Robert San Souci

Biography

Robert San Souci was born in San Francisco and still resides there, but his travels have taken him all across the country, where he has found inspiration for many of his books. His many popular titles include The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South and The Faithful Friend (both Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honor Books); Fa Mulan: The Story of a Woman Warrior (he also wrote the screen story for Disney's animated Mulan); and Two Bear Cubs, a retelling of the traditional Miwok story with its setting in California's magnificent Yosemite Valley.

Books were always important in Robert's family. His parents read continually, and his house was well supplied with books of all sorts.

As a writer, Robert is always trying to push himself. Cinderella Skeleton is his first book all in rhyme—and he had the double pleasure of writing the film story for Disney's Mulan and publishing his original, historically grounded retelling of the classic tale Fa Mulan based on the nearly 2,000-year-old Ballad of Mulan.

For more information read "Sharing My Story," an interview from the Appleseeds 2001 issue, Becoming a Writer, written for Cobblestone Publishing.

Honorarium
$1,000 per full-day visit plus travel expenses for an overnight stay

Note: Travel expenses include airfare, lodging, and meals. Travel is from San Francisco, so schools in a given area may find it helpful to bring the author in for several days and split expenses accordingly.

Program description
A one-day visit usually includes three 50-minute presentations, covering introductory remarks on how Robert became a writer and on working with his brother Daniel, a book illustrator, on nine books. Robert presents slides illustrating how he has created a variety of picture books exploring the folklore of America and many other countries and cultures, as well as a variety of historical periods. There is usually time for a brief question-and-answer session with the audience. There is no limit on the number of students in a session. Presentations are altered to be age-specific for different grade levels. Robert is open to the possibility of brief visits to kindergartners (a.m. and p.m. classes), talking with PTA and PTO groups, a local library appearance, etc., if desired. Photographing, videotaping, etc. are permitted. Parents are welcome to sit in on a session along with their youngsters.

Equipment needs

• Carousel slide projector (with an extra bulb to be kept in case of emergency)
• Screen
• Microphone (if the group to be addressed is large enough to require the use of one)
• Room capable of being darkened for a slide show

Note: Robert requires that someone (teacher, student, parent, or volunteer) sit at the projector to advance the slides on the author's signal.

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How to Order Books for a Visit
Order from this booklist 

Selected Titles

The Boy and the Ghost
Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
(Simon & Schuster, 1989)

A poor boy hopes to win a fortune for himself and his family by spending the night in a haunted house and bravely standing up to a frightening ghost.

Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella
Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
(Simon & Schuster, 1998)

"You may think you know this story I am going to tell you, but you have not heard it for true." A Caribbean fairy godmother provides a fresh twist on a beloved tale.

Cinderella Skeleton
Illustrated by David Catrow
(Harcourt, 2000)

In this frightfully delightful version of the story, Cinderella is a spindly skeleton whose chores include hanging up cobwebs, arranging dead flowers, dirtying the floor, and feeding the bats.

Dare to Be Scared: Thirteen Stories to Chill and Thrill
Illustrated by David Ouimet
(Cricket Books, 2003)

The award-winning author presents thirteen scary stories—of ghosts, dark fantasy, science fiction, and things that make you "jump." These tales are ideal for telling around campfires, during summer sleepovers, or for reading under the covers while listening for ghosts.

Double-Dare to Be Scared: Another Thirteen Chilling Tales
Illustrated by David Ouimet
(Cricket Books, 2004)

Written in San Souci's trademark style for maximum jitters, and illustrated with Ouimet's eerie black-and-white drawings, this second volume includes ghost stories, science fiction, dark fantasy, and "jump" stories for reading aloud with friends or alone on a stormy night.

Feathertop
Illustrated by Daniel San Souci
(Boyds Mills Press, 2006)

When a witch creates a scarecrow and uses him to play a joke on the local judge, the judge's daughter falls in love with the scarecrow. Based on a tale by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Little Pierre: A Cajun Story from Louisiana
Illustrated by David Catrow
(Harcourt, 2003)

When Little Pierre's good-for-nothing brothers flub their attempt to rescue a damsel in distress from the Swamp Ogre, Pierre must rescue them. Will this half-pint hero find out that his brothers were right all along—brains don't beat brawn?

The Reluctant Dragon
Written by Kenneth Grahame; retold by Robert D. San Souci
Illustrated by John Segal
(Orchard, 2004)

Based on Kenneth Grahame's original story, this charming retelling is highlighted by Segal's unique comic illustrations, giving this classic tale a humorous twist.

Short & Shivery: Thirty Chilling Tales
Illustrated by Katherine Coville
(Random House, 1989)

These stories from international ghost lore are skillfully retold with ghastly details and strong, shuddery endings. But before you settle down in your cozy reading chair, make sure all the lights are on!

The Silver Charm: A Folktale from Japan
Illustrated by Yoriko Ito
(Random House, 2002)

Young Satsu goes out to play with his best friends, a puppy and a fox cub. But a horrible ogre snatches him up, and now the puppy and the fox cub must save their friend and master.

Sister Tricksters: Rollicking Tales of Clever Females
Illustrated by Daniel San Souci

A collection of trickster tales from the American South, featuring such female animal characters as Molly Cottontail and Miz Goose.

The Twins and the Bird of Darkness: A Hero Tale from the Caribbean
Illustrated by Terry Widener
(Simon & Schuster, 2002)

When the Bird of Darkness takes Princess Marie, twin brothers Soliday, who is brave and kind, and Salacota, who is cowardly, set off to fight the beast and rescue the princess.

Triple-Dare to Be Scared: Thirteen Further Freaky Tales
Illustrated by David Ouimet
(Cricket Books, 2007)

A story collection for middle readers offers thirteen diverse scary stories, including fantasy, science fiction, and ghost tales, from the author of Cinderella Skeleton and Witch Baby

Two Bear Cubs: A Miwok Legend from California's Yosemite Valley
Illustrated by Daniel San Souci
(Yosemite Association, 1997)

This authentic Southern Sierra Miwok legend recounts the origin of Yosemite Valley's El Capitan rock. Mother Grizzly Bear thinks that her two playful cubs are wrestling and having fun along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley while she is checking her fish traps. When she returns to join them, the cubs are nowhere to be found.

The Well at the End of the World
Illustrated by Rebecca Walsh
(Seastar, 2004)

In the spirit of The Talking Eggs, award-winning author San Souci has once again created a heroine whose generosity and courage save the day as she searches for the healing powers of a magical well.

ZigZag
Illustrated by Stefan Czernecki
(August House Publishers, 2005)

When the dollmaker creates Zigzag from scraps, she promises him, "Some child will love you." This gives the strange-looking doll hope. But the other dolls and stuffed animals in the shop don't want such an ugly toy around. Clinging to the promise that a child will someday love him, little Zigzag sets out to find a home.

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