Description ■ A New Work from Jon Klassen, Celebrating 10 Years as a Picture Book Author Jon Klassen burst onto the picture book scene as a rising star with his first book, I Want My Hat Back, in 2011. He went on to earn critical acclaim with This Is Not My Hat in 2013, winning both the Caldecott Medal and the Kate Greenaway Medal. In 2016, he completed his celebrated "Hat Trilogy" with We Found a Hat. Now, in 2021—exactly ten years after his debut—Klassen has created another masterwork that surpasses even the Hat Trilogy, drawing widespread attention and acclaim. Klassen's newest picture book, The Rock from the Sky, is built around unique and imaginative concepts: an enormous rock falling from the sky, and a mysterious, unidentifiable creature. Filled with clever premises, distinctive characters, and the author's ongoing effort to connect with readers, this work brings together the creative world Klassen has built over the past decade, showcasing remarkable depth and artistic achievement. ■ A Unique Structure Told Through Five Stories A single flower blooms in a field. A turtle likes the spot and stands there for a long while, when an armadillo approaches. The armadillo says the spot doesn't feel right and moves elsewhere, telling the turtle that where it's now standing feels much better. The turtle, unable to hear the armadillo, doesn't respond, so the armadillo returns. Saying the feeling is even worse than before, the armadillo suggests once again that the turtle move—but the turtle refuses to budge. The armadillo eventually moves on its own and tries speaking to the turtle again, but still, neither can hear the other. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, the turtle leaves its spot and heads toward the armadillo. At that very moment, an enormous rock crashes down right where the turtle had been standing. This alone could stand as a complete story, but here it is only the beginning. The mysterious "rock" introduced in Part One continues to appear throughout Parts Two through Five. What is the true nature of this massive rock that runs through all five parts? And what will happen to the turtle, who narrowly escaped death? Filled with dramatic tension and thrilling suspense, these five interconnected stories keep readers completely absorbed from start to finish. ■ A Story of Connection, Understanding, and Fate Told Through Vivid Characters The turtle, armadillo, and snake featured in this book are characters who previously appeared in Klassen's earlier works, I Want My Hat Back and We Found a Hat. The turtle is stubborn and prone to bluster, yet remains largely passive and unmotivated throughout; the armadillo is even-tempered and endlessly patient with the turtle; and the snake, though lacking much presence of its own, is always lingering nearby the two friends. Each character's distinct personality drives the story forward, adding vibrancy and heightening the sense of excitement. "It may look like a story about friendship, but hidden within it is a far more serious message." — The New York Times Throughout the story, the turtle hides its true feelings behind bravado. For example, after climbing atop the giant rock and falling, ending up flipped on its back, the turtle snaps at the armadillo who tries to help, saying, "I don't need any help." Or, when the armadillo suggests taking a nap, the turtle insists it isn't tired at all—even as its eyelids droop halfway shut. Through this portrayal of the turtle, Klassen illustrates how a lack of genuine connection and communication can distort relationships. This echoes a theme central to his earlier works: the importance and value of true connection. Meanwhile, when the turtle—who has been trapped in its own world—finally leaves its spot and walks toward the armadillo, the story takes a dramatic turn: an enormous rock crashes down exactly where the turtle used to stand! Had the turtle refused to communicate with the armadillo and clung stubbornly to its own world until the end, could it have avoided the rock? Through the turtle's story—breaking free from its self-imposed limitations and, in doing so, changing its very fate—readers come to understand that destiny is ultimately shaped by one's own choices and decisions.