Space for Everyone

by Seina Wedlick, Camilla Sucre (Illustrator)

This lyrical and heartwarming picture book follows a Nigerian girl who worries about her family's upcoming move. But she soon realizes that no matter where they go, there will always be room at their kitchen table for her community to gather around.

When Zainab runs down the stairs in the morning, she knows what she'll find: Papa cooking at the stove, Mama pouring tea, and then everyone gathering around the family table. Neighbors stop by, and there's plenty of room for them, too. There are so many beloved rituals that happen at the table: homework and crafts, aunties coming to plait hair, and festive gatherings with neighbors and relatives. But soon boxes start piling up around the house, and Zainab worries about the move—will the rituals feel the same in her new home?

In the new house, the family table still feels cozy to sit around. And soon, old neighbors and new friends stop by, and everyone is welcome at the table. Meg Medina's Evelyn Del Ray is Moving Away meets Peter H. Reynolds's Our Table in this heartwarming story about how difficult it is to move, but how connecting with community makes everything better.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Food, Friendship, Childrens, Fiction, Cultural

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 21, 2025

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this wasn’t as strong as I anticipated. While I liked the overall theme of the book, I think that I struggled with the lack of movement within the pictures. As two other reviewers have pointed out, the family transitions to a new home but the way that it happens in quite abrupt and leads to some confusion in the narrative. The sense of community is great but this could have been a little stronger.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another picture book title popular in the past three or four years with the theme of gathering/sitting around a table. Yes, I understand the focus as I have a table my family has been sitting around for one hundred years. So the theme is fine with me.
However, in this title there is an abrupt or rough transition from the family living in their home with the table to the family moving to a new home in a new neighborhood. Reading this title twice I continue to see no text indicating the move. Random House Children’s editors needed to have done some editing.
Illustrations were done using Procreate and the positive thing depicted in the illustrations was the body images as they were much more realistic in sizes and shapes than are seen in most children’s picture books done by digital means.

[Hinnah Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl worries her table, which has space for everyone and is a place where fond memories were made, will be the same after moving homes. She quickly finds her community from before is still connected with her family and it continues to grow at the new home with new friends. Good book for young ones anxious about an upcoming move.

[Alexius · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a very cute story about family and spending time with family and friends around the table. Whether it’s breakfast, crafts or dinner, they enjoy time with loved ones.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A girl worries that her well-used family dining table won’t remain the center of social interaction when they move to their new home. Fortunately, her family helps her deal with strong emotions through rituals to release attachments to their old house, express gratitude for the life they lived there, and open the door to their new home. New neighbors, old friends, and extended family members help quell any remaining fears by engaging the girl in a variety of social activities that teach her that people, not things, make a house a home. Gloomy illustrations express her anxiety and strange fixation with the table, plus a few more colorful ones that depict the many loving connections shared with family and friends.

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad this little book came across my desk today. This book is about a Nigerian family who has a big, long table in their home. They love to use the table for many things—eating, drinking tea, doing homework…Most of all, they love it because it brings their family and friends together. The main character, Zainab, loves how the table brings everyone together and worries that, when the family moves houses, they won’t be able to keep their friendships they made at the table. But Mama reassures her that they will always have the table to bring friends together, no matter who those friends are. I especially liked the surprise at the end! The metaphor of building a longer table is definitely needed right now and I believe this book sends a message that we can all be a little kinder to one another. Build longer tables so that everyone can sit!

One star off for some abrupt plot stuff, but overall a great message and loved it. :)

Mia’s Year of Books: Day 359

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this picture book covers the importance of a gathering place where family members and friends can come together and yes, as the title indicates, there is "space for everyone" or space will be made, I agree with another reviewer who pointed out that the move from one home to another is abrupt and needed more visual and textual support. And honestly, if I were in the midst of packing my stuff and moving, I wouldn't necessarily want folks dropping by for a bite to eat before the work was done. Plus, readers are several pages into the story before they realize that Zainab, the young protagonist, is worried about how much things will change once the family moves, hinted at when she asks her mother if the hot beverage she's drinking will always stay the same. While it's perfectly fine to keep readers guessing, this seemed far too vague for my tastes or for most young readers. And then, there's a big leap from the night before the move to the family already being settled in their new residence. A couple of more pages or additional text would have helped. The warm and comforting artwork, created with Procreate, excels in the depiction of the father and the table as well as the foods laid out on it, but some of the facial expressions and hair of his children seem strange. For those readers unfamiliar with Nigerian cuisine, some back matter might have been helpful. Still, for anyone in search of children's books about community, this one will fit the bill.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seina Wedlick's newest picture book is Space for Everyone. Her previous book The Night Market beautifully captured the sights, sounds and smells of a Nigerian Night Market. In her latest story, a Nigerian American family is anticipating making a move which has central character a young girl Zainab anxious about what changes a move may mean for her and her family. The story begins by showing some of the daily rituals of her family and friends. Readers can attend the going away party and see how the family reflects on their time together in their old house. Zainab and her family begin to get use to the new house. They are happy when old and new friends welcome them to the new neighborhood. The family table serves as a reminder that there will always be room for everyone in the new space just like it was in the old space. Camilla Sucre's illustrations are beautifully done in capturing the importance of family and community in bold colors and soft images. It is her debut as picture book illustrator.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (I liked it)

At first, I thought this was going to be a book mainly focused on being welcoming of all people. It does have that message but I think more so the book is about a family moving and the anxiety that children feel in that situation. The girl drinks tea at the table and asks if tea will taste the same. The family has friends sit around the table and the girl asks if they will still have friends. After the move, the girl sees that the tea tastes the same and that there are still friends and she decides it's because of the table. The story is cute and could definitely help a child who is dealing with a move.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story makes some jerky right turns out of nowhere and as a reader, it's like whoa, where'd that come from. We see a family and their life around the table. There are family and friends, sometimes a few people around the table and sometimes a room of people. We see the life of people around it. That's all good.

Then, out of nowhere, their moving and having a goodbye party and then a new place. It's to abrupt and.

The artwork is digital. It creates a cozy feeling of family and togetherness. It does that well. I love the colorful clothes. The book is able to do alot.

Kids who love their family will love this book.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about a family that has a big dinning room table and a big loving family that comes to be with them at that table for different occasions. Then you slowly see the family is moving away and the girl is worried her new home won't be as welcoming, warm or full of love. They move and she discovers that the love is still there from her family/friends when they come to visit. And they all gather around the same big dinner table. A great book for families who are moving or things are changing. Shows the love in a family doesn't go just because the house they live in changes.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated unique perspective of "home is where the heart is" shows a big loving family around the kitchen table with extended family and neighbors. Told from the voice of the young girl Zainab ~~ who is a bit worried about her family's upcoming move to a new neighborhood ~~ soon realizes that friends follow and new friends are made when a home has a loving, friendly, open and inviting feel to it. The illustrations are vibrant perfectly depict the warmth of the colorful Nigerian neighborhood of the setting.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about a girl, her family, and their table that holds so many people! When they move to a new neighborhood she worries about if it will be the same, but their table holds all their friends and relatives...and their new neighbors! Showcases Nigerian American culture and community. The illustrations are realistic and I like the playing with shadows/lighting that goes on, as well the use of blacks and browns. 1-3 sentences per page. Emphasizes Nigerian dress, activities with family, and mint tea.

[Penny lurkykitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about a family that has a big table and a warm community of family and friends. The family is getting ready for a move, and the oldest girl is anxious about her new home being welcoming and things not staying the same. They move and she discovers that they still have the support of family and friends with new friends to make in their new place. A great book for children going through a move.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and illustrated story of a family who always makes room at their table for all who come to visit. Readers see how many memories are formed around this table even after they move to a new location. Powerful message of support and welcome.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved this story, but I’m so sad to say the pacing felt really off. I was convinced that I had pages stuck together or missing because it just wasn’t flowing how I wanted. I do love picture books that start before the title page, though.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A familiar table and the comfort of traditional food and gatherings help Zainab cope with a move away from cherished friends and family. But soon there are new friends and more family.

She is thankful for the love and hospitality her family has always shared.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zainab enjoys the many pleasures and gatherings with family, friends, and neighbors around the table in her home. With an upcoming move into a new home, Zainab is concerned that things be different around the table at her new dwelling.

[Shantel]

the illustrations were gorgeous!!!

[Y.Poston]

a beautiful family friendship story that centers around room at the table

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is lovingly illustrated in warm, saturated colors. The hues convey the love of the family and their extended family. The room feels cozy and welcoming even as the house is picked up and moved.

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