Product Description

In a Native American version of the Cinderella story, two lazy sisters force Sootface, their younger sister, to do all the housework, but when a mighty warrior seeks a kind and honest wife, it is Sootface he chooses. Reprint. AB. "

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #338377 in Books
• Published on: 1997-05-12
• Released on: 1997-05-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780440413639
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

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.

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

From the Publisher
Once, an Ojibwa man whose wife had died raised three daughters alone. The two older girls were lazy and bad-tempered, and made their youngest sister do all the work. When the flames from the cooking fire singed her hair or burned her skin, they laughed and called her Sootface.

While she worked, Sootface dreamed that one day she would find a husband. Then a mighty warrior with the power to make himself invisible decides to marry. Only a woman with a kind and honest heart could see him, and be his bride.

Though her sisters ridicule her, Sootface sets off to try her luck, never looking back. Her courage and good nature bring her the husband she has longed for.

Customer Reviews

Well composed
Although the retelling of story is not be perfectly authentic, the story flows well and and the illustrations are of good quality. It does contain some culturally accurate information and would be an excellent addition to a tasteful collecter's children's library.

A book that has haunted me for years!!
I am so excited to have found this book! I am 21 years old and my mother read this book to me once long ago when I was little. It has haunted me ever since that time over the years and I have wanted to find it again. I only was able to hear the story once and never again because my Mom bought it for children at a powwow and gave it to them. I am so glad I will have it again. I plan to read it once more and than give it to children at the school I'm teaching at so they can enjoy it, too. A great message and a lovely story! I would recommend it for girls between 4-10 years of age.

A Great Book!
I loved this bok!
I thought it was a very good story and very cleaver. I liked the deepth of it and meaning. I would buy this book! It has great illlustrations and it is my favorite fairy tale/ picture book! I'm going to buy it! Even though I am almost 12 I still enjoy this book very much!