The Littlest Matryoshka by Corinne Demas Bliss

Then in the 1890’s the idea made its way to Russia and an artist name Sergei Malyutin designed the first set of dolls to resemble Russian peasant girls.

They were first made in China in the early 1800’s. The proper name for these little ladies is matryoshka dolls (there are various spellings). I relived all those past, fun memories when my daughters and I painted our own Russian nesting dolls this week. The best part, of course, was twisting open the second to the smallest one just for the sheer delight of peeking inside to see the tiniest doll of all resting inside her “older sister.” The “baby doll” in my grandma’s collection was so small that her head was painted a solid color because a painted face wouldn’t fit! My sister and I could stack and unstack those little bowling pin shaped dolls for hours a solid twenty minutes before getting into an argument.

Out of all the little treasures inside the cabinet, her Russian nesting dolls were my favorite. (Feb.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which help support Mommy Maleta at no additional cost to youĭid your grandma have a special collectibles shelf in her home? My grandma had a glass curio cabinet. ) meshes the real and abstract, and the drama is heightened by his juxtaposition of lifelike characters in somber costumes against backgrounds that feature graphic patterns in wild colors. One of the runaway girls says she plans to work and earn 'buckets of coins.' Hallie, who has just announced she's buying red ribbon with her butter money, asks, 'What you fixin' on buyin'?' 'Mama,' replies the girl. In her first picture book, Morrow creates an insightful narrative with many trenchant moments. But thou has a conscience, child.' How she follows that conscience makes for a thoroughly satisfying denouement. He responds that while he doesn't like slavery, those who help runaways break the law, exposing themselves to stiff fines as well as harassment: 'We're not meddlin'.' Hallie then visits Levi Coffin, who says, 'It is right to listen to thy father. As the startled child races home, slave catchers on horseback tell her to give her father a notice offering a reward for the return of the 'Negro girls.' Confused, she asks Pa about the situation in general terms. There Hallie encounters two girls who can only be runaway slaves-the first she has ever seen.

Loosely based on events that occurred in 1839 Indiana, this gripping tale opens as Hallie, who sells butter to neighbors, leaves a delivery in the cellar of the house owned by Quakers Catharine and Levi Coffin (who is considered by many to be president of the Underground Railroad, as stated in an author's note).

The Littlest Matryoshka by Corinne Demas Bliss