About Robert D. San Souci

Robert Daniel San Souci (October 10, 1946 – December 19, 2014) was a multiple award-winning children's book author known most for his retellings of folktales for children. A native Californian, Robert D. San Souci was born in San Francisco and raised across the bay in Berkeley. He often worked with his brother, Daniel San Souci, a children's book illustrator. He was widely sought as a presenter at conferences, trade shows, and in schools across the country. Mr. San Souci was the recipient of numerous awards throughout his career, and his adaptations are, according to Mary M. Burns in Horn Book, typified by "impeccable scholarship and a fluid storytelling style."[3]

His version of the Chinese legend of a young woman who takes her father’s place in war, posing as a man to fight the Tartars and winning glory in battle, was the basis for the Disney film Mulan, and he also wrote the story for the film. His output was primarily picture books, which were often retellings of folklore, but he has contributed original works to the horror and fantasy genres and has also put out non-fiction works aimed at children and adults. He was also a regular contributor to a variety of magazines for young readers including Cobblestone, Faces, Calliope, and Appleseeds.