Aesop was a slave and storyteller from ancient Greece. Although the authorship of the fables included here are largely unknown, many are attributed to him, and references to Aesop can be found in the work of other writers from that period. Regardless, it is in part their connection to Aesop that makes these fables so enduring: These are the stories humankind has been telling since antiquity. Illustrator Eric Carle (1929-2021) was an award-winning American artist and designer known for his children's book illustrations, especially his colorful collage illustrations made from hand-painted paper.