Through the stories that he tells his beloved twin grandchildren, Chagall relates his extraordinary rags to riches journey from a topsy-turvy cottage life in Russia, through the dark years of the war, emerging in the sparkling sunlight of Southern France. Anholt's fine illustrations appear on every page and include reproductions of Chagall's work.

Despite the derision of their neighbors, a young French boy and his family befriend the lonely painter who comes to their town and begin to admire his unusual paintings.

"When Mariana goes to Frida Kahlo's house to have her portrait painted by the famous Mexican artist, she is scared. She's a little bit afraid of the beautiful lady with her exotic pets and her "frog-toad" --and she's heard that Frida keeps a skeleton in her bedroom! But as Frida paints Mariana, their friendship blossoms. Frida tells Mariana about her life and the terrible accident that almost killed her, while Mariana discovers how love, creativity,...