What are the Aesop Prize and the Aesop Accolades?
The Aesop Prize and Accolades, awarded by the Children’s Folklore Section, recognize exceptional books, for children or young adults, that are based on folklore. The folklore must be accurately presented in the text and illustrations and add to the reader’s understanding of folklore.
To Be Eligible for the 2025 Competition:
- Folklore should be central to the book’s content and, where present, to its illustrations.
- The folklore presented should accurately reflect the culture and worldview of the people whose folklore inspired the book.
- The reader’s understanding of folklore should be enhanced by the book, and the book should be enhanced by the presence of folklore.
- The book must reflect the high artistic standards of the best of children’s literature and have strong appeal to the child reader.
- Books may be fiction or nonfiction, but must be published in the English language. Books in which the text is presented both in English and in another language are also eligible.
- Books must be published between August 15, 2024, and September 15, 2025.
- Folklore sources–whether oral or written–must be acknowledged and source annotations (where applicable) should be referenced within the bound contents of the publication.
To Submit Your Title(s) to the Competition:
- Submit your application details using the AFS Prize Application Form
- Send one (1) copy of each book to all members of the Aesop Prize Committee:
- Brant Ellsworth, 518 Kingston Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17112
- Spencer Green, 1520 MacIntosh Way, Hummelstown PA 17036 (Chair)
- K. Brandon Barker, Department of Folklore, Indiana University, 800 E 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47405
To be considered, books must be received by August 15, 2025. Bound galleys are acceptable, provided publication date is no later than September 15.
Awardees
2024
The Legend of Slappy Hooper: An American Tall Tale, retold by Aaron Shephard, illustrated by Toni Goffe and published by Athenaeum and Skyhook Press
What’s in This Little Round Hole?: A Whimsical Kentucky Folktale Game, retold by Mary-Lou Hagen Montagna, illustrated by Chris Beatrice and published by Wildway Publishing
Accolades
Chang’e by Katrina Moore, illustrated by Cornelia Li and published by HarperCollins
2022
Blancaflor, The Hero with Secret Powers: A Folktale from Latin America written by Nadja Spiegelman, illustrated by Sergio García Sánchez and published by Toon Books
A Bedtime Full of Stories: 50 Folktales from around the World written by Angela McAllister, illustrated by Anna Shepeta and published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Accolades
The Man of the Moon written by Gunvor Bjerre, illustrated by Miki Jacobsen and published by Inhabit Media
Across the Rainbow Bridge: Stories of Norse Gods and Humans written by Kevin Crossley-Holland, illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love, and published by Candlewick Press
2021
Duncan Tonatiuh for his book Feathered Serpent and the Five Suns
Questions? Email cf.section@afsnet.org. To acquire seals for winning books, contact Priscilla Ord.