Can someone give me the title and author of this children's book?

Question

I used to love it when I was younger but I forgot the title. The story is fairly similar to Cinderella but the characters are Native Americans. The evil sisters tortured the "Cinderella" of the story by making her sit by the fire and she wore rags and bandages and had scars. Instead of trying on a shoe, the girls were asked questions about the invisible "prince" they wanted to marry. The "Cinderella" answers all the questions correct and in the end, the prince let's her take a bath in some magical pond or pool, and it washes away all her scars. I would love it if some one could give me the title of this story....

Answer 1

There are two that I know of offhand:

The Rough-Face Girl (Hardcover)
by Rafe Martin

From Publishers Weekly
In this Algonquin Indian version of the Cinderella story, two domineering sisters set out to marry the "rich, powerful, and supposedly handsome" Invisible Being, first having to prove that they can see him. They cannot, but their mistreated younger sister the Rough-Face Girl--so called because the sparks from the fire have scarred her skin--can, for she sees his "sweet yet awesome face" all around her. He then appears to her, reveals her true hidden beauty and marries her. Shannon ( How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have? ) paints powerful, stylized figures and stirring landscapes, heightening their impact with varied use of mist, shadows and darkness. His meticulous research is evident in intricate details of native dress and lodging. In places, though, he struggles with the paradox of illustrating the invisible--an eagle, tree, cloud and rainbow form the face of the Invisible Being in one disappointingly banal image. For the most part, however, the drama of these haunting illustrations--and of Martin's ( Foolish Rabbit's Big Mistake ) respectful retelling--produce an affecting work. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 3 Up-- Simply, in the words of an oral storyteller, Martin retells an Algonquin folktale. The youngest of three sisters is forced by the other two to sit by the fire and feed the flames, which results in the burning and scarring of her hair and skin. Desirous of marriage to an Invisible Being who lives in a huge wigwam across the village, these cruel siblings must prove to his sister that they have seen him, but they fail. The Rough-Face Girl, however, sees the Invisible Being everywhere and can answer his sister's questions correctly. Comparable in presentation to Caroline Cunningham's ``The Little Scarred One'' from The Talking Stone (Knopf, 1939; o.p.; reprinted in Castles and Dragons , Crowell, 1958; o.p.), but different in detail, this is a splendid read-aloud. It is the only single illustrated version available. Shannon's finely crafted full- and double-page acrylic paintings in the rich hues of the earth embody the full flavor of the story. His stunning cover portrait shows at one glance both the girl's beauty and her frightful scars. Another in the recent succession of Cinderella stories, The Rough-Face Girl begs for comparison with Princess Furball (Greenwillow, 1989), Tattercoats (Putnam, 1989), Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (Lothrop, 1987), Moss Gown (Clarion, 1987), etc., and will provide both entertainment and a cultural lesson.
- Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Sootface (Paperback)
by Robert D. San Souci

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4-Sootface's mother is dead, her sisters beat her, and her father doesn't intervene. Her face is always smeared with soot, and her hair is horribly singed from the cookfire. In spite of all this, she remains resilient-she knows that one day she will escape her circumstances. A mighty warrior who has the power to make himself invisible decides to marry the woman who is kind enough of heart to see him. Several attractive maidens, including Sootface's sisters, try and fail. Now, Sootface is resourceful-no fairy personage shows up to magically bestow finery upon her or to fix up her hair. She prepares herself the best she can and goes off to meet him. She exclaims on the beauty of his bow-it's made of a rainbow and strung with stardust. He materializes, renames her Dawn-Light, and they are betrothed. The retelling is lively, flows well, and brings out the harshness of the heroine's situation, and yet it is not without humorous touches. The full-page watercolors dramatically convey the natural woodland setting, the jeers of Sootface's sisters and fellow villagers, and the serenity and kindness of the warrior and his sister. Sootface's dazed expression remains rather similar throughout-until the end, when she is transformed by love into a beautiful girl. Altogether a refreshing and rewarding "Cinderella" variant.
Vanessa Elder, School Library Journal
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
Ages 5-9. In this Ojibwa tale, Sootface is a young woman who does all the cooking, mending, and fire tending for her father and her two mean and lazy older sisters. When the mysterious invisible warrior announces through his sister that he will take for his bride a woman with a kind and honest heart, only Sootface proves worthy. The tale has been told before, even in picture-book format, but the San Souci version reads aloud well, and the watercolor artwork illustrates the story with quiet grace. A satisfying picture book for reading aloud or alone, and a good choice for classes studying Native Americans or comparative folklore. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


I've read both of them. They are extremely similar. But it is probably Rough-Faced girl you're thinking of.

For even more info on Cinderella across cultures...
http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/cinderella/index.html

Answer 2

hey,
I am not sure of the title,but look it up on the web, type cinderella stories(native american.) Everything can be found on the net!

But i wanted to share i think i have read this story too.
Is it revolved around a jungle setting, where the prince is different objects throughout the story?
If not then let me just share, there is another incredible cinderella story where a prince changes forms and appears to the wicked SISTER, only one, the father of the cinder girl, (also native) is frowned upon because she was not nearly as beautiful or succesful as the older sister. But the prince appears to the wicked sister in forms of a beggar asking for water. The wicked sister is disgusted and refuses to help, but cinderella helps the "prince" in disguise. When it comes time to choose a bride the prince sees the kindness in cinderellas heart and marries her!
Your story sounds so similar but its not the same is it?
Sorry i don't know the title. Guess i kinda just wasted your time sorry

But thankyou. I haven't been reminded of that story since fifth grade
GOOD LUCK!

Answer 3

I, too, am very certain you mean "the rough faced girl."

I have used that book in creative drama and storytelling with kids a ton of times, I love it.

Laney Po's answer is so super and I'm going to run out and try to track down a copy of "sootface," which I've never read.
I'm definitely going to check out the link she provided as well regarding cinderella across cultures. Cinderella variants pop up around the world and some fantastic children's authors and illustrators have tackled the tales, like "Rough Faced Girl" or "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters," which is an African version of the Cinderella story.

Answer 4

My oldest (18) is interpreting The Wrath of Ezra by Obert Skye and the harmful Days of Daniel X by James Patterson. next oldest (13) is interpreting Lot's of Limericks by Rebecca Perry(she's no longer a lot of a reader lol) and New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (see the trend?) 0.33 baby (10) is interpreting evening of the Soul Stealer by Joseph Delaney and the position the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein.. Fourth baby (8) is interpreting Igraine the courageous by Cornelia Funke and The Paper Doorway by Dean Koontz (poetry) i comprehend what they study because I take them to the library a week. I help them seem up the kind of books they might have an interest in and educate them the thanks to outline them. My 18 12 months previous works finished time and the library is closed even as she receives off artwork, so I %. up the books she requests. i pick my children to be readers and understanding what they study is all element of that.

Answer 5

I love that book it's called...

The Rough Face Girl by Rafe Martin


I'm 100% Posotive that's it!

Answer 6

Little Red Girl. i believe is what it is called. look it up :)