Robert D. San Souci

Robert Daniel San Souci (October 10, 1946 – December 19, 2014) was an American children's book author known for his retellings of folktales for children. He often worked with his brother, Daniel San Souci, a children's book illustrator. He presented at conferences, trade shows, and in schools in the United States.^[1] According to Mary M. Burns in Horn Book, his adaptations are typified by "impeccable scholarship and a fluid storytelling style."^[2]

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 the battle, was the basis for the Disney film Mulan; he wrote the story for the film.^[3] His produced primarily picture books, which were often retellings of folklore, but he also contributed original works to the horror and fantasy genres as well as creating non-fiction works aimed at children and adults.^[4] He was a regular contributor to a number of magazines, including Cobblestone, Faces, Calliope, and Appleseeds.^[5]