I was prepared to dislike this but I liked it very much. The illustrations are incredible, I cannot believe this is the same illness strator as the No, David books.

Content Concern- if you prefer to search out voices that are Native American for these folktales- this is not that. But it is beautiful.

Independent Reading Level: Grades 3-4
Honors/Awards: Georgia Children's Book Award (Winner – Picturebook – 1994)
Nebraska Golden Sower Award (Winner – Little Bluestem (Picture Book) – 1994)
Patricia Gallagher Children's Choice Picture Book Award (Winner – 1999)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee – Grades K-3 – 1995)

I absolutely love that this book is a Native American version of Cinderella. It utilizes pictures that would build one's imagination vividly of Indigenous people and their traditions realistically. It is mystical and timeless!

I also love that the author uses the character traits of the Rough-Face Girl to depict lessons of morality. The first one teaches the moral of being beautiful on the inside regardless of one's appearance on the outside. The second take away lesson of the story is that people who are cruel and inconsiderate to others receive their just reward as do those who are kind and humane to others.

It"s a fairy tale about an Algonquin girl (youngest of three girls) who was disfigured by the sparks of fire that she is expected to attend too. She lives with her father and two mean sisters. The sisters are spoiled and beautiful. Even though their father is poor, he still gives them what they want while the youngest, Rough-Face, receives broken worn out leftovers.

There is a mysterious Invisible Being, who is handsome, lives by a lake near her village. He is looking for a wife with the help of his sister. Every girl in the village wants to marry the Invisible Being, but before they can, they have to answer his sister's questions about him. Of course, the girls who are ugly at heart lie when answering questions, so they are sent back shamed.

Rough-Face girl wants to marry the Invisible Being too. She sadly has to make do with whatever leftovers she is given by her father for her dress, jewels, and moccasins. People in the village make fun of her as she was through the village towards the lake where the Invisible Being's wigwam is. But when the Invisible Being and his sister finally meet the Rough-Face Girl, they see at once that she is a beautiful, humble person on the inside, her heart. They are impressed with her resilience, humbleness, and honesty. The Invisible Being turns her into her original beautiful self with no scars, Shiny black hair, beautiful skin. They live happily ever after married. ( )

This was a really cool take on the Cinderella story. Though kind of creepy, but this did pull me in.

Independent Reading Level: Grades 2-5
NE Golden Sower Award (Primary Award winner, 1994)
Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee (1994)
Georgia Children's Book Award (1994.1 | Picturebook, 1993-1994)
Virginia Readers' Choice Award (1995.1 | Primary, 1994-1995)
ORA Patricia Gallagher Children's Choice Picture Book Award (1999)