Aesop Prize and Aesop Accolades. Folklore. Winners. 1992 to present

Aesop Prize and Aesop Accolades

The Aesop Prize and Aesop Accolades are 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.

2008 Aesop Prize

Ain’t Nothing But a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry. Scott Reynolds Nelson, with Marc Aronson. National Geographic, 2008.

Scott Nelson’s outstanding work is a meticulously documented historiography of his lengthy search to find the historical roots of the legend of John Henry, rather than a retelling of the well-known story and song. Derived from his academic book for adults, Steel Drivin’ Man: John Henry and the Untold Story of an American Legend (Oxford University Press, 2006), his research has been recast, with the assistance of Marc Aronson, as non-fiction for a younger audience, heavily illustrated with period photographs of railroad history. The research on the origin of the legendary figure is fascinating, while the work also provides insight into what it me

ans to be a historian or a folklorist. Nelson stresses the open-ended nature of history as process, not simply an endless account of facts and dates. In examining the historical process, he demonstrates the role that research into folklore can play in revealing previously unwritten history.

Nelson is not the first to ask whether there was an actual historical figure behind the well-documented song recounting an epic battle between man and machine, in which a steel-driving man outperformed a steam drill, but died as a result of the contest. However, he has unearthed new evidence and presents it persuasively to suggest that there was a real John William Henry, incarcerated in the Virginia Penitentiary in 1866 at the age of 19, who was one of over 300 African-American prisoners who died as a result of being contracted out to work on the C&O Railway. He includes an intriguing picture , taken in 1863, of a young black man named John Henry who worked in the Union Army’s 3rd Army Corps in Virginia, but he acknowledges that he can not prove that this is the same man. The Aesop committee’s comments note that "by exposing the racial complications of the story, [Nelson] provides insight not only into the history of one song, but also into the complex relationship of history, race, and folk memory." Aronson’s afterword, "How to Be a Historian," extends the importance of the story to young readers by emphasizing ways that they themselves can participate in the historical process.

2008 Aesop Accolades

Dance in a Buffalo Skull. Told by Zitkala-Ša. Illustrated by S. D. Nelson. Prairie Tales Series, no. 2. South Dakota State Historical Society Press, 2007.

S. D. Nelson’s stunning illustrations bring new life to the language used by Zitkala-Ša (Gertrude Simmons Bonnin) when in 1901 she retold a story she heard as a child on the Yankton Sioux Indian Reservation. In this small-format picture book, the breathtaking artwork by Nelson, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, heightens the suspense of this tale of night on the prairie, as happy mice feast and dance inside a buffalo skull, heedless of danger, while a wildcat silently creeps close, attracted by their merriment. The sensory imagery is rich, drawing out the sights and sounds of the prairie. Zitkala-Ša’s powerful storytelling makes this an excellent choice for reading aloud.

Zitkala-Ša, herself Lakota, born in 1876 on the Yankton Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota, served as a bridge between the tribal people of her birthplace and the white society that educated her in a Quaker mission boarding school, Earlham College, and the New England Conservatory for Music. As a writer, political activist, and musician, she sought to convey for a white audience, the traditions, values, and worth of her Indian heritage. This voice from the past is still strong today as her love for the teaching tale she learned from the Elders shines through in this story. One Aesop committee member commented, "For someone writing a hundred years ago as an indigenous author, trying to present her culture to an outsider audience, I think she did an incredible job - and I love the way Nelson’s illustrations enhance the language for a modern audience and make it clear how well-done her telling really is." The work of the South Dakota Historical Society Press, in its ongoing efforts to reflect the rich and varied history of South Dakota and to preserve its colorful culture and heritage, merits recognition.

The Adventures of Molly Whuppie and Other Appalachian Folktales. Anne Shelby. Illustrated by Paula McArdle. University of North Carolina Press, 2007.

Storyteller Anne Shelby’s updated Appalachian sensibility brings a charming twist to a collection of stories based on traditional tale types. The dynamic storytelling voice has the ring of folk wisdom, with a flair for the fun in the familiar. Heroine Molly Whuppie encounters witches, giants, an ogre who refuses to do housework, unwanted boyfriends, and a spectrum of puzzling predicaments. This clever and courageous girl manages to circumvent catastrophe with a potent combination of nerve, trickery, and plain old luck. Other characters include Molly’s sisters Poll and Betts, the famous Appalachian hero Jack (rescued more than once by Molly herself), and three cornbread-baking mice. In looking for stories with a strong woman or girl character, Shelby brings together the British Molly Whuppie with the Appalachian Munciemeg or Mutsmag. She also borrows some stories more commonly associated with Jack or the less well-known Appalachian male Merrywise. Whimsical illustrations complement the witty delivery and enliven the text.

Shelby is frank about the liberties she has taken in bringing a modern sensibility to her adaptations, but she carefully notes her sources and acknowledges the changes she has made. While she sometimes transforms male characters to female, she also brings existing women characters to the forefront, as in her version of "Raglif Jaglif Tartliff Pole," in which the often anonymous giant’s daughter who saves Jack’s life is transformed into an Appalachian Molly. She notes her driving criteria: "I had to have some evidence of the story’s having been told in the Appalachian region, and I had to like it." The Aesop committee especially commends "the care with which she preserves unique cultural expressions that give her stories such a strong flavor of Appalachian language;" a language she herself grew up with in eastern Kentucky in the 1950s. This collection is sure to appeal to readers, young and old alike.

2007 Aesop Prize Winner

The Legend of Hong Kil Dong: the Robin Hood of Korea. Retold by Anne Sibley O'Brien. Charlesbridge, 2006.

O’Brien has retold this early 17th century Korean tale in graphic novel format. The story concerns a young boy who cannot claim his birthright because his mother is a commoner while his father is a powerful minister. Hong Kil Dong is determined to claim his rightful place in society, so he dedicates himself to the study of swordplay, martial arts, divination, and magic and becomes the leader of a band of bandits who steal from the rich and give to the poor. Hong Kil Dong is finally made minister of war by the king, thereby accomplishing what he had set out to do. O’Brien uses all of the techniques of graphic novels (changes in frame size and placement, word and thought balloons, and the space between frames that readers must fill with their own imagination) and one wordless, double-page spread to convey the energy, vitality, and honor of this hero. The illustrations in ink and watercolor capture the mythical aura of the tale and avoid cultural stereotyping, while an author’s note at the end explains her rediscovery of the story after hearing it as a young girl in Korea, and it gives further contextual information in a pronunciation guide, some historical notes, and a short guide to Korean costume and symbolism. These ten symbols of longevity appear in a wordless one-page spread as Hong Kil Dong sets out to seek his birthright (a wonderful foreshadowing of his eventual triumph). The final page of the book describes her sources and professional contacts. Comments from the Aesop committee include: “extensive notes and excellent contextual background give the reader a sense of how this story ‘fits’ into Korean culture,” “a popular format, culturally authentic, and superb attention to detail in the illustrations,” “the graphic novel approach and compelling story combine to make this a book that will be returned to time and again by children, particularly perhaps, boys,” and “this book opens your eyes to the possibilities of what a well designed graphic novel is capable.”

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.

This delightful collection of forty-three Jewish tales (legends, religious tales, medieval fables, wisdom tales, anecdotes, trickster tales, riddle stories, and more) is meticulously researched. Each story begins with an introduction that sets the stage for the folktale, much as a storyteller would do in performance. The stories are then written in prose that rings true to the ear, as folklore should; Oberman shows himself to be a consummate storyteller. Following each tale, is a Note that provides further insight into the story, a Commentary that gives personal context and relevance to the tale, and a section of Sources and Variants that provides the reader with other sources in which to find the tale as well as major motifs and tale types for further research. The scholarly introduction by Peninnah Schram provides insight into the place of folklore in Jewish life. Comments from the Aesop committee include: “fine selections, vibrant storytelling, and well-presented source notes,” “a superbly crafted book, and the writing style and book design are definitely for children,” “not only are the stories entertaining, but the reader can take various paths through the book using the introductory notes, commentary, and sources.”

Tatanka and the Lakota People: a Creation story. Illustrated by Donald F. Montileaux. South Dakota State Historical Press, 2006.
Written in both Lakota and English and illustrated in bold colors and strokes by Oglala Lakota artist Montileaux, this story has been handed down for generations by Lakota Elders to help Lakota children understand the world in which they live. Montileaux “had the story line and the information from my ancestors,” thus revealing it origins in oral culture. Now, in book form, it can also help other children understand part of the Lakota culture. The tale shares how the Buffalo Nation was created and given life and purpose in the Underworld. Then Spider, the trickster, sent wolf to the strongest young man, Tokahe, to tell him that life would be easier on the surface of the earth. The holy man, Tatanka, warned the people not to go, but they climbed up through Wind Cave and arrived in the Black Hills. Life on earth was not easy as Spider had claimed, but Tatanka came to earth as the buffalo so that his people would have food, shelter, and clothing. This story is culturally authentic, and the style of the text (spare and uncluttered) complements the style of the illustrations (reminiscent of traditional buffalo robe paintings) to create a unified whole so vital to any picture book. The introduction gives the reader an understanding of how stories and storytelling are part of Lakota life, and the final page describes the real Wind Cave in South Dakota and provides further readings. Aesop award committee comments include: “this book’s honest and subtle way of portraying the folklore and art of the Lakota people is refreshing,” “the way the book came into being and the way it tells the story are part of its meaning and value,” “this picture book would work well with older children who can appreciate the paradoxical simplicity of its style and complexity of its mythic and legendary origins.”

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.

Brazilian Folktales. By Livia de Almeida and Ana Portella, edited by Margaret Read MacDonald. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited, 2006.

2005 Aesop Prize

From the Winds of Manguito: Cuban Folktales in English and Spanish. Retold by Elvia P�rez. Edited by Margaret Read MacDonald. Translated by Paula Martin. Illustrated by VÍctor Francisco Hernández Mora. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited, 2004.

Roy Makes a Car by Mary E. Lyons. Illustrated by Terry Widener. New York: Atheneum, 2005.

2005 Aesop Accolades

The Flying Canoe. Retold by Roch Carrier. Translated by Sheila Fischman. Illustrated by Sheldon Cohen. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Tundra Books, 2004.

Grandma Lena's Big Ol' Turnip by Denia Lewis Hester. Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic. Morton Grove, Illinois: Albert Whitman and Company, 2005.

The Minister's Daughter by Julie Hearn. New York and London: Atheneum, 2005.

2004 Aesop Prize

Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs: A Treasury of Islamic Wisdom for Children and Parents. Collected and adapted by Sarah Conover and Freda Crane. Illustrated by Valerie Wahl. Spokane, Washington: Eastern Washington University Press, 2004.

The Magic Gourd. Written and illustrated by Baba Wagué Diakité. New York: Scholastic Press, 2003.
2004 Aesop Accolades

Bottle Houses: The Creative World of Grandma Prisbrey. Written by Melissa Eskridge Slaymaker. Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. New York: Henry Holt, 2004.

The Painted Wall and Other Strange Tales. Selected and adapted by Michael Bedard from the Liao-Chai of Pu Sung-ling. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2003.

Sure as Sunrise: Stories of Bruh Rabbit & His Walkin’ Talkin’ Friends. Written by Alice McGill. Illustrated by Don Tate. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.

Walking on Solid Ground. By Shu Pui Cheung, Shuyuan Li, Aaron Chau and Deborah Wei. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Folklore Project, 2004.

2003 Aesop Prize

Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet: Mexican Folktales. Selected by Neil Philip. Illustrated by Jacqueline Mair. New York: Clarion Books, 2003.

Mightier Than the Sword: World Folktales for Strong Boys. Collected and told by Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Raul Colon. San Diego: Silver Whistle/ Harcourt, Inc., 2003.

2003 Aesop Accolades

Invisible Kingdoms: Jewish Tales of Angels, Spirits, and Demons. Retold by Howard Schwartz, illustrated by Stephen Fieser. New York: HarperCollins, 2002.

Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales. [written and illustrated by various hands] New York: W. W. Norton, 2002.

Pajaro Verde: The Green Bird. By Joe Hayes, illustrated by Antonio Castro L. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos, 2002.

Something for Nothing. By Ann Redisch Stampler, illustrated by Jacqueline M. Cohen. New York: Clarion Books, 2003.

The Sun, the Rain, and the Apple Seed: A Novel of Johnny Appleseed's Life. By Lynda Durrant. New York: Clarion Books, 2003.

Yonder Mountain: A Cherokee Legend. Told by Robert H. Bushyhead, written by Kay Thorpe Bannon, illustrated by Kristina Rodana. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2002.

2002 Aesop Prize

Can You Guess My Name? Traditional Tales Around the World. Selected and retold by Judy Sierra. Illustrated by Stefano Vitale. Clarion Books, 2002.

One Time Dog Market at Buda and Other Hungarian Folktales. Translated and retold by Irma Molnér. Illustrations by Georgeta-Elena Enesel. Linnet Books, 2001.

2002 Aesop Accolades

Head, Body, Legs: A Story from Liberia. Retold by Won-Ldy Paye and Margaret H. Lippert. Illustrated by Julie Pashkis. Henry Holt, 2002.

The Race of the Birkebeiners. Written by Lise Lunge-Larsen. Illustrated by Mary Azarian. Houghton Mifflin, 2001.

Shakespeare's Storybook: Folk Tales That Inspired the Bard. Retold by Patrick Ryan. Illustrated by James Mayhew. Barefoot Books, 2001.

2001 Aesop Prize

Fiesta Feminina. Celebrating Women in Mexican Folktale. Retold by Mary-Joan Gerson. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez. Barefoot Books, 2001.

2001 Aesop Accolades

Mabela the Clever. Retold by Margaret Read MacDonald. Illustrated by Tim Coffey. Albert Whitman, 2001.

Daisy and the Doll. By Michael Medearis and Angela Shelf Medearis. Paintings by Larry Johnson. Vermont Folklife Center, 2001.

2000 Aesop Prize

The Day the Rabbi Disappeared: Jewish Holiday Tales of Magic. Text by Howard Schwartz. Illustrations by Monique Passicot. Viking, 2000.
2000 Aesop Accolades

The Hunter: A Chinese Folktale. Text by Mary Casanova. Illustrations by Ed Young. Atheneum, 2000.

In the Hollow of Your Hand: Slave Lullabies. Text by Alice McGill. Illustrations by Michael Cummings. Houghton, Mifflin, 2000.

Stockings of Buttermilk: American Folktales. Text by Neil Philip. Illustrations by Jacqueline Mair. Clarion, 1999.

1999 Aesop Prize

King Solomon And His Magic Ring. Text by Elie Wiesel. Illustrations by Mark Podwal. Greenwillow, 1999.

Trickster And The Fainting Birds. Text by Howard Norman. Illustrations by Tom Pohrt. Harcourt Brace, 1999.

1999 Aesop Accolades

The Deetkatoo: Native American Stories About Little People. Text by John Bierhorst. Illustrations by Ron Hilbert Coy. William Morrow, 1998.

The Donkey And The Rock. Text and illustrations by Demi. Henry Holt, 1999.

The Hatseller And The Monkeys. Text and illustrations by Baba Wagu? Diakit?. Scholastic, 1999.

Why Leopard Has Spots: Dan Stories From Liberia. Text by Won-Ldy Paye and Margaret H. Lippert. Illustrations by Ashley Bryan. Fulcrum, 1998.

1998 Aesop Prize:

Echoes Of The Elders: The Stories And Paintings Of Chief Lelooska. Text and illustrations by Chief Lelooska. DK Publishing, Inc., 1997.

1998 Aesop Accolades:

The Girl Who Dreamed Only Geese And Other Tales Of The Far North. Text by Howard Norman. Illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon. Harcourt Brace, 1997.

The Hatmaker'S Sign: A Story By Benjamin Franklin. Text by Candace Fleming. Illustrations by Robert Andrew Parker. Orchard, 1998.

The Legend Of The White Buffalo Woman. Text and illustrations by Paul Goble. National Geographic Society, 1998.

Momentos Magicos/Magic Moments: Tales From Latin America. English and Spanish texts by Olga Loya. August House, 1997.

1997 Aesop Prize:

Earth Tales From Around The World. Text by Michael J. Caduto. Illustrations by Adelaide Murphy Tyrol. Fulcrum, 1997.

The Hired Hand: An African-American Folktale. Text by Robert D. San Souci. Illustrations by Jerry Pinkney. Dial Books for Young Readers, 1997.
1997 Aesop Accolades:

Bouki Dances The Kokioko: A Comical Tale From Haiti. Text by Diane Wolkstein. Illustrations by Jesse Sweetwater. Harcourt Brace, 1997.

The Cricket's Cage: A Chinese Folktale. Text and illustrations by Stefan Czernecki. Hyperion, 1997.

Esther's Story. Text by Diane Wolkstein. Illustrations by Juan Wijngaard. Morrow Junior Books, 1996.

Full Moon Stories: Thirteen Native American Legends. Text and illustrations by Eagle Walking Turtle. Hyperion, 1997.

Musicians Of The Sun. Text and illustrations by Gerald McDermott. Simon & Schuster, 1997.

The Sea King's Daughter: A Russian Legend. Text by Aaron Shepard. Illustrations by Gennady Spirin. Atheneum, 1997.

1996 Aesop Prize:

Next Year In Jerusalem. Text by Howard Schwartz. Illustrations by Neil Waldman. Viking, 1996.

Nursery Tales Around The World. Text by Judy Sierra. Illustrations by Stefano Vitale. Clarion, 1996.

1996 Aesop Accolades:

The Biggest Frog In Australia. Text and illustrations by Susan L. Roth. Simon and Schuster, 1996.

The Maiden Of the Northland: A Hero Tale Of Finland. Text by Aaron Shepard. Illustrations by Carol Schwartz.

Medio-Pollito/Half-Chicken. Text by Alma Flor Ada. Illustrations by Kim Howard. Doubleday, 1996.

Mysterious Tales Of Japan. Text by Rafe Martin. Illustrations by Tatsuro Kiuchi. G.P. Putnam, 1996.

Princess Florecita And The Iron Shoes. Text by John Warren Stewig. Illustrations by K. Wendy Propp. Apple Soup Books, 1995.

Songs For Survival: Songs And Chants From Tribal Peoples Around The World. Compiled by Nikki Siegen-Smith. Illustrations by Bernard Lodge. Dutton, 1995.

The Story Of The Milky Way: A Cherokee Tale. Text by Joseph Bruchac and Gayle Ross. Illustrations by Virginia A. Stroud. Dial, 1995.

The Turkey Girl. Text by Penny Pollock. Illustrations by Ed Young. Little Brown, 1996.

When The World Was Young: Creation And Pourquoi Tales. Text by Margaret Mayo. Illustrations by Louise Brierley. Simon and Schuster, 1995.

Wicked Jack. Text by Connie N. Wooldridge. Illustrations by Will Hillenbrand. Holiday House, 1995.

The Woman In The Moon: A Story From Hawai'i. Text by Jama Kim Rattagan. Illustrations by Carla Golembe. Little Brown Canada, 1996.

1995 Aesop Prize:

Fair Is Fair: World Folktales Of Justice. Text by Sharon Creeden. August House, 1994.

1995 Aesop Accolades:

Coyote And The Winnowing Birds: A traditional Hopi tale. Based on a story told by Eugene Sekaquaptewa. Translated by Emory Sekaquaptewa and Barbara Pepper and illustrated by Hopi children. Clear Light, 1994.

Duppy Talk: West Indian Tales Of Magic And Mystery. Text by Gerald Hausman. Simon and Schuster, 1994.

Giants! Stories From Around The World. Text by Paul Robert Walker. Illustrations by James Bernardin. Harcourt Brace, 1995.

The Gifts Of Wali Dad: A Tale Of India And Pakistan. Text by Aaron Shepard. Illustrations by Daniel San Souci. Atheneum, 1995.

When The World Ended, How Hummingbird Got Fire, How People Were Made: Rumsien Ohlone Stories. Text and illustrations by Linda Yamane. Oyate, 1995.

Why Alligator Hates Dog: A Cajun Folktale. Text by J.J. Reneaux. Illustrations by Donnie Lee Green. August House, 1995

1994 Aesop Prize:

John Henry. Text by Julius Lester. Illustrations by Jerry Pinkney. Dial, 1994.

1994 Aesop Accolades:

Baba Yaga: A Russian Folktale. Text and illustrations by Katya Arnold. North-South, 1993.

The Bossy Gallito. Text by Lucia M. Gonzalez. Illustrations by Lulu Delacre. Scholastic, 1994.

Christopher: The Holy Giant. Text and illustrations by Tomie de Paola. Holiday House, 1994.

Coyote And Little Turtle: A Traditional Hopi Tale. Told by Herschel Talashoema and illustrated by Hopi children of the Hotevilla-Bacavi Community School. Translated and edited by Emory Sekaquaptewa and Barbara Pepper. Clear Light, 1994.

The Girl Who Wanted To Hunt: A Siberian Tale. Text by Emery Bernhard. Illustrations by Durga Bernhard. Holiday House, 1994.

The Magic Storysinger From The Finnish Epic Tale Kalevala. Text and illustrations by M.E.A. McNeil. Stemmer House, 1993.

The Mummer's Song. Text by Bud Davidge. Illustrations by Ian Wallace. Afterword by Kevin Major. Douglas & McIntyre, 1993.

Shadow Of A Flying Bird: A Legend Of The Kurdistani Jews. Text and illustrations by Mordecai Gerstein. Hyperion, 1994.

1993 Aesop Prize:

This was the first year in which Aesop Accolades were awarded. Two books shared the Aesop Prize:

Cut From The Same Cloth: American Women In Myth, Legend, And Tall Tale. Text by Robert D. San Souci. Illustrations by Brian Pinkney. Philomel, 1993.

Love Flute. Text and illustrations by Paul Goble. Bradbury, 1993.

1993 Aesop Accolades:

Big Men, Big Country: A Collection Of American Tall Tales. Text by Robert Paul Walker. Illustrations by James Bernardin. Harcourt Brace, 1993.

The Green Gourd: A North Carolina Folktale. Text by C.W. Hunter. Illustrations by Tony Griego. G.P. Putnam, 1992.

Ishi's Tale Of Lizard. Text by Leanne Hinton. Illustrations by Susan L. Roth. Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, 1992.

Northern Lights: The Soccer Trails. Text by Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak. Illustrations by Vladyana Krykorka. Annick Press, 1993.

Sundiata: Lion King Of Mali. Text and illustrations by David Wisniewski. Clarion, 1993.

Surtsey: The Newest Place On Earth. Text by Kathryn Lasky. Photographs by Christopher G. Knight. Hyperion, 1992.

In 1992, the first year of the Aesop Award, two books shared the prize:

Aesop And Company With Scenes From His Legendary Life. Text by Barbara Bader. Illustrations by Arthur Geisert. Houghton Mifflin, 1992.

Days Of Awe: Stories For Rosh Hashanah And Yom Kippur. Text by Eric A. Kimmel. Illustrations by Erika Weihs. Viking, 1992.