The Rough-Faced Girl
An IRA Teacher’s Choice Book, An ABC Children’s Bookseller’s Choice, Winner of the Georgia Children’s Storybook Award, Winner of Nebraska’s Golden Sower Award
Written by Rafe Martin
Illustrated by David Shannon
Puffin Books, 1992
An IRA Teacher’s Choice Book, An ABC Children’s Bookseller’s Choice, Winner of the Georgia Children’s Storybook Award, Winner of Nebraska’s Golden Sower Award
Written by Rafe Martin
Illustrated by David Shannon
Puffin Books, 1992
Picture Book, Traditional Literature 3-5
Summary: The setting of this story is set along the shore of Lake Ontario in an Indian village. Here a poor man lived with three daughters. The oldest two daughters were cruel and hateful to their youngest sister. They made her feed the flames of the fire, which burned her arms, face, and hair, leaving scars. Her sisters called her the rough-faced girl. One day the sisters decided that they wanted new beads, moccasins, and buckskin dresses because they wanted to marry the Indivisible Being, who lives in a wigwam painted with sun, moon, stars, plants, trees, and animals. He is said to be very great, powerful, and handsome. However, no one could see him, expect his sister, who lived there. When the evil sisters met the sister, she asked them what his bow was made of. Of course, they gave the wrong answer because they have never seen the Invisible Being. Rough-faced girl asked her father if she could have beads, a new dress, and some moccasins. He could not afford anything more, but he gave her some broken shells and worn, cracked moccasins. When she wore her new clothes, the people made fun of her, calling her ugly. But she had courage in herself and she kept walking through the village. She met the sister of the Indivisible Being beside the lakeshore and the sister looked past the outward appearance into Rough-Faced girl’s heart, which is beautiful and kind. When the sister asked her what the Indivisible Being's bow was made of, she replied that it was the great curve of the rainbow and that the runner of his sled is the Milky Way that spreads across the sky. Rough-Faced girl was then taken to the wigwam, where she met the Indivisible Being. She was given the finest of buckskin robes and a necklace of perfect shells. She was told to bathe in the lake and when she came out of the waters, her skin grew smooth again and her hair beautiful and glossy. This was the way the Indivisible Being and his sister had seen her from the start. She then married the Indivisible Being and they lived together in “great gladness and never parted.”
Response: This Algonquin Cinderella story is a great way to convey the message of true beauty. Though Rough-Face girl’s sisters were beautiful on the outside, they were ugly and cruel on the inside. They thought too much of themselves to see the beauty of the rainbows, stars, and sky around them. Because they thought so highly of themselves, they were unable to see the Indivisible Being. In contrast, the Rough-Face did not allow her scars and lack of outward beauty to stop her from seeing the beauty around her or change her kind heart into a heart like her sisters’. She was able to see the Indivisible Being, due to her unselfish, caring heart.
I also like how Rough-Face girl was confident in herself and courageous even when others made fun of her and called her ugly. She seemed to push this away and follow what her heart was telling her.
The illustrations are breathtaking and do a great job of conveying the tone and mood of the story. When the sisters are making Rough-Face girl feed the fire, the colors used in this painting conveys the cruel and evil hearts of the sisters. I believe that they almost look a bit scary! When Rough-Face girl is walking through the forest, the scenery is painted in vibrant colors and much detail. This painting includes a rainbow, waterfall, puffy white clouds, a stream with a deer drinking from it, and birds flying through the air.
Teaching Ideas: The teacher should be sure that students understand the meaning behind this story; beauty is found in the heart. This is what makes us beautiful, not fancy clothes or outward beauty. The differences between Rough-Face girl and her sisters can be listed to be sure that students understand. This could be done as a class or in groups.
This story was originally a Mi'kmaq story, which is a Indian tribe considered to be in the Algonquin branch of Indians. However, Martin seems to have revised the story from the original so that the ending is a bit more romatic than the original story.
The culture of this Indian group can be discussed as teacher shares different facts with students.
For instance, the Mi'kmaq Indians do not call their houses teepees, they call their houses wigwams. The clothing the Indians wear in the book reflect the true style of clothes that Indians wear. They wear breechclothes and leggings. The canoe that Rough-Faced girl and the Indivisible Being ride in at the end of the book also reflect the importance of the canoe to the Indians, which is handcrafted with birch bark. The Mi'kmaq people group also needed to use sleds to help them travel in the winter. In the book, the Indivisbile Being's sled's is the Milky Way. This reflects the idea that nature was very important to the Indians and a key part to their culture.
This Cinderella story is a great way to reflect Indian culture and the truth that beauty comes from the inside; who you are in your heart.
Summary: The setting of this story is set along the shore of Lake Ontario in an Indian village. Here a poor man lived with three daughters. The oldest two daughters were cruel and hateful to their youngest sister. They made her feed the flames of the fire, which burned her arms, face, and hair, leaving scars. Her sisters called her the rough-faced girl. One day the sisters decided that they wanted new beads, moccasins, and buckskin dresses because they wanted to marry the Indivisible Being, who lives in a wigwam painted with sun, moon, stars, plants, trees, and animals. He is said to be very great, powerful, and handsome. However, no one could see him, expect his sister, who lived there. When the evil sisters met the sister, she asked them what his bow was made of. Of course, they gave the wrong answer because they have never seen the Invisible Being. Rough-faced girl asked her father if she could have beads, a new dress, and some moccasins. He could not afford anything more, but he gave her some broken shells and worn, cracked moccasins. When she wore her new clothes, the people made fun of her, calling her ugly. But she had courage in herself and she kept walking through the village. She met the sister of the Indivisible Being beside the lakeshore and the sister looked past the outward appearance into Rough-Faced girl’s heart, which is beautiful and kind. When the sister asked her what the Indivisible Being's bow was made of, she replied that it was the great curve of the rainbow and that the runner of his sled is the Milky Way that spreads across the sky. Rough-Faced girl was then taken to the wigwam, where she met the Indivisible Being. She was given the finest of buckskin robes and a necklace of perfect shells. She was told to bathe in the lake and when she came out of the waters, her skin grew smooth again and her hair beautiful and glossy. This was the way the Indivisible Being and his sister had seen her from the start. She then married the Indivisible Being and they lived together in “great gladness and never parted.”
Response: This Algonquin Cinderella story is a great way to convey the message of true beauty. Though Rough-Face girl’s sisters were beautiful on the outside, they were ugly and cruel on the inside. They thought too much of themselves to see the beauty of the rainbows, stars, and sky around them. Because they thought so highly of themselves, they were unable to see the Indivisible Being. In contrast, the Rough-Face did not allow her scars and lack of outward beauty to stop her from seeing the beauty around her or change her kind heart into a heart like her sisters’. She was able to see the Indivisible Being, due to her unselfish, caring heart.
I also like how Rough-Face girl was confident in herself and courageous even when others made fun of her and called her ugly. She seemed to push this away and follow what her heart was telling her.
The illustrations are breathtaking and do a great job of conveying the tone and mood of the story. When the sisters are making Rough-Face girl feed the fire, the colors used in this painting conveys the cruel and evil hearts of the sisters. I believe that they almost look a bit scary! When Rough-Face girl is walking through the forest, the scenery is painted in vibrant colors and much detail. This painting includes a rainbow, waterfall, puffy white clouds, a stream with a deer drinking from it, and birds flying through the air.
Teaching Ideas: The teacher should be sure that students understand the meaning behind this story; beauty is found in the heart. This is what makes us beautiful, not fancy clothes or outward beauty. The differences between Rough-Face girl and her sisters can be listed to be sure that students understand. This could be done as a class or in groups.
This story was originally a Mi'kmaq story, which is a Indian tribe considered to be in the Algonquin branch of Indians. However, Martin seems to have revised the story from the original so that the ending is a bit more romatic than the original story.
The culture of this Indian group can be discussed as teacher shares different facts with students.
For instance, the Mi'kmaq Indians do not call their houses teepees, they call their houses wigwams. The clothing the Indians wear in the book reflect the true style of clothes that Indians wear. They wear breechclothes and leggings. The canoe that Rough-Faced girl and the Indivisible Being ride in at the end of the book also reflect the importance of the canoe to the Indians, which is handcrafted with birch bark. The Mi'kmaq people group also needed to use sleds to help them travel in the winter. In the book, the Indivisbile Being's sled's is the Milky Way. This reflects the idea that nature was very important to the Indians and a key part to their culture.
This Cinderella story is a great way to reflect Indian culture and the truth that beauty comes from the inside; who you are in your heart.
1 comment:
Once again, it is so wonderful to see you write a carefully crafted response, but also, you have carefully researched the source of the story. I was pleased to see you reference the Mi'kmaq story; thanks for the link to the wigwams; the visual is so exciting! Perfect for your students, along with your teaching ideas. Bravo!
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