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It Fell from the Sky
A picture book about community, art, the importance of giving back—and the wonder that fell from the sky.
It fell from the sky on a Thursday.
None of the insects know where it came from, or what it is. Some say it’s an egg. Others, a gumdrop. But whatever it is, it fell near Spider’s house, so he’s convinced it belongs to him.
Spider builds a wondrous display so that insects from far and wide can come look at the marvel. Spider has their best interests at heart. So what if he has to charge a small fee? So what if the lines are long? So what if no one can even see the wonder anymore?
But what will Spider do after everyone stops showing up?
It fell from the sky on a Thursday.
None of the insects know where it came from, or what it is. Some say it’s an egg. Others, a gumdrop. But whatever it is, it fell near Spider’s house, so he’s convinced it belongs to him.
Spider builds a wondrous display so that insects from far and wide can come look at the marvel. Spider has their best interests at heart. So what if he has to charge a small fee? So what if the lines are long? So what if no one can even see the wonder anymore?
But what will Spider do after everyone stops showing up?
48 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 2021
9 people are currently reading
1008 people want to read
About the author
Terry Fan
20 books184 followersTerry Fan received his formal art training at Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto, Canada. His work is a blend of traditional and contemporary techniques, using ink or graphite mixed with digital. He spends his days (and nights) creating magical paintings, portraits, and prints. Terry is the cocreator of The Night Gardener, It Fell from the Sky, and Lizzy and the Cloud. Born in Illinois, he now lives in Toronto.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 378 reviews
July 19, 2021
I don’t often review children’s books here, though they’re a regular part of my job, but I have to admit I’m a HUGE sucker for a good picture book and this new one by Canadian author-illustrator team the Fan Brothers, Eric and Terry, is a gorgeous, whimsical story about what happens when a mysterious object falls from the sky.
As the insects humorously debate what this object could be and where it came from, a shrewd spider crafts his own plan for this “Wonder from the Sky”. As long as the other insects are willing to pay him a small fee, they can enjoy this and other wonders too. Will his plan work? Needless to say, things are never that easy.
It’s a beautifully illustrated book with one of my very favorite art styles, monochromatic with splashes of color, and the personalities of each of the insects comes through in the drawings and words. The themes, including community, selfishness versus generosity, and patience are ones that people of all ages can appreciate.
Whether you have kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews or you’re just a big kid at heart like me, this is a short, charming, thought-provoking book with great character-building themes that young and old can enjoy!
★★★★★
This will be published September 28, 2021. Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for this review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
As the insects humorously debate what this object could be and where it came from, a shrewd spider crafts his own plan for this “Wonder from the Sky”. As long as the other insects are willing to pay him a small fee, they can enjoy this and other wonders too. Will his plan work? Needless to say, things are never that easy.
It’s a beautifully illustrated book with one of my very favorite art styles, monochromatic with splashes of color, and the personalities of each of the insects comes through in the drawings and words. The themes, including community, selfishness versus generosity, and patience are ones that people of all ages can appreciate.
Whether you have kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews or you’re just a big kid at heart like me, this is a short, charming, thought-provoking book with great character-building themes that young and old can enjoy!
★★★★★
This will be published September 28, 2021. Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for this review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
October 27, 2021
I recently read this picture book to a class of Grade 4 students, and we were all delighted by:
1. the moral intelligences depicted in this story's message;
2. how the creatures interacted with each other; and especially,
3. the illustrations! The extremely detailed monochromatic drawings are brought to life with pops of color, making this a stunning book to treasure!
Thank you, Kat, for bringing this beautifully illustrated book (by Canadians, no less!) to my attention!
1. the moral intelligences depicted in this story's message;
2. how the creatures interacted with each other; and especially,
3. the illustrations! The extremely detailed monochromatic drawings are brought to life with pops of color, making this a stunning book to treasure!
Thank you, Kat, for bringing this beautifully illustrated book (by Canadians, no less!) to my attention!
October 31, 2025
کتابهای برادران فن، سطح خیلی بالاتری از سرگرمی و زیبایی بصری رو به بچه ها ارائه میدن. من از نگاه طبیعت گرایانه و احساسی این نویسنده ها خیلی خوشم میاد و عاشق اینم که میشه با کتاباشون، داستان خوندن با بچهها رو به یک گفتگوی عمیق فلسفی تبدیل کرد❤️
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March 2, 2022It Fell from the Sky, written and illustrated by brothers Terry and Eric Fan who also created The Night Garden and Ocean Meets Sky, is a whimsically illustrated fable revealing the impact of greed and the importance of giving back to one’s community. The illustrations which will immediately draw in the reader are rendered in graphite and then colored digitally, but the author’s choice to use greyscale and color contrast to define the progression of the story is expertly executed.
At its core, It Fell from the Sky tells the story of how a community of insects discovers and utilizes a mysterious object which fell from the sky. Many insects have their suspicions of the object’s origin, but the clever and crafty Spider comes up with a plan to monetize the discovery. At first the Spider’s plan seems innocent enough, but eventually his greed overwhelms the onlookers and overtakes their interest in the object. The Spider is then forced to decide whether to continue his chosen path or to make amends for his avaricious actions. So many picture books rely either on their story or illustrations to grab the audience’s attention, but It Fell from the Sky strikes a perfect balance between the two resulting in a picture book that holds on to your attention from beginning to end even when you’ve read it once, twice, or twenty times. – Christina B.
At its core, It Fell from the Sky tells the story of how a community of insects discovers and utilizes a mysterious object which fell from the sky. Many insects have their suspicions of the object’s origin, but the clever and crafty Spider comes up with a plan to monetize the discovery. At first the Spider’s plan seems innocent enough, but eventually his greed overwhelms the onlookers and overtakes their interest in the object. The Spider is then forced to decide whether to continue his chosen path or to make amends for his avaricious actions. So many picture books rely either on their story or illustrations to grab the audience’s attention, but It Fell from the Sky strikes a perfect balance between the two resulting in a picture book that holds on to your attention from beginning to end even when you’ve read it once, twice, or twenty times. – Christina B.
October 20, 2021
When a wonderful thing falls from the sky, all of the insects in the garden marvel at its beauty, and wonder what it is. Frog thinks it is a gumdrop, Grasshopper that is it a fallen star or planet, and Luna Moth that it is a magical chrysalis. But when Spider arrives, he immediately perceives that what it truly is, is an opportunity. Spinning his web around the luminously colorful globe, he claims it as his own, and builds an amusement park attraction around it, raking in the "money" (AKA leaves) from all the other residents. But as he grows ever greedier, the other creatures lose interest in his show, and stop paying to see the thing that fell from the sky. Then, when a five-fingered creature from the sky snatches the wondrous globe away, Spider is left alone, with nothing. It is only when he perceives that the moon above shares her light with all, even a greedy spider, that he understands what he must do...
I have been a great admirer of the Fan Brothers since the 2016 publication of their debut picture-book, The Night Gardener . I find the stories they tell magical, and the artwork they produce astonishingly beautiful. What a talented family! Needless to say, when I heard that It Fell from the Sky was due out this year, I was most eager to track it down. I'm happy to report that it did not disappoint, offering an enchanting story of a human object that finds its way into the animal world, with unexpected results; and absolutely gorgeous illustrations, as expressive as they are lovely. The story here - readers will immediately perceive that the "wonder," which is never named in the text, is a marble - reminded me a bit of Elsa Beskow's classic, The Sun Egg , in which a woodland elf comes upon an orange and thinks that it is a celestial body come to earth. Spider's reformation - inspired by the moon, he learns to share the wonders that come from the sky - provides a natural, and heartwarming conclusion to the tale. As for the visuals, the artwork here is breathtaking. Mostly black and white, with vividly colorful accents - the rainbow marble, the green leaves used by the insects as payment - it is immediately engrossing, playing with light and shade in a most beautiful way, and perfectly capturing the expressions and character of each insect. Highly, highly recommended, to all fellow Fan fans, and to picture-book readers who appreciate both engaging stories with heartfelt messages and beautiful artwork.
I have been a great admirer of the Fan Brothers since the 2016 publication of their debut picture-book, The Night Gardener . I find the stories they tell magical, and the artwork they produce astonishingly beautiful. What a talented family! Needless to say, when I heard that It Fell from the Sky was due out this year, I was most eager to track it down. I'm happy to report that it did not disappoint, offering an enchanting story of a human object that finds its way into the animal world, with unexpected results; and absolutely gorgeous illustrations, as expressive as they are lovely. The story here - readers will immediately perceive that the "wonder," which is never named in the text, is a marble - reminded me a bit of Elsa Beskow's classic, The Sun Egg , in which a woodland elf comes upon an orange and thinks that it is a celestial body come to earth. Spider's reformation - inspired by the moon, he learns to share the wonders that come from the sky - provides a natural, and heartwarming conclusion to the tale. As for the visuals, the artwork here is breathtaking. Mostly black and white, with vividly colorful accents - the rainbow marble, the green leaves used by the insects as payment - it is immediately engrossing, playing with light and shade in a most beautiful way, and perfectly capturing the expressions and character of each insect. Highly, highly recommended, to all fellow Fan fans, and to picture-book readers who appreciate both engaging stories with heartfelt messages and beautiful artwork.
April 6, 2022
Ahh..this book is such a delightful read!. I just loved the very fanciful and whimsical illustrations in the book,with its monochromatic colours with a splash of vibrant colours at the 'right and suitable' places make the story standout and more alive! especially on the 'object of Wonder'. I loved the theatrical feel/vibes i get from the way the insect characters are dressed with some fancy top hats and bow ties.
I believe this book would not only appeal to the children but also to the adults as well. I admit that i am one of those adults who was smitten by the fanciful,theatrical and whimsical illustrations and of course the story. I loved how the insects characters each were given their own unique and distinctive characters (besides fanciful costumes!).
The story begin with a fallen object,believed to have fell from the sky which brought a series of wonders, curiousity and amazements among the insects community. Each one of them were trying to guess and find out the identity of the object. Some say it is a gumdrop, some say it is a fallen planet and some believed it is a chrysalis.
The fallen object became an object of wonder and amazement to the insects community except for the crafty spider. He saw and looked at the object as an opportunity, the opportunity to make money and profit from it by holding a special exhibit to display the now popular and in-demand object which got the attention from everyone,including those from far and wide. He even put on some charges for all of them for every single entries to the exhibit. Then, the spider gets even greedier and opportunist by increasing the ticket prices as more and more insects come to see the object of wonder.
The spider's character reminds me so much of P.T Barnum on how he started the circus and of some greedy and opportunist capitalist. However, one day, suddenly a giant creature who came from out of nowhere took away the object of wonder which left the spider thinking of coming up of ways to find other new object of wonder. But will he share the object with everyone else? Or will he take the opportunity by turning it into another profit-making scheme?.
Simply put, this story is not only visually stunning but also filled with some valuable life lessons and moral values that appeal to both the children as well as the adults. I should know because i am one of those entertained adult!. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this entertaining book.
I believe this book would not only appeal to the children but also to the adults as well. I admit that i am one of those adults who was smitten by the fanciful,theatrical and whimsical illustrations and of course the story. I loved how the insects characters each were given their own unique and distinctive characters (besides fanciful costumes!).
The story begin with a fallen object,believed to have fell from the sky which brought a series of wonders, curiousity and amazements among the insects community. Each one of them were trying to guess and find out the identity of the object. Some say it is a gumdrop, some say it is a fallen planet and some believed it is a chrysalis.
The fallen object became an object of wonder and amazement to the insects community except for the crafty spider. He saw and looked at the object as an opportunity, the opportunity to make money and profit from it by holding a special exhibit to display the now popular and in-demand object which got the attention from everyone,including those from far and wide. He even put on some charges for all of them for every single entries to the exhibit. Then, the spider gets even greedier and opportunist by increasing the ticket prices as more and more insects come to see the object of wonder.
The spider's character reminds me so much of P.T Barnum on how he started the circus and of some greedy and opportunist capitalist. However, one day, suddenly a giant creature who came from out of nowhere took away the object of wonder which left the spider thinking of coming up of ways to find other new object of wonder. But will he share the object with everyone else? Or will he take the opportunity by turning it into another profit-making scheme?.
Simply put, this story is not only visually stunning but also filled with some valuable life lessons and moral values that appeal to both the children as well as the adults. I should know because i am one of those entertained adult!. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this entertaining book.
February 4, 2022
When it fell from the sky, everyone approached it differently. Some tried to figure out where it came from. Others investigated, attempting to taste, roll or hatch it. 
Spider decides to capitalise on the Wonder. That is, until things don’t quite go to plan.
Spider, initially only focused on how he could personally benefit from the Wonder, eventually learns a valuable lesson about selfishness. Maybe Wonders are more wonderful if they’re shared.
The illustrations in this picture book are absolutely gorgeous. The animals are so realistic that I almost expected them to crawl, hop and fly off the page. I was tempted to blow on the dandelions.
While the pictures are incredibly lifelike, that doesn’t mean they’re without whimsy. There’s something so adorable and smile worthy about seeing critters you’d find in your garden casually wearing top hats and carrying briefcases.
I probably wouldn’t have appreciated this as much as a kid but adult me loved the minimal use of colour in the illustrations. Initially, the only splash of colour comes from the thing that fell from the sky. Gradually, more colour is introduced.
Beware the five-legged creature!
Thank you so much to Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read this picture book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
Everyone agreed it was the most amazing thing they had ever seen.
Spider decides to capitalise on the Wonder. That is, until things don’t quite go to plan.
Spider, initially only focused on how he could personally benefit from the Wonder, eventually learns a valuable lesson about selfishness. Maybe Wonders are more wonderful if they’re shared.
The illustrations in this picture book are absolutely gorgeous. The animals are so realistic that I almost expected them to crawl, hop and fly off the page. I was tempted to blow on the dandelions.
While the pictures are incredibly lifelike, that doesn’t mean they’re without whimsy. There’s something so adorable and smile worthy about seeing critters you’d find in your garden casually wearing top hats and carrying briefcases.
I probably wouldn’t have appreciated this as much as a kid but adult me loved the minimal use of colour in the illustrations. Initially, the only splash of colour comes from the thing that fell from the sky. Gradually, more colour is introduced.
Beware the five-legged creature!
Thank you so much to Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read this picture book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
October 30, 2023
This is a kids book, probably for children who are either a bit older and reading themselves, or who like a longer story being read aloud to them. It's a tale about a garden where a marble has fallen from the sky and the insects don't quite know what to make of it. Whilst the story is enjoyable, I think the true magic comes through in the artwork and illustration style where the marble is beautifully coloured and most other things are shown in pencil. The artistry of some of the scenes and the wonder of the drawings was just captivating to me and my son, and we both really loved it.
August 21, 2021
This new book from the creators of THE NIGHT GARDENER is absorbing, creative and smart. The premise is simple enough, a marble "falls from the sky" into a garden and the insects around it react in different ways, but the resulting story and illustrations are clever and nuanced. The largely black and white illustrations are striking and the setting overs a fun perspective for children to consider. The story and illustrations leave gaps for the kids to fill, which adds an interesting layer throughout. It is a book you will want to re-read, ponder, and talk about.
September 4, 2021
I cannot get enough of this book. I just want to hug it every time I see it. The story and illustrations work in a way that is simply magical. Their talent is simply remarkable. When an object falls from the sky ("A marble!" -My 7-year-old), the insects are convinced it must be from another world. Spider decides to develop a display and invites the insects far and wide. They merely need to pay a leaf to see the object. But spider learns an important lesson---one that serves as a good reminder to all of us. I loved this book and expect it to see some awards. It dazzled me.
October 4, 2021
A gem and an absolute delight. This sweet and amazingly detailed little story will be an instant hit with bug fans and anyone who just enjoys looking at stunning artwork. I hope this one will be considered when Caldecott nominations come around.
March 27, 2022
A fun look at what happens when something mysterious (a marble) falls from the sky, from the perspective of the little critters in and around the yard. Very clever and cute with a little twist to show community and not taking advantage of others.
December 15, 2021
Featured in a grandma reads session.
I was one of those children who imagined all the world was stuffed with little communities of bugs, of fairies, of brownies (the elfin kind) living in our fireplace, mantel and woodpile, of the Borrowers in our walls. . .so this little book of bugs just hanging out, when this marvelous, fantastically round object drops into their life. . .sooooo thrilling!!!! I could believe it !!
Imagine such a thing happening to you, in your life!!! Glorianna!
My guys enjoyed this book. . .and we discussed the interesting choices made artwise, to pop the marvelous object out . . . .we talked about perspective, perception and scale. And we all looked at marbles with a little more respect.
I was one of those children who imagined all the world was stuffed with little communities of bugs, of fairies, of brownies (the elfin kind) living in our fireplace, mantel and woodpile, of the Borrowers in our walls. . .so this little book of bugs just hanging out, when this marvelous, fantastically round object drops into their life. . .sooooo thrilling!!!! I could believe it !!
Imagine such a thing happening to you, in your life!!! Glorianna!
My guys enjoyed this book. . .and we discussed the interesting choices made artwise, to pop the marvelous object out . . . .we talked about perspective, perception and scale. And we all looked at marbles with a little more respect.
May 28, 2021
Beautifully Illustrated children's book with a wonderful story! I loved it! After a colorful sphere falls from the sky into the critter garden, the insects are amazed. No spoilers! I highly recommend it! Great for all ages.
September 26, 2021
A great book to use to talk about what is the book really about? What message does the author want us to know? Because the conversations surrounding those 2 questions will keep readers talking for awhile!
May 2, 2022
3.5 stars. Readers may recognize the object that falls from the sky immediately. The unusual object takes on a life of its own in this insect and nature habitat. But when the object disappears, what can Spider do to create the magic again?
October 27, 2021
Beautiful drawings paired with a gently humourous story.
(Though I did find all the top hats a bit weird.)
(Though I did find all the top hats a bit weird.)
January 23, 2022
Join this hidden world of tiny creatures and delight in the mysterious object that fell from the sky. The Fan Brothers’ picture books are a treat for the eyes and the heart.
February 15, 2022
Incredible illustrations and a really cool story about what the critters and insects might get up to, and how they experience all the bits and pieces left behind by humans. Fun, playful, clever.
January 19, 2024
I love, love, love all these illustrations and also the humor of what insects might think when they spot a fallen marble.
February 20, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley for a preview peek.
This is such a beautifully illustrated book, it starts with beautiful contrasting pencil work. Monochrome with a dash of colour.
Something falls from the sky and each animal thinks it's something different and wonder about who it belongs too. There are many layers to this story and I would love to share it with an older class to see what there thoughts would be, especially towards the spider. What would they do if they were one of the animals?
The use of colour throughout is important and also tells it's own story - a wonderful story that will be enjoyed by children of many ages.
This is such a beautifully illustrated book, it starts with beautiful contrasting pencil work. Monochrome with a dash of colour.
Something falls from the sky and each animal thinks it's something different and wonder about who it belongs too. There are many layers to this story and I would love to share it with an older class to see what there thoughts would be, especially towards the spider. What would they do if they were one of the animals?
The use of colour throughout is important and also tells it's own story - a wonderful story that will be enjoyed by children of many ages.
October 19, 2021
This is a cute picture book with gorgeous illustrations. I enjoyed it but found the usual assignment of gender and gender roles a bit frustrating. Every single creature in this book is male except the ladybug and the luna month (who is nurturing and motherly). The spider, the walking stick, the frog, the stinkbug, the grasshopper, etc. - all male. Why is this the default case in so many picture books? Sigh.
November 24, 2021
I am a huge fan of the Fan brothers and marvel at how they create one stunning book after another.
This is a terrific story that focuses on the mystery of an object that fell from the sky and the sneaky spider that tries to capitalize on it. But those illustrations! The use of color, detail, and so much personality! One of the best of the year.
This is a terrific story that focuses on the mystery of an object that fell from the sky and the sneaky spider that tries to capitalize on it. But those illustrations! The use of color, detail, and so much personality! One of the best of the year.
October 13, 2021
I love these illustrations and the message. Beautiful, and definitely a book to be shared.
March 8, 2022
Love anti capitalism bugs in a children’s book.
February 15, 2022
Jake and I were gifted this by Quarto Kids. Review to come to my blog soon. An excellent read.
March 4, 2023
l'histoire d'une petite araignée un peu greedy mais qui a beaucoup d'imagination qui crée un musée avec des petites merveilles du monde des humains!
November 29, 2023
Super cute!
March 7, 2024
Summary
This low fantasy story, recommended by Dora on her fantasy book list and created by the Fan Brothers, starts with a wondrous object that falls from the sky to a small community of insects. Everyone is astonished with the object and declares it's the "most amazing thing they have ever seen." No one knows what it is, but a clever spider claims it is his and convinces everyone to create the 'WonderVille' exhibition for everyone to view the extraordinary object. He started charging one leaf, but as more and more insects wanted to see it, he raised the fee to two leaves. The spider was becoming very wealthy until the unexpected happened. A five-legged creature ( a child's hand) took the object away! The spider realizes that he is selfish and corrects his mistakes with actions that end up benefiting
his community.
Review
This great imaginative book for young minds ages 4-8 will motivate children to go beyond their known world and see life from a small creature's perspective. Furthermore, the Fan Brothers use captivating and elegant illustrations in black and white but in full color to keep the reader's focus on the marvelous object. They also effectively use the logical storyline to engage readers and make them wonder how some things we consider trash could be someone else's treasure. The themes of community, humility, and giving back are transmitted successfully to the reader because they are of high value to them.
Teaching ideas
Language Arts- Develop creative writing by asking students to write sentences about who, what, where, and when to create a story. They can also write a paragraph about a new character by focusing on character traits.
SEL- Strengthen classroom community by brainstorming ways to contribute and be helpful for the well-being of the classroom.
This low fantasy story, recommended by Dora on her fantasy book list and created by the Fan Brothers, starts with a wondrous object that falls from the sky to a small community of insects. Everyone is astonished with the object and declares it's the "most amazing thing they have ever seen." No one knows what it is, but a clever spider claims it is his and convinces everyone to create the 'WonderVille' exhibition for everyone to view the extraordinary object. He started charging one leaf, but as more and more insects wanted to see it, he raised the fee to two leaves. The spider was becoming very wealthy until the unexpected happened. A five-legged creature ( a child's hand) took the object away! The spider realizes that he is selfish and corrects his mistakes with actions that end up benefiting
his community.
Review
This great imaginative book for young minds ages 4-8 will motivate children to go beyond their known world and see life from a small creature's perspective. Furthermore, the Fan Brothers use captivating and elegant illustrations in black and white but in full color to keep the reader's focus on the marvelous object. They also effectively use the logical storyline to engage readers and make them wonder how some things we consider trash could be someone else's treasure. The themes of community, humility, and giving back are transmitted successfully to the reader because they are of high value to them.
Teaching ideas
Language Arts- Develop creative writing by asking students to write sentences about who, what, where, and when to create a story. They can also write a paragraph about a new character by focusing on character traits.
SEL- Strengthen classroom community by brainstorming ways to contribute and be helpful for the well-being of the classroom.
December 4, 2021
For: readers looking for a book about sharing and celebrating the wonders around us; readers looking for a book with textured illustrations that uses color specifically.
Possible red flags: selfishness; greed.
Possible red flags: selfishness; greed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 378 reviews