Elek Benedek ("Elek Apó"/"Uncle Elek," 1859-1929) was a Hungarian children’s author, journalist, editor and politician. Born in Kisbacon, Transylvania, he collected folktales from the region, setting them down and popularizing them through his prolific writings. He is to this day regarded as the "godfather" of Hungarian folk stories and has been read to generations of Hungarian children.