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87th out of 97 books
—
173 voters
Sootface
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 wi...more
While she worked, Sootface dreamed that one day she would find a husband. Then a mighty warrior wi...more
Paperback, 32 pages
Published
May 12th 1997
by Dragonfly Books
(first published May 1st 1994)
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Feb 22, 2012
Elizabeth Moser
added it
This book is another version of the story of cinderella (it's called An Ojibwa Cinderella Story). I enjoyed this rendition of the story, however, as with other stories of Cinderella we are familiar with, happiness is equated with finding a husband. In the story, Sootface sings to herself "Oh, I am thinking, Oh, I am dreaming, that even ugly as I am, I will someday find a husband." A change in the story that I really appreciated was in how Sootface went to find her husband. The handsome hunter wa...more
Sootface: An Ojibwa Cinderella Story holds the honor of being chosen as a Children’s Book Committee Children’ Book of the Year from A Banks Street Child Study.
Younger children will recognize the familiar pieces of the traditional Cinderella. The father is sent away to work and leaves the two older daughters in charge of Sootface (Cinderella). The sisters make Sootface to all the work, while also being cruel to her in other ways. They push her close to the fire to singe off her beautiful hair an...more
Younger children will recognize the familiar pieces of the traditional Cinderella. The father is sent away to work and leaves the two older daughters in charge of Sootface (Cinderella). The sisters make Sootface to all the work, while also being cruel to her in other ways. They push her close to the fire to singe off her beautiful hair an...more
“Sootface: An Ojibwa Cinderella Story” is a brilliant Native American version of “Cinderella” retold by Robert D. San Souci along with beautiful illustrations by Daniel San Souci. In this version, a young girl named Sootface is mistreated by her two older sisters, but when a mighty warrior wanted to marry a woman who can see him when he is invisible, Sootface realizes that true beauty lies within. “Sootface: An Ojibwa Cinderella Story” is a beautiful retelling of one of the most beloved fairy ta...more
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Sootface: An Ojibwa Cinderella Story, retold by Robert D. San Souci, is a picture book intended for readers in preschool through grade three. I gave it five stars. In this story, Sootface is made to do the chores and all of the work of her two older sisters. Sootface, however, is rewarded for her kind heart with the love of a powerful and mighty warrior who is invisible until his true love sees him. Sootface wins his love (after many have tried, lied, and failed) because only she can pass his m...more
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Mar 07, 2012
Jordan
added it
Sootface is a different take on the usual Cinderella story. It is about a Native American girl who is the least pretty of her sisters. Her sisters gave her the nickname of Sootface because she does all of the chores which causes her hair to become singed and her face to become covered in soot. There is a man that is supposedly the most beautiful in the land, but no one can see him. The person that can see the man will be the one he takes as his bride. The only girl that is able to see the man is...more
An Ojibwa man whose wife has died is raising his three daughters alone. The two older girls were lazy, cruel, and made their youngest sister do all the work. When the flames from the cooking fire burn her hair and skin, they laughed and called her Sootface. While she worked, Sootface dreamed that one day she would find a husband. Then a 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. Sootface sets off t...more
My favorite part of this book is that Sootface doesn't require magic to pull herself together to find a man. Instead, it is her own ingenuity and pure heart that help her attain him. This distinction is something I would focus upon with students. I would then introduce symbolism throughout the book. For example, the mighty warrior's bow of rainbow and white fire represents his a openness, acceptance, and strength. I would have each student create his or her own special bows representing the qual...more
1 like · like · see review
A Native American version of Cinderella. The story is well told and refreshing, however two things keep me from giving it four stars: Sootface can only find happiness by finding a husband and she is not beautiful enough as herself, she is only beautiful after a magic comb makes her hair long, she is dressed in finer clothing and a special bath takes away her scars. I realize that this is based on an old legend, but maybe some updates aren't a bad thing. The watercolor artwork is really beautiful...more
Summary: Sootface is a girl in an Indian village. She is made to work really hard by her lazy older sisters and never has time to take care of herself. There is an invisible hunter who decides it is time to get married so he tells his sister that the girl who can see him and describe his bow is the girl he will marry. Many of the girls from the village try to describe the bow but none of them can see the invisible hunter. Sootface cleans herself up and makes clothes from the bark of the trees an...more
Very similar to the The Rough-Face Girl, an Algonquin Cinderella story. However, the illustrations and story for this book lack the impact of The Rough-Face Girl, as well as the epic feel and supernatural focus, making it a less satisfying read. Still, it is a worthwhile story on its own and definitely a good addition to a study of Cinderella tales.
Sootface is a Native American story which is closely related to Cinderella.
What's interesting about this book is that Sootface relies on the beautiful gifts from nature to make her beautiful. She wraps herself in the birch from a tree which provides the reader with a sense of some authenticity of the story. With her dress of birch, she is then able to see what materials the man's bow and arrow are made from and thus landing the man of her dreams.
Very comparable to any Cinderella series from th...more
What's interesting about this book is that Sootface relies on the beautiful gifts from nature to make her beautiful. She wraps herself in the birch from a tree which provides the reader with a sense of some authenticity of the story. With her dress of birch, she is then able to see what materials the man's bow and arrow are made from and thus landing the man of her dreams.
Very comparable to any Cinderella series from th...more
A cinderella story like no other, poor soot face is forced to work day and night, tending to the fire, cooking and cleaning while her sisters do nothing. Her mother passed and her father hunts so soot face is left to her evil sisters, but soot face soon realizes that a different life lies ahead when she meets the invisible man the bow made of a rainbow, it is a classic happily ever after story, if you love cinderella you will love this one.
One of many Cinderella stories that told throughout the world. This one is an Ojibwa story and doesn't stray too far from the traditional plot. Sootface (named this because tending the fire has singed her hair and covered her in ash) is persecuted by her sisters and made to do all of the family chores. A nearby warrior who can make himself invisible decides that it is time to get married and invites any woman who sees him to be his bride; seeing him connotes a good heart and pure soul. Of course...more
This is an American Indian Cinderella Story from the Northeast and Great Lakes region (Ojibwa Tribe). The illustrations are obviously well-researched and incredibly realistic. "Sootface" is such a sweet character and you can't help but be happy when she is recognized for her kindness and good heart in the end.
I liked this book. I think it is a great and different retelling of the Cinderella story. This version, along with the many versions of Cinderella would be good to use in class and as a model for students to write their own versions involving their own cultures and heritages.
Illustrated by Daniel San Souci. This is an Ojibwa Cinderella Story. In this version, the prince is invisible and only a women with a kind and honest heart can see him and that will be the woman he will marry.
This is another multicultural Cinderella book I bought with money donated by an Esperanza board member. Great story.
Sootface is a Native American version of Cinderella. It is about a young girl named Sootface, who is treated terribly by her two older sisters. But a hunter, who no one has ever seen, tells his sister to go to the town and tell the people that the first woman to see him will be the one he takes as his wife.
Many woman try, including Sootface's two older sisters, but all fail to see the invisible hunter. Except for Sootface, she is the only one able to see the hunter and so she becomes his wife.
Th...more
Many woman try, including Sootface's two older sisters, but all fail to see the invisible hunter. Except for Sootface, she is the only one able to see the hunter and so she becomes his wife.
Th...more
It was a pretty good take on Cinderella. I like it better than the original.
Lovely re-telling of the Cinderella story with a Native American twist.
This may be my favourite of the Cinderella stories
I think that has to be one of my favorite version of Cinderella. It just has a different magic to it.
Cute Cinderella alternative book.
Great take on Cinderella.
not a good book
This beautifully illustrated book is wonderful interpretation of the classic Cinderella story. The most prominent message in the book is more than what is in Disney's version. Sootface is about looking for beauty beyond the surface, the true beauty. Many people in society today forget that true beauty is very deep within one's spirit and Sootface explores her true beauty and is greatly rewarded for doing so.
Soft and highly detailed watercolors add to the gentle nature of this lovely picture book. I liked the illustrator's attention to detail and research to make this book accurately reflective of Ojibwa life in the mid eighteenth century.
An American Indian Cinderella story. Wonderful!
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