Terry Fan

A tiny mouse/elephant hybrid, Barnabus was one of Perfect Pets' failed projects: just not good enough to sell to consumers, as a genetically engineered "animal" companion. Living in a tiny bell jar in a laboratory far underground, Barnabus dreamed of the wider world, which he knew about thanks to his friend, Pip the cockroach. Deciding to escape, rather than be "recycled," he and his friends made a break for it, finding their way to the surface after many adventures, eventually settling in a show more park, and always sticking together...

I absolutely adore the work of co-authors, co-illustrators and brothers Terry and Eric Fan, and have read their gorgeous picture-books - The Night Gardener, The Antlered Ship, Ocean Meets Sky, etc. - with great pleasure. Consequently, I was very excited to learn of The Barnabus Project, which brings in a third Fan brother, Devin. I found the story here entertaining and ultimately heartwarming, reminded at least in part of one of my favorite children's novels, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, about a group of rats (and one mouse) who also escape a laboratory. I appreciated the theme here of preferring freedom and authenticity to some kind of artificial perfection, and I loved the friendship and cooperation amongst the failed projects, as they make their escape. The artwork, needless to say, was absolutely beautiful, and I enjoyed perusing these pages, poring over everything from the decorative endpapers to the detailed scenes with all the projects on the shelf, in their bell jars. At seventy-two pages, this is a very long picture-book, but it isn't particularly text-dense, so it doesn't feel that long. Recommended to fellow Fan Brothers fans, and to picture-book readers who enjoy fantastical tales and/or gorgeous illustrations. show less

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 show more 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 things 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 character. Highly, highly recommended, to all fellow Fan fans, and to picture-book readers who appreciate both engaging stories with heartfelt messages and beautiful artwork. show less

The fantastically talented Fan Brothers, Terry and Eric, who made their debut with The Night Gardener, return in Ocean Meets Sky, the second picture-book that they have written and illustrated together. Here they follow the story of Finn, a young boy who is missing his (presumably deceased) grandfather. On the day his grandfather would have been ninety, Finn builds himself a ship and sets sail to find that place, mentioned many times by his elderly relative, where the ocean meets the sky. show more Along the way he encounters many wonders, taking a serene voyage into a fantastic dreamscape...

Although I have enjoyed everything this talented pair have produced, from the aforementioned The Night Gardener, which they both wrote and illustrated, to The Antlered Ship, which they illustrated for author Dashka Slater, I think Ocean Meets Sky is the Fan Brothers' best work yet! The artwork here is breathtakingly beautiful, and there are multiple two-page spreads I would happily hang on my wall, if they were available as prints or posters. The scene with the moon jellies stands out to me, as does the one in which Finn's ship hangs in mid-air (or is it mid-ocean?), together with two magnificent whales, numerous other sea (and air) creatures, and various other conveyances, from sailing ships to air balloons. It truly is a marvelously inventive, gorgeously realized dream-scene! The story itself is emotionally resonant, without ever feeling overdone or manipulative, and touches on issues of death, grief and memory, as well as the power of dreams. Highly recommended, to all fellow Fan Brothers fans, to anyone who appreciates beautiful picture-books, and to anyone looking for children's stories about loss, grief, and the places our dreams can take us. show less

William wakes up one morning to discover that the residents of Grimloch Lane have been visited in the night by a mysterious topiary artist, who has shaped one of the trees in the Grimloch Orphanage's yard into the figure of an owl. Enraptured by this beautiful surprise, William (a resident of the orphanage) gazes in wonder all day, and well into the night. The guerrilla gardener strikes again that night, and a massive cat-shaped tree is discovered the next day. A friendly rabbit, a pretty show more parakeet and a playful elephant soon follow. After the creation of a magnificent arboreal dragon, which becomes the site of a community-wide celebration, William encounters the mysterious Night Gardener, and helps him to transform Grimloch Park into a veritable wonderland. When William awakens the next morning, it is to find that his new friend has left him a parting gift, in addition to the legacy he has left the whole town...

This debut picture-book from brothers Terry and Eric Fan is a work of astonishing beauty! I was immediately drawn in by the cover art, with its moon-drenched night-time vista, and its mysterious owl topiary. The interior of the book more than lives up to that first impression of beauty and enchantment. From the decorative end-papers to the gorgeous interior drawings, done in graphite and colored digitally, everything about The Night Gardener is lovely. The night-scapes feature the same blue shades as the cover, whereas the daytime scenes vary more in color scheme. The setting is historical (perhaps 1930s?), but the neighborhood is diverse. The many neighborhood cats, who are frequently to be seen, are a welcome addition. The tale itself, in which a mysterious night gardener gives a gift of beauty to a neighborhood, reminded me a bit of Timmerman Was Here, which is high praise. Recommended to anyone who appreciated beautiful picture-books, or who wants a lovely tale of a gardener-artist who gives a gift to those around him! show less