Dreamer from the Village: The Story of Marc Chagall by Michelle Markel

Dreamer from the Village: The Story of Marc Chagall Reviews

• 
  Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance

  From the beginning, Marc Chagall did not see things the ways others did. His village in Russia where he grew up filled him with images. He began to draw and paint, and everything he drew and painted was based on his feelings. He begged his mother to let him take lessons and so he went first to St. Petersburg and later to Paris. He returned home to Russia and much later a friend wrote to him from Paris: Chagall's friend told him he was famous in Paris. He continued to paint until he was very old and he was one of the few living artists who was exhibited in the Louvre.
  
  Bright and beautiful and mysterious pictures in this story of the life of Chagall reflect the artist's way of seeing the world.
• 
  Dolly

  This is an informative and entertaining book about the life of the artist
  Marc Chagall. I did not know much about him before we read this book, so I learned as much as our girls did. The narrative isn't too long or overwhelming with details; it provides a general overview without going into many specifics.
  
  I would've liked to have seen more of his artwork, but the illustrations help to convey his style. Our girls love to draw and paint and I love to expose them to different styles of artwork. We also love learning about the creativity and inspiration these artists use in their artwork.
  
  Ever since the
  Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads chose artists for their
  January 2013 discussion, we've been checking out books about different artists. While this is not our favorite artist biography, it was a worthwhile read and we enjoyed reading it together.
• 
  Anna Lewis

  Perfect book to read to elementary students for art appreciation lessons about Marc Chagall. Tells the story of how and why Chagall became an artist mixed with a sprinkling of Jewish heritage which creates a fabulous bridge into discussions about Chagall's art.
  
  The discussions that children have about art are a huge chunk of the foundation for art appreciation, creativity and right-brain thinking.
• 
  Prabhat sharma

  Dreamer from the Village- the Story of Marc Chagall by Mitchelle Markel Illustrator Emilyu Lister- Children’s book- Marc Chagall (Date of birth 07-07-1887) to was born in Russia to Jewish parents. When he was born, a fire broke out. His mother placed him in an animal food tray for his safety. From the roof of his house, he could view cows, goats, Jew Priests, factories, burial ground, workers, women selling candles, sweet meats, vegetables. Marc did not see things the ways others did. His village, where he grew up filled him with images of domestic animals, religious festivals, men participating in agricultural activities etc. He began to draw and paint, and everything he drew and painted was based on his feelings. In school he was good at drawing and geometry. He begged his mother to let him take further lessons in drawing school. He painted on empty sacks lying in a factory. He went first to Art School at St. Petersburg. He met Bella a girl who wished to become an actor. Later by train to Paris. He visited Louvre and viewed the paintings. In his studio, he painted on bedsheets, night shirts, curtains. He returned home to Russia. First world war began. He could not travel back to Paris for 8 years. Later, a friend wrote to him from Paris that his paintings are popular in Paris. He continued to paint until he was very old and he was one of the few living artists whose work was exhibited in the Louvre, when his age was 90- years. In this book, light and beautiful and mysterious pictures in this story of the life of Chagall reflect the artist's way of seeing the world. Marc went to Paris and displayed his work. Such books are educative and children are encouraged to learn and perform on the basis of their imagination.
• 
  FM Family

  This was a good introduction to Chagall but failed to really grab me in the same way the memoir of Rousseau we read did. And I feel like it had a bit too much information to hold my 3.5 year old’s interest, like by the end of the story she was looking around. But it’s done in an interesting way with the floating and surreal characters of Chagall appearing side by side with the day to day narrative. And it covers his story well and really gives you the sense that you can be someone who struggles in school , who people don’t understand, who doesn’t succeed early on in life, and also be someone with a unique and vital perspective on the world.
• 
  Theresa

  "A poet's head spun around as he wrote his poem, and the air shattered into windowpanes of color."- Dreamer from the Village by Michelle Markel
• 
  Kristen Sewell

  This book is an actual artist and I think it would be fun to teach children about him and his life. Some of his artwork was used in it, but I wish more of it was in there. It could work in the classroom as a good art appreciation lesson.
• 
  BookOfLife

  Hear a review by two cute children of Dreamer in the Village on The Book of Life podcast's February 2006 episode of
  www.jewishbooks.blogspot.com.
• 
  Polly

  What an amazing life. A well told story. Wish it could have some illustrations of the actual art.
• 
  Barbara Lovejoy

  Marc Chagall is one of my favorite artists so it was fun to read this book about his life.
• 
  Don Gubler

  Entertaining and informative. Illustrations mirror painting style.
• 
  Mckinley

  Love his stuff, didn't love this book as much.