A review by lisavegan
The Magic Nesting Doll by Jacqueline K. Ogburn

5.0

This might be my new favorite fairy tale, and it’s enhanced by lush and gorgeous illustrations. I thoroughly enjoyed it, despite recently not being in the mood to read fairy or folk tales. This book is an amazing gem.

I love the strong and kind and giving woman protagonist, Katya, and though her grandmother is in only a short part of the story, I liked her too. I love the animals, including a good, vs. more commonly evil, fairy tale wolf character. How refreshing!

There is one character, the main villain, I’d have found very frightening as a preschooler and maybe in my earliest school years too, but I’d have still loved the tale.

This is a beautiful book and would make a wonderful gift for girls age 4 or 5 to 9 or even 10 or 11.

There are many full page illustrations and they’re just wonderful. They’re intricate and are really special. Some looked like stained glass to me and I love that look. They have a very Russian feel about them. The nesting doll (living) interiors are all so wonderful. There are such a rich variety of colors. The story is fine on its own but the pictures make it soar.

This is a perfect fairy tale for readers looking for a story where the woman is allowed to be the heroine.

I adore the last page.

This would be an appropriate book for humane education.

I might edit this review some day. For now, it’s one of those books I am such a fan of that I can’t write a worthy review.