Back in September I shared three picture books about the twentieth century artist Marc Chagall. Here are four more you might consider reading with your children.
I Am Marc Chagall by Bimba Lindmann (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2006)
Inspired by Chagall’s autobiography, My Life (1923), this picture book is told from Chagall’s perspective. It is longer and more detailed than the first three books I reviewed, but it ends when Chagall leaves for America rather than covering his whole life. The illustrations are dioramas which give a dreamy/creepy feel to the book. (A note on the illustrations would have been nice.) It does include a two-page timeline. Recommended for ages 8 to 10.
A Picture for Marc by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Matthew Trueman (Random House, 2007)
This book is actually an easy reader with a couple of black and white illustrations in each chapter. Using lots of dialogue it shows how the young Marc saw beauty and magic in the everyday world and explains how he learned to draw, as well as describing the opposition and encouragement he encountered on his way to becoming an artist. The importance of art is emphasized: “We all need art to show us what is truly beautiful and important in the world. We need art to show us the small, secret things that we never take time to see. We need art to show us how to live, how to be alive in the world.” An author’s note gives a bit more information about Chagall and his teacher, Yehuda Pen, and includes recommended reading. Recommended for ages 7 to 9.
Journey on a Cloud by Veronique Massenot, illustrated by Elise Mansot (Prestel, 2014; original French edition, 2008)
Not a biographical work, this picture book tells the imaginative story of a mailman named Zephyr who longs to see beyond his little blue town. With the help of a cloud he voyages to lands of yellow, red, and green wonders. He even finds love and comes home to discover that his town has changed for the better. This story is inspired by Chagall’s “Bride and Groom with Eiffel Tower” (1938-39), which is reproduced at the end of the book, along with FAQs about Chagall’s life and art. The vibrant illustrations fit Chagall’s style. Recommended for ages 5 to 7.
Self-Portrait with Seven Fingers: The Life of Marc Chagall in Verse by J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen (Creative Editions, 2011)
In this unique picture book the story of Chagall’s life is told through a selection of his paintings with one poem written about each one (mostly free verse). Each page also has one or two paragraphs of narrative plus occasional footnotes, especially to explain Yiddish vocabulary. The illustrations are his paintings plus some black and white photos. This book would be a good resource for considering how Chagall’s art was born from his life. It includes a bibliography of 11 sources. Recommended for ages 10 and up.