Tell Us a Story, Papa Chagall
Laurence Anholt
Frances Lincoln
Laurence Anholt has chosen Marc Chagall to be the subject of the tenth title in his fascinating and informative ‘Artists’ series.
Twins, Bella and Meret are eager visitors to their grandfather, Papa Chagall and where do they find him? Not in the woodshed, nor with the animals, but in his painting studio that is full of fascinating pictures.
As he paints, Papa Chagall tells the twins a story; a story about his poor but happy childhood spent in a riverside town with his shopkeeper mother and fisherman father. He recounts how his mother took him to an Art School, to show what his father considered very strange pictures, to the teacher there. So impressed was that teacher, that he paid for the boy to study painting at the school.
As they eat lunch together, Papa Chagall tells the twins another story; this time about how he met and later on painted, their granny,

who was a figure in ‘The Birthday’.
Tucked in bed for the night, the children demand a third tale, and hear about how their Grandfather and his family had to flee the Nazis in Berlin

and go to America; then later, one final dream-busting one about how he became ‘rich and famous’ after the war.
So, what was it about Chagall’s paintings that made people want them so much? They were able to make those who saw them, smile – just what was needed after the misery of the war,

he explains to the twins and then came those flights of fancy pictures. For, he continues, “In your imagination and in your paintings and in your dreams, you can fly as high as you want.” What better thoughts to fall asleep with …
As always in this series, the works of art are cleverly integrated into the narrative, perfect for the story of a visual storyteller as Chagall surely was. Through his story, we are introduced to six paintings in particular ( The Village, Paris Through the Window, The Blue Circus, Birthday, Bella and Ida Through the Window and War) although many others are part and parcel of Anholt’s own watercolour and ink paintings.
Another absorbing addition to the primary school library, indeed for anyone wanting to immerse children in both art and picture books at the same time.
Buy from Amazon
Find and buy from your local bookseller:http://www.booksellers.org.uk/bookshopsearch