How the Russian Snow Maiden Helped Santa Claus

Reader reviewed by Rick Hibberd

Santa needs help one year and writes to his Russian counterpart Father Frost to ask if his helper the Snow Maiden can come pitch in. He agrees and sends 'Snegurochka' (Russian for Snow Maiden), but gives her a matryoshka (Russian nesting doll) to take along and remind her of home.

'Sneg' worries about being a big grownup help to Santa, while she plays with the doll at night to cheer herself up. When she loses the smallest piece inside the matryoshka her woes are worsened and she laments of being "only a little girl."

Will the littlest piece be found? Will she be able to help Santa after all? Will she fulfill Father Frost's admonition to "Be yourself and do your best"?

That's the story of the book. The illustrations are done by a woman who paints matryoshka dolls for a living in a village north of Moscow. It's a charming tale, lovingly illustrated. And it's a sure new Christmas standard for parents who value cross-cultural stories and tales of a child's self discovery.