The Samurai's Daughter

The Samurai's Daughter
by Robert D. San Souci, illustrated by‎ Stephen T. Johnson

I was not prepared for the power of this story of a brave young woman, Tokoyo, who embarks on an epic journey to save her father. Robert D. San Souci has a knack for finding fascinating folktales and this is no exception.

The heroine of this story is one of the diving women of Shima, but when her father is exiled to a distant island, she is determined to join him, even though it means she must travel through the mountains and across the ocean.

When she arrives on the island, she is immediately drawn into saving a young maiden from being eaten by a sea serpent. "I am the daughter of a samurai, and duty demands that I help the weak."She uses her diving skills to attack the monster, and after a brave battle she finally kills it and drags its carcass onto the beach.

The Samurai's Daughter (Amazon / Library) earned the Self-Rescuing Princess Society seal of approval for telling the story of Tokoyo, a fearless daughter of a warrior, who becomes one herself as she performs feats of bravery to protect the innocent. The illustrations by Stephen T. Johnson beautifully capture the imagination, bringing the story to life. Robert D. San Souci's writing is, as always, spellbinding, building excitement while simultaneously educating. This book is an excellent choice for early readers who love tales of adventure, as well as an enjoyable storytime or bedtime book for younger kids.

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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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Kate Shelley: Bound for Legend

Kate Shelley: Bound for Legend
by Robert D. San Souci, illustrated by Max Ginsburg

When the rain keep coming, and the water kept rising, fifteen-year-old Kate Shelley knew she had to act quick. She threw on an old coat and ran out to the barn to save her family's horses and cows, driving them to higher ground.

Later that evening, when she heard a terrible crashing noise, she knew the train bridge crossing the raging creek nearby had given way under the weight of a locomotive engine. Without a second thought, she grabbed a lantern and ran out to try to reach the station in time to alert them to the danger, and save the lives of passengers coming through on the late night express, due in an hour.

Robert D. San Souci's reputation as preeminent children's book author is well deserved, and his talent is on display in this book. He captures the drama and excitement of this tale of bravery, making this a powerful story for all readers. Max Ginsburg's beautiful paintings bring the story to life on the page, from the thrilling scenes of Kate crawling across the bridge over the tempestuous river, to the heartwarming images of Kate's family life before and after her death-defying feat of bravery.

Kate Shelley: Bound for Legend (Amazon / Library) earns the Self-Rescuing Princess Society seal of approval for sharing the story of a brave young woman jumped at the chance to help others, even at the risk of her own life. It's told in language that younger children can understand, making it an excellent storytime choice as well as a great book for middle grade readers.

[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.]

I can't do the work of SRPS without your your support!
If you like what you read, please share this post with your friends.

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