr. by S.D. Nelson (New York: Abrams, 2012)
2011 Aesop Prize Trickster: Native American Tales, A Graphic Collection, ed. by Matt Dembicki (Golden, CO: Fulcrum Books, 2010) 2011 Aesop Accolades Odetta: The Queen of Folk, by Stephen Alcorn and Samantha Thornhill (New York: Scholastic, 2010) The Arabian Nights, by Wafa’ Tarnowska, illustr. by Carole Hénaff (Cambridge, MA: Barefoot Books, 2010) It's Not About the Rose!, by Veronika Martenova Charles, illustr. by David Parkins (Plattsburgh, NY: Tundra Books, 2010) It's Not About the Crumbs!, by Veronika Martenova Charles, illustr. by David Parkins (Plattsburgh, NY: Tundra Books, 2010) It's Not About the Pumpkin!, by Veronika Martenova Charles, illustr. by David Parkins (Plattsburgh, NY: Tundra Books, 2010) It's Not About the Hunter!, by Veronika Martenova Charles, illustr. by David Parkins (Plattsburgh, NY: Tundra Books, 2010) It's Not About the Apple!, by Veronika Martenova Charles, illustr. by David Parkins (Plattsburgh, NY: Tundra Books, 2010)
2010 Aesop Prize Joha Makes a Wish: A Middle Eastern Tale, adapted by Eric A. Kimmel, illustr. by Omar Rayyan (Marshall Cavendish Children, 2010) 2010 Aesop Accolades Cloud Tea Monkeys, by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham, illustr. by Juan Wijngaard (Candlewick Press, 2009) Firebird, retold by Saviour Pirotta, illustr. by Catherine Hyde (Templar Books, an imprint of Candlewick Press, 2010)
2009 Aesop Prize Dance, Nana, Dance (Baila, Nana, Baila), by Joe Hayes, illustr. by Mauricio Trenard Sayago (Cinco Puntos Press, 2008) The Kalevala: Tales of Magic and Adventure, adapted by Kirsti Mäkinen, illustrated by Pirkko-Liisa Surojegin, transl. by Kaarina Brooks (Simply Read Books, 2009) Naupaka, by Nona Beamer, illustr. by Caren Ke’ala Loebel-Fried, transl. from the Hawai’ian by Kaliko Beamer-Trapp, music by Keola Beamer (Bishop Museum Press, 2008) (Includes audio CD). 2009 Aesop Accolades The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales, by Dawn Casey, illustr. by Anne Wilson (Barefoot Books, 2009) Jack Tales and Mountain Yarns as told by Orville Hicks, transcription and text by Julia Taylor Ebel, illustr. by Sherry Jenkins Jensen (Parkway Publishers, Inc. 2009) Polish Folktales and Folklore, by Michal Malinowski and Anne Pellowski (Libraries Unlimited, 2009) Princess Peacock, Tales from the Other Peoples of China, by Haiwang Yuan (World Folklore Series, Libraries Unlimited, 2008) Tsunami!, by Kimiko Kajikawa, illustr. by Ed Young (Phiomel Books, 2009) 2009 Special Recognition - given to Libraries Unlimited for their scholarly efforts in compiling the comprehensive World Folklore Series.
2008 Aesop Prize Ain’t Nothing But a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry, by Scott Reynolds Nelson, with Marc Aronson (National Geographic, 2008) 2008 Aesop Accolades Dance in a Buffalo Skull, told by Zitkala-Ša, illustr. by S. D. Nelson (Prairie Tales Series, no. 2. South Dakota State Historical Society Press, 2007) The Adventures of Molly Whuppie and Other Appalachian Folktales, by Anne Shelby, illustrated by Paula McArdle (University of North Carolina Press, 2007)
2007 Aesop Prize Lugalbanda: The Boy Who Got Caught Up In a War, told by Kathy Henderson, illustrated by Jane Ray (Candlewick, 2006) The Legend of Hong Kil Dong: the Robin Hood of Korea, retold by Anne Sibley O'Brien (Charlesbridge, 2006) 2007 Aesop Accolades Solomon and the Ant and Other Jewish Folktales, retold by Sheldon Oberman. Introduction and commentary by Peninnah Schram (Boyds Mills Press, 2006) Tatanka and the Lakota People: A Creation Story, illustrated by Donald F. Montileaux (South Dakota State Historical Press, 2006)
2006 Aesop Prize Malian's Song. By Marge Bruchac, illustrated by William Maughan. Middlebury, Vermont: Vermont Folklife Center, 2005. Outfoxing Fear: Folktales From Around the World. Edited by Kathleen Ragan. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. 2006 Aesop Accolades Chál tó yinílo‘: Frog Brings Rain. By Patricia Hruby Powell. Flagstaff, Arizona: Salina Bookshelf, 2006.