Independent Reading Level: Grades 4-5

Awards
Georgia Children's Picture Storybook Award (1994)
Nebraska Golden Sower Award (1994)
Patricia Gallagher Children's Choice Picture Book Award (1999)
Virginia Readers' Choice: (1995)
IRA Teacher's Choice Award (1993)
Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year: Winner

The Rough-Face Girl's cruel sisters caused her to be scarred by forcing her to tend the fire.

All of the women in the village want to marry the Invisible Being, who has the largest tent painted with bright symbols. However, the Invisible Being's sister first asks them questions to determine whether or not they'd seen him. The Rough Face Girl's sisters fail miserably at answering, but the Rough Face Girl herself tries and answers that she has seen him in various ways in the natural world around her. This turns out to be correct, and she is chosen to be the Invisible Being's bride.

A very mysterious Algonquin legend with beautiful illustrations. It ended abruptly, though, and the idea of marrying a giant invisible nature-spirit-being was pretty creepy to me. I didn't totally get why that would be desirable. Maybe it's symbolic in some way. It sort of reminded me of the Caldecott winner that I read, The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses (in that one, the girl turns into a horse and becomes a stallion's mate). ( )

With illustrations by David Shannon. Beautiful and just a little bit eerie, as good folktales should be. ( )

Independent Reading Level: 3-5
Awards: Not applicable

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.