The Rough-Face Girl

Title: The Rough-Face Girl
Author: Rafe Martin
Illustrator: David Shannon
Genre: picture book, folk tale, traditional literature
Publisher: Puffin Books, 1992
Grade Level: 3-5
Awards: Georgia Children’s Picture storybook award; Nebraska’s Golden Sower award

Summary: In the village of the Algonquin tribe there was a huge wigwam were an invisible man lived. His sister said the only one who can marry him is the one who can see him. In this village was also a poor man who had three daughters, two had stone cold hearts. The two daughters would tease and make fun of the other daughter and called her Rough Face girl. Her hands, arms and face became burnt and scarred from the branches that popped and sparked because her sisters made her sit by the fire and feed the flames. The two mean sisters went to the invisible being’s wigwam were they were dressed in their finest clothes were they said they were to marry him. The invisible beings sister asked them “if you have seen my brother what is his bow made out of?” after not being able to answer the questions correctly, they went home. The Rough Face Girl asked her father for the same nice dress, moccasins and beads as the other sisters had and replied that he had nothing left but broken shells and old worn moccasins. She wanted to marry the invisible being. She made her own outfit complete with a bark dress, shell necklace and old shoes. After answering all the questions correctly. The invisible being was the beauty in nature his bow being the rainbow. The Rough Face Girl then baths in the lake and dressed in things that the invisible beings sister gives her. Once bathed in the lake her skin became smooth and hair became long and beautiful, just as her heart on the inside. And then they finally marry!

Response: This was an adorable tale! I liked how it was a little bit different than the one I was used to. She had a father through the whole story with no evil step mother. Her enemy really was herself. She could see the beauty in everything around her, except herself. The invisible being saw her inner beauty right away. This was a very romantic tale! I loved it. I also enjoyed the pictures as well. The illustrator is my favorite illustrator, David Shannon. I loved the way he captured the bright colors of the clothing, paintings, and nature. I loved the picture when she is walking to meet the invisible beings sister she see nature all around her with his face in it.

Teaching Ideas: I would definably use this book to while discussing Native Indian Tribes. It shows there wigwams, moccasins and deerskin dresses in great detail. I would also use this book while discussing different variations of folk tales of traditional tales in general.