Sylvette gradually begins to gain self-confidence during the summer she models for the renowned artist Pablo Picasso in the French village of Vallauris.

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.