Daniel San Souci was born in San Francisco, and grew up across the Bay in Berkeley, California. He attended the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, California. Over his twenty-year career as an author and illustrator, he has published nearly fifty children’s books, including thirteen with his brother, Robert.

“There was real excitement about literature in my family when I was growing up,” says Daniel. “When I wasn’t running around with my friends, I could usually be found lying on the rug in my room with all my books.” When he started reading on his own, his parents gave him a set of the Scribners Classics. It was at this time that he discovered the great illustrators, N.C. Wyeth and Howard Pyle. “The moment I saw their paintings adorning the pages of those adventure books, I knew that I, too, wanted to be a book illustrator,” he says.

Before World War II, Daniel’s father worked in New York City as graphic artist. He was very talented and thought it was important for his son to have a good foundation in drawing. “In the evenings after dinner, my father and I would clear the kitchen table, and sit down and draw together. He really enjoyed teaching me and encouraged me to draw every free moment I had,” says Daniel.

In 1978, Daniel illustrated his first book, “The Legend of Scarface, A Blackfeet Indian Tale,” which his brother Robert retold. Daniel’s books cover a variety of subjects, but his wildlife books are his favorites. He has just completed “Antelope, Bison, Cougar, A National Park Wildlife Alphabet Book.” He calls this book the achievement of a lifelong dream of using his art to demonstrate the beauty and importance of wildlife in our country’s national parks.

Daniel lives in the East Bay hills with his wife Loretta, who is a children’s librarian. They have three children, Yvette, Justin, and Noelle.

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