New Releases by Robert D. San Souci

When a benevolent king and his daughter, Princess Marie, find their peaceful kingdom threatened by an enormous, evil, seven-headed bird, the brave princess offers herself as the bird''s hostage in order to prevent the entire kingdom from being thrust into eternal darkness. As soon as Soliday, a kindhearted, hardworking, and generous youth hears about the princess''s sacrifice, he vows to kill the Bird of Darkness and save Marie. His identical twin brother -- the jealous, lazy, and dishonest Salacotta -- accompanies Soliday on the dangerous journey, but doesn''t lift a finger in order to rescue the princess or slay the monstrous bird. And the second Salacotta sees his chance to claim that he was the one who freed the princess, he does just that. Will Soliday be able to convince everyone that he is indeed who he says? Will his brother admit his treachery? Will Soliday ever be able to trust his twin again? This timeless and resonant folktale about the forces of good and evil and the redemptive power of brotherly love is the perfect story for the ages.

Princess Rosamond isn''t your typical princess. She prefers good books to good looks and keeps both the royal accounts and the castle drawbridge in working order. When her greedy stepmother and stepsister scheme to spend the royal treasury and her father, the king, falls ill, Rosamond must set out in search of the one thing that can cure him—the healing waters found in the magical well at the end of the world. In the spirit of The Talking Eggs, award-winning author Robert San Souci has once again created a feisty heroine whose generosity and courage save the day combined with Rebecca Walsh''s vibrant paintings. This is an adventure story that readers will turn to again and again.

A friendship is tested by love and magic in this beautiful retelling of a traditional tale from the French West Indies. On the lush tropical island of Martinique live Clement and Hippolyte, two inseparable friends. When Clement falls in love with the beautiful Pauline, Hippolyte agrees to join his best friend on his journey to propose marriage. But when Pauline accepts Clement’s proposal, it enrages her uncle Monsieur Zabocat—reputed to be a quimboiseur, a wizard. To prevent the wedding, the old wizard lures Hippolyte into a deadly trap, forcing him to choose between his friend’s safety and his own.

How foolish could six Cajuns on the bayou possibly be? Down in Louisiana bayou country, six friends--Jules, Jacques, Jean, Ti-Paul, Philippe, and Pierre-love to go out fishing on their pirogues. But these fellows are very foolish indeed. It isn''t long before one silly misunderstanding after another results in a hilarious and ridiculous Cajun-flavored folktale that will delight readers young and old. An alternate version of the traditional Seven Foolish Fishermen, this story contains Cajun words and phrases, expressive and bright illustrations, and irresistible good humor.

Thirty hair-raising stories from around the world fill this spooky collection with delicious shivers and spine-tingling chills—perfect for fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark! Sit down and meet "The Vampire Cat," "The Draug" and "The Rolling Head"; or take a stroll with "The Thing in the Woods." You''ll find favorites such as "The Golden Arm" and startling new stories such as "Knock...Knock...Knock," vividly told with plenty of ghastly details and spooky endings. There''s something here for everyone who likes a good shudder...but be prepared for goose bumps! Twenty delightfully creepy illustrations by Katherine Coville and Jacqueline Rogers highlight this companion to Robert San Souci''s first collection of scary stories, Short & Shivery.

Scare-master Robert San Souci serves up ten chilling tales about untraditional haunted houses: a mansion full of pirate treasure, a ghost trapped in a mysterious dollhouse, a boy whose vacation house comes complete with people-eating spiders, and many more. But beware because not all of the protagonists in these stories get out alive.

Provides a collection of scary traditional tales from all over the world.

Make story time a little spookier with this Halloween-themed collection of ghost stories, spooky shorts, and frightening folktales from all over the world! “No one travels these roads after dark. Those who are found the next day, if they are still alive, will have gone mad.” Chills and thrills to make your flesh crawl with fear! Turn the lights down low and grab your favorite reading chair. But first, you’d better check behind you. . . . Ghosts, monsters, murders, and madmen! These thirty stories have been collected for your reading displeasure from all over the globe, and represent the world’s best scary stories and frightening folktales, featuring famous authors such as Washington Irving and the Brothers Grimm. Welcome to a chilling world of hair-raising tales!

As water pours over the wheel of a busy sawmill in Virginia, a stranger tells Old Sam, the owner, that he wants to learn the trade. Old Sam is happy to take on a hired hand, and Young Sam, his son, is glad to have someone to boss around. One day, as the New Hand stacks the sweet-smelling boards, an old farmer complains about a misery in his back. The New Hand offers to fix him up and in private mixes a handful of sawdust and a touch of magic, with unexpected results. The farmer is not only cured, he¿s young again! But when conniving Young Sam tries to do the same, he finds himself in big trouble. Can the New Hand set things right? A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year.

A collection of thirteen diverse scary short stories for young readers, including fantasy, science fiction, and ghost tales.

DeWayne''s friend is acting creepy, and DeWayne needs to get away-fast. Because in Double-Dare to Be Scared, being a regular kid doesn''t mean you''re safe. And having friends is even less of a guarantee. Robert D. San Souci, author of Dare to Be Scared, has spun another thirteen original tales to keep night-lights burning across the country. There''s something for every brave reader, as stories range from campfire grabbers to unsettling thrillers and combine elements of folklore and pop culture. Black-and-white scratchboard illustrations by David Ouimet complement the macabre mood of the collection. If Dare to Be Scared thrilled you, or if you''re a newcomer who likes to be spooked, read on. We double-dare you to be scared. What''s creepier than being lost in the woods all alone? How about being lost in those woods, and sensing that you'' re not alone? Robert D. San Souci, popular author of Dare to Be Scared, has spun another thirteen masterful tales to keep nightlights burning across the country. Fans of his first book will be thrilled to find not only the same spirit of scary fun, but even deeper, darker twists and surprises. Newcomers will discover something for every (daring) palate, with stories that range from campfire grabbers to unsettling chillers, and combine elements of folklore and pop culture.

With some help from a group of field mice, an odd-looking doll--named Zigzag for his crooked mouth--searches for a child to love him.

Edgar Rice Burroughs'' story of the boy raised by apes is now accessible to a new generation of young readers in this exciting picture book. Tarzan, whose name means white skin,Ó is adopted by a tribe of apes, but as he grows older, he begins to realize that he is not like the others. When he explores the abandoned cabin of his dead parents, he discovers that he is something called human,Ó a species that uses reason & intelligence. These special human qualities give him the power he needs to become ruler of the apes. But at the same time, he knows that he cannot always be among them; he must leave to follow his destiny as a man. Dramatically illustrated with vivid scratchboard paintings by Michael McCurdy.

Finding Me

A collection of thirty short and spooky tales from the folklore of Russia, Virginia, Ireland, Canada, and other areas of the world.

A rhyming retelling of the story of a young woman who finds her prince at a Halloween ball despite the efforts of her wicked stepmother. The main characters are skeletons.

A retelling of the original Chinese poem in which a brave young girl masquerades as a boy and fights the Tartars in the Khan''s army.

An Irish adventure in time for St. Patrick''s Day! When a ship arrives in the harbor, Margaret seizes the chance to see the world. But the adventure brings danger, and soon she must face a sea serpent, a giant, and a sorceress who wants to make Margaret a pawn in a plan of her own. It takes a magic ring, an enchanted sword--and the discovery that she is as brave as any man--to bring Margaret and her true love safely home. Full color.

A retelling of the original Chinese poem in which a brave young girl masquerades as a boy and fights the Tartars in the Khan''s army.

Recounts the coming of the Pilgrims to America, with illustrations by N.C. Wyeth.

Presents the life of Guinevere from her girlhood to her betrothal to King Arthur.

When a Japanese woodcutter breaks his promise and describes his encounter with a terrifying snow woman, he loses his wife and must make a dangerous journey to win her back.

Here''s a story in the best American folk tradition. It combines a ghost, a hidden treasure, and an appealing young character who sets out to make his fortune, and does so by courage, kindness and the sort of innocence that invariably succeeds in folk literature. Thomas is the youngest of seven children. His parents work from sunup to sundown on their little back-country farm, but earn barely enough to keep food on the table. Thomas goes out into the world to help remedy the situation and, along the way, shows kindness to a stranger. The stranger rewards him by leading him to a house in which a treasure is hidden, but guarded by a fearsome ghost. Through San Souci''s gently scary words and Pinkney''s wonderfully atmospheric illustrations, Thomas outwits the ghost and wins the day -- and the treasure.

A Southern folktale in which kind Blanche, following the instructions of an old witch, gains riches, while her greedy sister makes fun of the old woman and is duly rewarded.

Explores the mystery of the legendary beast said to inhabit Scotland''s Loch Ness and which has always eluded scientific scrutiny. Is it a leftover dinosaur or a harmless folktale?

Tony Kovacs, seventeen, realizes that he is the only one who can stop a bloodthirsty succubus from increasing her powers