Sasha's Matrioshka Dolls [Hardcover]

Jana Dillon (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

A sweet confection about the first nesting dolls

In old Moscow live a girl named Sasha and her grandfather, a boxmaker. One day Sasha’s rag doll is eaten by mice. Her loving grandfather sets out to make her a doll that is impervious to mice, rats, cats, and even the Tsar’s cavalry. What can it be but seven carved wooden dolls nestled together to form one thumbling doll – the first matrioshka, or “little mother.”
How Sasha’s grandfather comes to make the doll is at the heart of this warm intergenerational story, lavishly illustrated in brilliant watercolors and colored pencils.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Sasha and her grandfather live in a shop in old Moscow where he carves boxes to sell and she decorates them. When mice destroy her rag doll, Grandfather Boxer whittles a little wooden figure and then makes a box of the same shape in which to store it. Sasha paints them both to look like matrioshkas, or little mothers. Before long, the rodents carry off the new toys, and Grandfather must reach into the mouse hole to rescue them. He makes a bigger doll but that one is also stolen, this time by a rat. Events continue in this way until grandfather and granddaughter have created seven exquisite nesting dolls. Suddenly, all of the villagers want a set of these figures, bringing prosperity and happiness to the shop. An author's note provides information about the origins of Russian nesting dolls. Lattimore's detailed illustrations keep the action moving along with colorful patterned borders, textiles, and backgrounds. She bases Sasha's matrioshkas on those created by artisans in a village south of Moscow. Children who are unfamiliar with this art form will be charmed by the idea, while collectors can place this book alongside Corinne Demas Bliss's The Littlest Matryoshka (Hyperion, l999), a similar story of loss and recovery.
Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. A lively story of how matrioshka dolls might have come to be. Sasha lives with her grandfather. He's a box maker in old Moscow, and she paints the boxes he makes. When the mice chew her rag doll, Grandfather makes her a tiny "thumbling" doll of wood. Sasha paints her, and calls her a "matrioshka, a little mother." Grandfather makes a box of the same shape, to keep the doll in, and Sasha paints it, so she has two dolls. But the mice steal number two. Grandfather keeps making the doll-like boxes, but they don't fare well either. A rat takes off with the third, and the cat bats around the fourth. Seven dolls seem to be enough, and soon everyone wants a set. Are they seven sisters? A mother and her married daughters? The text provides lots of teasing interplay between Sasha and her grandfather as they carve and paint and chase after the dolls. The borders, backgrounds, and interiors are brightly colored and patterned in a Russian folk style, so the dolls blend agreeably into their surroundings. Pair this with Susan Bonners' The Wooden Doll (1991) for a matrioshka storytime. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (May 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374373876
• ISBN-13: 978-0374373870
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,692,459 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jana Dillon grew up in Norwood, Massachusetts, where she and her three sisters wrote stories, drew pictures with their father, artist Frank Gerulskis, and acted them out in the backyard. Jana taught art before deciding to write and illustrate children's books. Now she's back in the schools as a visiting author, teaching children how to write their own books. She lives in Sandwich, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod in a house built in 1699. Read all about her books and school visits at www.janadillon.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeously illustrated, delightful tale, April 24, 2004

By 

"ockhamist" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sasha's Matrioshka Dolls (Hardcover)

After Sasha's rag doll is destroyed by mice, her boxmaker grandfather carves a tiny thumbling doll out of wood and a box to keep it safe. That box is the same shape as the thumbling, and Sasha thinks of it as a doll. Grandfather and Sasha work together. He carves the wood pieces, then she elaborately paints them to look like little mothers. (Matrioshka is the Russian word for "little mother.") Mice take off with the first doll and box, so the new toy makers create a third protective doll-shaped box, which will be too large and heavy for the mice to steal. The next day they learn that the three-doll set isn't too big for rats though, and a fourth box is made. Much to her delight, this pattern of mishaps continues until Sasha has a lovely set of seven dolls that are too big and heavy to be knocked over by any animal.

The symbiotic relationship between Sasha and her grandfather is warmly demonstrated throughout the story. Sasha needs Grandfather Boxer to provide her with dolls. Grandfather Boxer needs Sasha and her dolls to attract new customers to his shop. The two enjoy each other's company, sometimes teasing and giggling as they creatively work out new solutions. No matter what happens, they always end the day smiling.

At one point, Grandfather mentions that the dolls look like Sasha's mother and grandmother, both of whom she has lost. Whether this is a positive, a negative, or a non-issue will vary with each child. However, I've noted this in case anyone is looking to buy this book for a child who has recently experienced a death in the family.

The lavish illustrations are brightly colored and richly detailed, yet never overwhelming. There's more than enough color and activity on each page to ensure that even inattentive little ones will keep their eyes focused on the book. While older children may want to read this themselves, this is a great book to read to toddlers as well.

The author's note briefly explains of the history of Russian nesting dolls. The dolls in this book were modeled after those crafted by Polkholvsky Maidan artisans.

Could this delightful tale have any factual basis? Perhaps the first nesting doll was created simply as a doll box. Perhaps not. Nevertheless, pondering the origin of the first matrioshka may be an interesting venture for children who love them. This story is a must-have for fans of Russian fairy tales, doll enthusiasts, and children everywhere.