The Littlest Matryoshka

by Corinne Demas Bliss, Kathryn Brown (Illustrator)

A tender, old-fashioned story serves as a testament to the power of sisterly love and a celebration of matryoshkas--the beloved Russian nesting dolls.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Russia, Fiction, Geography, Classics, Multicultural Literature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1900

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading this book aloud to young children while displaying my own exact matching set of matryoshka dolls (nesting dolls) that I received as a gift from Ukraine! I love how the largest doll looks after her "sisters" until the littlest one gets lost. Don't fear - it has a happy ending!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little girls would love this beautifully illustrated and enchanting story about the smallest doll in a set of matryoshka. After arriving in the United States from Russia, Nina becomes separated from her sisters, and the reader is left to wonder if she will ever find her way home!
🪆🪆🪆🪆🪆

[Heather]

Text-to-Self:

I love this book so much because it reflects my family in a nice way. We collect nesting dolls to go with the vintage set my husband was given before we married. My 3 daughters all love to play with them, read books about them, and some decorate our kitchen. I love the artistic designs and history of the dolls and feels it brings the old world into our new world. Like in the story of 'The Littlest Matryoshka', we have girls (three daughters) who are taught to look out for one another and protect each other. Though the dolls in the story cannot actually move or speak, they can see their sisters and feel pain, happiness, fear, relief. When the littlest one is reunited with her sisters, everything is how it should be. We tell our girls all the time that throughout their lives most friends will come and go, but their sisters will always be their family. They have to support, encourage, and love one another because we as parents will not always be around, just as the dolls were shipped off from their maker when it was time. 'The Littlest Matryoshka' is a great reminder of family caring for one another.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story begins with a craftsman who carves and paints the six Matryoshka sisters. They are shipped to America and find their way to a toy shop. When the smallest sister, Nina, falls and is accidentally kicked out of the store, she begins a journey reminiscent of THE STEADFAST TIN SOLDIER by Hans Christian Andersen. However, this story has a happy ending.

When I was a young girl, my family drove over 2,500 miles (one way) to visit many historic sites in the US, then on to Montreal for the World Fair - Expo 67. At the Russian Pavilion, I used my spending money to purchase a set of matryoshka dolls. They have been a treasure to me since that time. My daughters and granddaughters have loved them as well.

I also enjoyed THE MAGIC NESTING DOLL by Jacqueline K. Ogburn, and illustrated by Laurel Long.

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of a little girl that buys an incomplete Matryoshka set of dolls and like the little tin solider, the little Matryoshka finds her way to her sisters. The illustrations are beautiful and the story has a Russian fairy tale element to it.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking at this book, my mind immediately cast back to this Sesame Street clip from my childhood, which always fascinated me.

The story is gentle and fairy tale-like, with soft watercolor illustrations and a dreamlike sensibility.

The only difficulty I had was trying to figure out exactly what time period in which this story is set. With the steamer ship, the toy shop, and most of the clothing, I at first assumed it was set at the turn of the 20th century. Then there appeared a truck with the bulbous look of 1940s vehicles. The little girl, meanwhile, is dressed in 1990s style.

[Terralyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I bought it to read to my four year old niece. I was a bit concerned it wouldn't hold her attention, but she loved it as much as I did. Thanks, Pam, for recommending it!!

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely story is a favorite for us! ❤️ Kind of "The Steadfast Tin Soldier"-esque, it relates the adventures of a set of six nesting dolls, from their creation, journey across the sea, accidental separation, and eventual reunion.

Little Preschooler is enchanted by it and tends to whisper this line from the story when she plays with her own nesting dolls: "Keep your sisters safe inside you."

I definitely recommend this for kids learning about Russia and/or any young girls, especially those with their own set of Matryoshka dolls (in fact, this book paired with some nesting dolls would be a really sweet gift!).

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart! The sweetness in this little book that introduces matryoshkas while delivering an endearing tale of six sisters. My 4yo was quite tense when the littlest one was separated from her sisters and worried quite a bit about her fate. Charming.

[♥♣Mary♦♠ If She So Pleases · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very nice story time read.

[Jane Maple · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Russia a doll maker makes a matryoshka (those nesting doll toys) with six dolls which fit into each other each having a name and saying they are sisters. The biggest is Anna (and he tasks her with taking care of her little sisters) the smallest doll is Nina. They are shipped to an American toy shop where the owner sets all the dolls out, but the littlest one is knocked off and accidently is kicked outside into the snow. The shop owner discounts the incomplete set and a girl named Jessie buys the remaining dolls. Little Nina continues to travel - the snow melts and she goes into the water, a blue heron gets her but then flicks her away, a squirrel gets her and then drops her, a cat plays with her and finally Jessie comes over to see what the cat is playing with and realizes it is the missing doll. She brings it up to Anna (who has been looking out the window for her lost sister) and the other sisters and puts them all in a circle so they can see each other and then puts them all in Anna. The book ends with an interesting note that these dolls originally originated in Japan and only later came to Russia. Other countries also make these dolls including India, Poland, Japan and China.

[Erin Musser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book level 3.2 ( I couldn't find a rating for this book anywhere so I made an educated guess!)

This book details the story of the littleest doll on the Russian stacking set of dolls. She gets separated from her "family" but somehow makes her way back to her family. I would use this as a mentor text in a classroom when talking about idea as this book has a logical plot to follow. I would also use this book as a mentor text in multicultural education as an example of important symbols and toys to various cultures.

[Jole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jade got this book as a gift with a set of the dolls, fun for any girl. I love to read the story to my girls though, of each of the sisters nestling inside each other..."anna inside olga, and olga inside varka, and varka inside vanda, and vanda inside nadia and nadia inside nina". I also love the end when the little girl in the story sets the dolls in a circle. It is very sweet. I hope that my little ones will keep each other safe like these sisters.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome. We have matryoshkas, and once lost the littlest one for many many months before finding her again - thanks to A (just like in the book)! Also, I love the idea of sisters keeping each other safe. So glad we bought this one to own! 2/20/14

Reread 2/29/16 Still such an amazing book! It will never go out of style at our house...especially now that A collects matryoshkas!!

[Anna Maledon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much! It's so emotional even though the characters are just wooden dolls. The sweetest gift book for a darling little girl. I actually bought it for my 2 little boys ( 5 and 8yo) as they love playing with matryoshkas.

I may be so emotional about it because I'm Anna and have 4 younger sisters.

It is a little longer picture book,so more suited for a bit older kids 5 and up. It will be my go-to gift book for girls. Actually this could be a beautiful gift for a sister too.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet little story; reminds me of Hans Christian Andersen's Little Tin Soldier, minus the love interest and sad ending.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet story about these unique little Russian dolls.

[Wendy Nickel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

[Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2022
Gift from Harper's grandmother

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Littlest Matryoshka is a lovely book about a set of beautifully made nesting dolls that are sent to a toy shop in the United States. The owner of the store carelessly puts them close to the edge of the shelf and the littlest doll gets lost outside and goes on a journey. The rest of the dolls are purchased on clearance by a little girl who eventually reunites the set when the littlest doll makes her way by various animals to the little girl's yard. It reminds me of both Corduroy and The Journey of Edward Tulane.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being hand crafted by a Russian woodcarver; the Matryoshka dolls are sent to America. While waiting for their future owner, the littlest doll is swept away on an adventure. Similar to the Little Tin Soldier, the Littlest Matryoshka will have you hoping against hope and wondering what will become of the littlest doll of them all.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The set of six dolls travels from Russia to the United States to a toy shop. When they are set out, the littlest is accidentally knocked to the ground. This starts an adventure that leads her all over the area. The other five are sold to a young girl who loves them. The six are reunited through a series of events to finish the book. The artwork is lovely and adds to the story.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might not be able to pronounce "matryoshka", but I love the dolls anyway. This story was a little funny, very sweet, and had a good point: being a doll with a painted smile, unmovable arms, and unmovable legs is difficult.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of those "an item goes missing and it's a grand adventure, but then it ends up right where it's suppose to be" stories. Someone probably has a name for that. If you know it, please share. It's a good, sweet book. Probably nothing I'll remember in another week's time.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When teaching my kids about Russia, I pulled my Matryoshka dolls off the shelf. Wow, my kids just loved them. So, I found this book to expand on the interest and my 3 year old daughter sat wide-eyed through the entire book - she doesn't do that often.

[Ursula S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the artwork and the idea of sisterhood promoted by this book. It was a little improbable, which I suppose children's books can be.

If you're curious about nesting dolls, it might be of interest.

[Elly Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from my grandpa when I was probably around nine, and the dolls to go with it! I loved the book, and the dolls.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about nesting dolls

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the individual care of the doll maker for each doll, and the story of their journey from carving to shop to home (with some side trips).

[Nae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as a kid and just read it again when I found it in an old box. I also still have the dolls. This book is cute short and sweet and has beautiful illustrations❤