Dreamer from the Village: The Story of Marc Chagall

Both straightforward and whimsical, this well-paced picture-book biography of Marc Chagall follows the artist from childhood to his triumphant showing at the Louvre, when he was 90. Brief paragraphs describe Chagall’s early sense that he “was different from other boys. He saw things they didn’t see.” Those visions are blended into the story’s busy, bright acrylic paintings, and children may have trouble separating dream and biography in the crowded spreads and passages of text, such as, “One afternoon, the color of this uncle’s skin drifted out the window, onto the street.” They may also need more explanation about Jewish references mentioned in the book, though the brief glossary will help. But even if children don’t understand the sense in all the words, Markel’s book is a creative introduction to the artist that reinforces the notion that pictures can show ideas and feelings, rather than “the way things really look.” More biographical details close. Also suggest Marc Chagall (2001) by Elisabeth Lemke and Thomas David, which includes reproductions of Chagall’s work.