Robert D. San Souci (1946–2014)
Author of The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South
About the Author
Robert D. San Souci was born on October 10, 1946 in San Francisco, California. He attended college at St. Mary's College in Moraga. After holding jobs in book stores and in publishing, he became a full-time author in 1974. He was best known for his adaptations of folklore for children. During his show more lifetime, he wrote more than 100 books for young readers including Song of Sedna, Kate Shelley: Bound for Legend, The Talking Eggs, Two Bear Cubs, Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella, Brave Margaret: An Irish Tale, Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow, and Cinderella Skeleton. He wrote 12 books which were illustrated by his younger brother Daniel San Souci including The Legend of Scarface, Sister Tricksters: Rollicking Tales of Clever Females, and As Luck Would Have It: From The Brothers Grimm. He also wrote nonfiction works for children, several novels for adults, and the film story for Disney's Mulan. The Legend of Scarface won the Notable Children's Trade Book in the Social Studies, National Council for the Social Studies, and was a Horn Book honor list citation. Sukey and the Mermaid won the American Library Association's Notable Book citation in 1992 and Cut from the Same Cloth won an Aesop Award from the Children's Folklore Section of the American Folklore Society. He died on December 19, 2014 at the age of 68. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: randomhouse.com
Works by Robert D. San Souci
The Little Ghost (Hooked on Phonics) 2 copies
Thirty Terrifying Tales 1 copy
Los Huevos Parlantes 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- San Souci, Robert D.
- Birthdate
- 1946-10-10
- Date of death
- 2014-12-19
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- San Francisco, California, USA
- Place of death
- San Francisco, California, USA
- Places of residence
- San Francisco, California, USA
- Education
- St. Mary's College (BA|Creative Writing)
- Occupations
- bookstore manager
copy editor
screenwriter - Relationships
- San Souci, Daniel (brother)
San Souci, Michael (brother) - Short biography
- Robert Daniel San Souci (October 10, 1946 – December 19, 2014) was a multiple award-winning children's book author, who resided in San Francisco, California. He often worked with his brother, Daniel San Souci, a children's book illustrator. He was a consultant to Disney Studios and was instrumental in the production of the film Mulan, for which he wrote the story. He studied folklore in graduate school. He died after suffering a head injury due to a fall in San Francisco in December 2014. [from Wikipedia]
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Discussions
Scary Stories book from the Elementary school library, Taily-po + others in Name that Book (May 2016)
Clever Princess, Lazy Prince, Russian Feel Fairy Tale in Name that Book (January 2012)
Reviews
This is taken from the American South, specifically the Creole collection of Louisiana stories.
As a young girl, a widow with two daughters lived in a poor farm. They hoped their luck would change so that they could be well-dressed and successful high-born ladies. Mean and cross, they and their mother loved to bully Blanche, the youngest child. She did all the work around the house and was severely punished for no reason. While performing the task of obtaining cold water, Blanche was found by an old lady dressed in a black garment. When she gave the old lady some cold water, the lady walked far into the woods.
When Blanche returned to nasty group, she cried and in despair, ran away. She found the old woman who treated her well. She was tested when asked not to laugh at what she will find at the elder woman's house. While she found some very silly things, still, she did not laugh.
After a period of time, she was told to return to her original home. but before leaving, she was told to collect eggs in the hen house. She was instructed only to take the eggs that said "Take me," Those that were heavily jeweled and gold and silver were to be left alone, and when they said "Don't Take Me," Blanche needed to heed the instructions. Told to toss the eggs over her shoulders one at a time, she received many treasures.
The wicked mother was able to gain information from Blanche regarding the treasures, and she and the other two daughters went to the house of the old lady. Laughing at the objects Blanche did not, and collecting all the eggs, Throwing them over their shoulders did not accomplish the gift of jewels, rather there were nasty animals that could harm them.
The end of the story: Blance left the wicked family and living the life of a grand lady. Whit for the remaining years of their lives, the mother and sisters tried, but never could find the old lady again.… (more)
As a young girl, a widow with two daughters lived in a poor farm. They hoped their luck would change so that they could be well-dressed and successful high-born ladies. Mean and cross, they and their mother loved to bully Blanche, the youngest child. She did all the work around the house and was severely punished for no reason. While performing the task of obtaining cold water, Blanche was found by an old lady dressed in a black garment. When she gave the old lady some cold water, the lady walked far into the woods.
When Blanche returned to nasty group, she cried and in despair, ran away. She found the old woman who treated her well. She was tested when asked not to laugh at what she will find at the elder woman's house. While she found some very silly things, still, she did not laugh.
After a period of time, she was told to return to her original home. but before leaving, she was told to collect eggs in the hen house. She was instructed only to take the eggs that said "Take me," Those that were heavily jeweled and gold and silver were to be left alone, and when they said "Don't Take Me," Blanche needed to heed the instructions. Told to toss the eggs over her shoulders one at a time, she received many treasures.
The wicked mother was able to gain information from Blanche regarding the treasures, and she and the other two daughters went to the house of the old lady. Laughing at the objects Blanche did not, and collecting all the eggs, Throwing them over their shoulders did not accomplish the gift of jewels, rather there were nasty animals that could harm them.
The end of the story: Blance left the wicked family and living the life of a grand lady. Whit for the remaining years of their lives, the mother and sisters tried, but never could find the old lady again.… (more)
Great book for kids who enjoy scary stories. I first read this when I was about 9 or 10 years old. Upon re-reading some of the stories came back to me, some didn't. The stories are mostly re-tellings of folk tales and there is a note at the beginning of each saying what region the story comes from. I think it's cool that the author wrote an appendix so you can research the stories more and maybe track down the original wording of a particular one.
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Witchy Fiction (1)
Midwestern Books (1)
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Sending him on the path of Judge Goodkin to trance his beautiful daughter, the dapper looking man instantly fell in love with Mistress Goodkin. Polly brought him inside to meet her father. walking away, she realized she was in love with with the handsome man. Looking in the mirror in the hall as Polly walked in front of him, he did not see a handsome man, but the scarecrow.
When Polly saw the scarecrow, she cried, remembering the handsome man that she longed for. No matter what, if he was a scarecrow or a handsome man, she loved him and visited the field where he stood, she continue to visit him each day.
Mother Rigby dared to say she was not a witch and thus broke the spell. And together they walked away hand in hand.… (more)