How about one of those cut-stock Marlins in .30-30? My wife is very petite (5' on her tiptoes) and doesn't like recoil, but she handles a .30-30 pretty well.

Or a Marlin 1894C in .357 magnum? No recoil to speak of, and just so darned cute! (You may not want the kiddoes to have it, though, 'cause they're so much fun you'll want it for yourself.)