The Story of Babushka is so cleverly illustrated in such a charming manner. The story's lessons of being true to yourself and all of your attributes will resonate with children (around ages 8 and up), though reading with an adult may be helpful to help explain some concepts presented in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this copy of The Story of Babushka by Catherine Flores. It publishes July 29, 2020.
This beautifully illustrated book follow a babushka doll as the 5 parts of her search for the meaning of life, and their purpose in life.
As they go along, they find that not everything is what it seems and some big lessons along the way.
I think this would be a valuable book for any middle-elementary school-aged child.
I am much older than that, but enjoyed this cautionary tale!

The Story of Babushka is a hybrid chapter book & picture book. I don't want to call it one or the other because it is definitely longer than your standard picture book yet the colorful illustrations are too beautiful to call it a simple chapter book.

The Story of Babushka is like a fairy tale. It tells the story of Babushka, who is a Russian nesting doll made up of 5 layers, each representing a different attribute of womanhood:
-Antonia represents outer beauty
-Loretta represents wealth
-Paula represents talent
-Viola represents wisdom
-Mary represents heart & inner voice

Babushka lives in the forest and occasionally ponders the meaning of life. One by one the different layers of Babushka are lured away out of the forest to pursue their own fates. Mary, left alone, feels sad and lonely. She follows her heart in search of the missing parts of Babushka.

This book is targeted for older elementary kids but some may do better off reading this with a parent. Some of the book is very contemplative and philosophical with lots of morals and lessons such as "there are more important things in life than money", not to judge people by their appearance, value of friendship etc. This book was a bit above my 6 year old's interest level but my 10 year old was better with it. This also makes a nice, little read for an adult.

The Story of Babushka by Catherine Flores is a profound and thought-provoking story where a symbolic character (Babushka, made up of 5 Russian nesting dolls) searches for the meaning of life. Each nesting doll represents a different part of Babushka’s personality and initially she goes with the flow and let’s them embrace each seemingly perfect opportunity for them until she is left with just Mary, her heart and inner voice. The story flows beautifully and would work well within a PSHE curriculum or for a mindfulness activity. Mary lives peacefully in the forest for a short while until she feels the trees and Earth are trying to tell her something. Following the wind, she leaves the forest in search of the calling. What she discovers is unexpected. One by one, each nesting doll and part of her personality is retrieved along with a valuable life lesson. It’s impossible not to read this book in one sitting and whilst I would recommend this book to children aged 9+, I think it would be most valuably explored in upper secondary school. This book will stay with me for a long time; I will be recommending it for years to come as it’s messages are of huge importance in our modern world.

I originally got this to see if it would be suitable for my four year old. While I think it’s a bit above his comprehension, I thought it was very good and enjoyed the morals!! The illustrations are also quite lovely and I was impressed with each little Babushkas.

Many children’s books these days don’t have lessons for the children to learn or are so much a lesson that it might as well be a school book. Then there are others that are simply strange and illustrations that would be scary to small kids!! So I have to read the books prior to letting my children looking at them. This one is super sweet, has a subtle message, and really the pictures are quite charming.

I cannot wait until my eldest is about 6 so I can read this one to him!! I think he’ll get as much enjoyment out of this as I have!! Super glad I picked this one out even though I have to wait to share it with my kids. I recommend this for ages 5 or 6 and up, depending on maturity and ability for them to sit still.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and ACL Creative Studio for a copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I have to say that this was a simply gorgeous book all around!

It was well written and had a lovely flow to it, the story was well planned out and well developed and the images are superb - it is a stunning book to read and it is honestly a highlight of my reading year for this kind of book!!

Everything about this book worked for me and I cannot recommend it highly enough - no hesitation at all in giving this one 5 stars - very highly recommended!!

The Story Of Babushka is a charming story by Catherine Flores about Russian nesting dolls. The illustrations are beautiful and so is the story, which teaches kids the value of friendship and to look at everything that is inside.
Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the advance copy.

A clever and progressive story about a set of five Russian Dolls within one particular Babushka. Each doll has a name and a specific characteristic.
From beauty, through riches, wisdom, industrious effort to pure love and empathy for others.
One day Babushka sitting by a river contemplates the purpose and meaning of life.
Over the next couple of days opportunities arise where each individual doll is presented with a project or enterprise to match their talent to excel and prosper. The other days Babushka allows each to peel off and pursue their dreams. Until just the last doll remains; the quality she possesses is love.
In a strange twist of fate, seemingly led by the breeze she drifts along to fulfil her own destiny.
Over time she meets her sisters and learns some truths about life which is genuine wisdom.
I warmed to this tale. It is an intelligent piece of storytelling which takes the composition of a doll within a doll within a doll. (X5 in this account). The author weaves an enchanting tale of simple life within the forest compared to the growing settlements which seem to have lost the true purpose of life.
It is a story of putting other’s needs before your own. It then consolidates the negative aspects these decisions through up and in the spirit of love and reconciliation restores the status quo.
I think the illustrations greatly enhance the narrative and together produce a potential classic similar to many fairy tale classics.
I believe young children will love to listen to this story and learn its lessons; over time, they will ultimately delight to read it for themselves.

Here is my review ahead of the blog tour at the beginning of August. I will post it to my blog then.

The Story of Babushka is a delightful tale of being true to yourself and finding your place in the world. The Matryoshka (Russian Nesting Doll) is a charming symbol of Russian folk culture and represents the beautiful layers of women. In this story, we meet the lovely Babushka made up of five unique dolls. Each doll is special. Together, they make up a wonderfully strong woman of worth.

• Antonia is the external beauty of Babushka. She travels the world with grace and loveliness.
• Loretta is richly adorned and symbolises wealth. She is generous with what she has and tries to look after those around her.
• Paula has many talents. She is creative and hard-working. She gives each task her all.
• Viola is wise. She uses her intelligence to solve problems and help others.
• Mary is the heart of the Babushka. She is full of love, caring and kindness.

Babushka wonders about the meaning of life and the five dolls decide to go off and search for their own true purpose. Eventually, only loving Mary is left. She feels incomplete and very alone. She knows she must go out into the world to find her other parts in order to feel whole again. Along the way, Mary meets with many challenges and faces the harsh side of the world. She learns that she must follow the wind and trust its guidance. In the end, it becomes clear that the dolls are so much better together and love will always unite them. Babushka learns an important lesson about being true to herself and what she knows to be right, appreciating who she is, and not being blinded by the deception of others. She learns that it is the combination of all of her positive qualities that make her wonderful.

Ana Beatriz Marques’ illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and bring this story to life. The gentle animals of the forest create a community for Babushka and draw the reader in. There is so much to look at and the friendly faces make this powerful story even more appealing.

The Story of Babushka is appropriate for a wide range of ages. The chapters are short and accessible, with manageable vocabulary and appealing illustrations to break up the text. However, the key messages of the story are strong. There is so much scope for discussion and exploration of the layers we have within ourselves. I asked my own children what layers they would have if they were Russian Nesting Dolls. After a lovely discussion, traits such as enthusiasm, positivity, kindness, wisdom, an adventurous spirit and love came out on top. Creativity, fitness and resilience are also really important to them. They added these characteristics to some lovely Babushka colouring sheets (my son decided to make his own and they ended up turning into snowmen).

Like the Matryoshka, The Story of Babushka is absolutely beautiful and has many layers of meaning and detail. Children are sure to be drawn to it and want to read it again and again.

Thank you to Catherine Flores for this gorgeous book! I’m looking forward to sharing it with the children of Farsley Farfield Primary School.

An enjoyable journey story with beautiful illustrations. Now I'm interested in Russian Nesting Dolls.

The Story of Babushka is a quick, enchanting read. I never truly appreciated the history behind Russian nesting dolls and the symbolism they represent. Each doll represents the complex and beautiful layers of women: beauty, wealth, talent, wisdom and love. In the story, each of these is shown as a different doll and together they form the complete Babushka.

The book is beautifully illustrated and has a fantastic moral message as we follow Babushka's journey to discover the meaning of life. She finds that although each of her layers is individually fantastic, they don't work successfully if they aren't together. The unique qualities we possess work in harmony together and we need to take care of ourselves internally and externally.

A beautiful, heartwarming book with an equally beautiful message.

Having travelled to the fabulous country of Russia I was immediately drawn to this book. On my travels in Russia I visited a lady just outside of a town called Kungur who made the most fantastic gingerbread and incredible Babushka dolls. It was from this lady that I learnt all about the meaning of the Babushka and it’s legend and folklore in Russian culture.

The Story of Babushka tells the journeys of five dolls who each set out to find their own purpose in life. Each doll has its own special quality; Antonia is beautiful, Loretta epitomises riches and wealth, Paula is full of talent and success, Viola is the brains; intelligent and wise, and Mary is loving.

Babushka was content with her life in the forest but would often wonder about life - its meaning and her purpose. Babushka had some of the answers,

“The brook’s purpose was to flow, and the birds’ purpose was to sing.”

Babushka wants to find the meaning of her life and so she sends her five bodies off to find their true purpose in life. Guided by Mary, her inner voice, the Babushka gradually lets each doll go and as they venture from their forest home in search of answers, each doll has a clear life goal.

But life is never simple and as each doll embarks on a voyage of self-discovery they are exposed to some harsh life-lessons. Feeling at a loss, the innermost doll, Mary, heads off in search of her own purpose guided by the wind. And slowly she is guided back to her four other parts and the Babushka doll becomes whole once again.

The Story of Babushka is an endearing and important fable for all ages. At times, the language has a poetic quality and I was swept away into what felt like a fairy-tale wonderland. I love the message in this book - you are not defined by one particular characteristic, there are many parts that make your whole. There are valuable lessons on friendship and love, appearances, wealth and happiness (money can’t buy happiness), valuing yourself and helping others. It is all of these bodies that form the whole Babushka and whilst they may each have their own purpose they are at their strongest and happiest when they are together.

The illustrations of the dolls are beautiful - the intricate designs, the attention to detail, the size. They are exactly what I think of when I picture Babushka dolls in my head and think back to all the wonderful ones I saw in Russia. Each doll is unique with its own beauty - inner and outer.

A book that is worthy of being read by and shared with all ages. The messages and lessons in this book will be appreciated by readers of 9+ whilst younger children will delight in the beautiful artwork and will enjoy the story without delving deeper into the more complex issues and morals. A read that will generate plenty of discussion by readers both young and old.

With huge thanks to Catherine Flores and Netgalley for the ARC.

In this version of the story, Babushka is a doll made up of five layers. The first one is full of beauty, one is richly adorned with ornaments and the third is full of talent and succeeds through a solid work ethic. Next is the body of wisdom with brilliant ideas and solutions and finally, the smallest and central layer is made up of love and compassion.

The dolls all find opportunities to put their particular skills/gifts to good use and travel away in different directions. Mary travels to see each one, but they aren’t happy; the dolls support each other and find happiness.

The story is written in a simple style and the dolls are presented as full of positive qualities. I did wonder about some of the less happy situations, where others seem to take advantage of the dolls. It would have to be carefully explained that not everyone is like this.

The illustrations are beautiful.

It is a fairly tale about traditional Russian doll Babushka.
It is a single doll with five souls. They have different purposes and qualities.
Once upon a time her five traits start to separate and start to live independently.
How their lives change and how they reconcile with the world is described in a captivating story.
Artwork is wonderful.
A very good read for children that teaches moral lessons about all good traits that we should possess.
I will recommend it to all kids and teens.
Thanks netgalley and the publisher for review copy.

This is a beautiful children's story following Babushka - a matryoshka who embarks on a journey to find the true meaning of life. The writing was engaging and appropriate for a younger audience and I think this would be appreciated by both small children who are not quite reading independently and more confident readers.

The book teaches children to know their worth and not to place too much value on materialistic wealth or external beauty.

My favourite thing about the book is the absolutely gorgeous illustrations. I'd love to see this book in its hardback format.

This book was so lovely! Gorgeous illustrations, an unusual yet familiar kind of story, and with much deeper morals than you'd expect from a children's book including themes of unity between your many interests that make up your personality, the horrors of capitalism, and how scratching below the surface level reveals how deceiving things may be. I highly recommend this book, especially if you can put on a music box version of an instrumental song for full atmosphere.

Having a number of Babushka nesting dolls in my life, on various surfaces in my living areas, I know of their charm and appeal. Visitors walk through the door, see them and reach for them, regardless of their age. Hands are busy while we talk and visit. Seeing this book come available, I was eager to read The Story of Babushka by Catherine Flores and Ana Beatriz Marques.

The art on each page so engages me, partly because my youth was filled with art styled in a similar simple, old-fashioned way. I see echoes of Lois Lenski's work, and Virginia Lee Burton's, updated with colors and smooth lines, swoops and details not seen in those days. I love the illustrations, the differences in the dollies, and the variety of environments that are part of their adventures.

I originally wanted this book for my grandma reads session group (3 yrs to 13yrs). But this story feels more ambitious than the art that accompanies it. . .there are grownup metaphors, worries and concerns that seem suited for an older group. It almost seems like a grownup fairy tale, to comfort. . .me, a grown woman. There are so many roles a woman plays in life, and the Babushka's story speaks to some of the main ones.

4 stars from me, for a beautiful new book!

A sincere thank you to Catherine Flores, BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review. #TheStoryOfBabushka #NetGalley

A interesting story about beauty, wealth, wisdom, work ethic, and love, and how balance is the key to happiness. I was able to hold my 5 year old interest through the whole story. I found the story charming and and a nice family read. I would recommend this to elementary readers, I feel like it would be a little long for a read aloud it would be fun for 2nd and 3rd graders too.

A beautifully illustrated moral story that will provoke a lot of discussion and conversation amongst older picture book readers.
This is a fabulous story for sharing and discussing as a family or for UKS2 PSHCE lessons.

This would be a good book for a PSHE lesson about the different aspects of a character. The author takes the idea of a matryoshka doll with 5 different layers, and assigns a different trait to each one - smartness, talent, wealth, beauty and love. Each body goes off to seek their fortune in a modern day fable type story, but they each end up trapped in a town where people are too busy or greedy, or are trapped in jobs they cannot leave. It was an interesting blend of traditional fable and contemporary story which might appeal to children between 6 and 11. I found a few more American sounding words a little grating, like "smart" for clever, which jolted me out of the timeless fable type story.