Brave Margaret

Brave Margaret: An Irish Adventure
by Robert D. San Souci,‎ illustrated by Sally Wern Comport

Young Margaret has always dreamed of what adventure may lie beyond the horizon as she tends to her cattle on her farm along the sea in western Ireland. So when a handsome prince appears one day asking to buy cattle to feed his ship's crew, she strikes a bargain to sell him all her cattle if he'll agree to take her with him.

No sooner do they depart but a sea serpent attacks the ship, demanding the crew send Margaret overboard to him. Unafraid, Margaret rows out fight the monster, defeating it handily with her ax. Unfortunately, the dying creature's death throes send the ship out to sea and Margaret is a castaway on strange shore where she meets an old woman with a new quest to fight a dragon. When her prince fails, it's up to Margaret to save him, and herself.

Robert D. San Souci's tale revives the old Irish story of Margaret and Simon, with healthy heaping of adventure and bravery, and just enough romance. The illustrations by Sally Wern Comport are vibrant and full of energy. I found myself going back to look at them long after I'd finished the story, captivated by their intensity. It's rare that I'd want to own artwork based on a picture book, but in this case I would love a series showing Margaret showing off her strength and power.

Brave Margaret: An Irish Adventure (Amazon / Library) earned the Self-Rescuing Princess Society seal of approval for its tale of a brave young woman who pursues her dream and then fights against any foes who try to take it from her. It's a great book for early readers who love stories of adventure and bravery, as well as an excellent storytime choice for younger children.

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Sukey and the Mermaid

Sukey and the Mermaid
by Robert D. San Souci,‎ illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Taking a scrap of a folktale of a young girl living among the sea islands off the coast of South Carolina, Robert D. San Souci crafts a powerful story about a brave young woman and how she finds an escape from a home ruled by her harsh stepfather when she is taken in by a beautiful mermaid

At first, the Mama Jo gives Sukey gold coins to give her family, but after being chased off by Sukey's stepfather, she only returns to carry a sick Sukey down to her home under the water where she would be safe.

For a while Sukey thrives under the sea, but loneliness for human companionship brought her back to the surface, now a grown woman with a treasure chest to afford her some comfort. And a warning from the mermaid to choose the right husband. Of course, Sukey's stepfather ruins things for her, and Sukey must return to the mermaid for one last favor.

Sukey and the Mermaid (Amazon / Library) earns the Self-Rescuing Princess Society seal of approval for telling the story of a young woman's adventure and the benevolent water goddess who shows her the power of true love and goodness. The illustrations by Robert Pinkney are stunningly beautiful, capturing the movement of the water and the life in and around it. The story is told in the language even the youngest readers can understand, and because it is so elegantly illustrated it makes a great storytime book for all ages.

[Note: I have included Amazon Affiliate links in this post. I am exploring options for increasing my income from this blog to help me to continue to bring you the important stories of kickass women and girls. While I will always work to tell these stories, I have bills to pay. By all means feel free to look for these books elsewhere if you prefer. If you want to help support the work I do here, please consider using these links to shop.]

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If you like what you read, please share this post with your friends.

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