The Blue Table: A Picture Book Celebrating Family, Togetherness, and Gratitude for Children

by Chris Raschka

Spend the day around the heart of a home: the blue table. A shopping list is written, food is prepared, and the table is set. Guests arrive, thanks are given, and a meal is shared. What then? It’s time to pitch in and clean up, of course!

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Thanksgiving, Childrens, Food, Friendship, Holiday

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2020

About the author

Chris Raschka is the illustrator of The Hello, Goodbye Window, which was awarded the Caldecott Medal. He is also the illustrator of the Caldecott Honor Book Yo! Yes?; Charlie Parker Played Be Bop; Mysterious Thelonious; John Coltrane’s Giant Steps; Can’t Sleep; and The Magic Flute. He lives with his wife and son in New York City.

Reviews

[Alissa Tsaparikos · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story focuses entirely on a above view of a little blue table through normal activities, all the way to holidays spent together. Raschka has always been hit or miss with me, and this one falls in the miss category. The story is simple with bold type that would be good for early literacy and letter recognition and print awareness. However, his undefined art style makes it harder to see the contents of the table, which is crucial for the story.

[Ruby Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each page focuses on a top-view of a dinner table, accompanied by simple text. Because of which, it's very easy to adapt to your audience from toddlers to preschool by choosing to ask more questions about what is seen on the page. I can see this book working in multiple settings, from reading at home to storytime. Love it!

[createitlibrarian (Amanda) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was hard to tell what some of the pictures were, but it was a heartfelt book

[Shaye Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little surprised as the so-so Goodreads rating for this book because I thought it was simply lovely. With very few words on each page, the blue table has many purposes throughout a week. Sometimes just a child sits at it. And sometimes it’s a child with two adults. Sometimes it’s used for reading books, newspapers, creating artwork, cutting flowers, preparing food, and even cleaning the dishes. But best of all is when friends, neighbors, and family gather around the blue table. I also appreciated that the table hosted diverse skin tones among the invited guests. Perhaps this book is especially meaningful for me after a year of social distancing? Quite heartwarming. The illustrations were created with watercolor and cut paper collage.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all the books by Chris Raschka and this is a new one to enjoy. A few words as each page lets the blue table tell the story. Nothing happens without things, and people! It's a book that catches the eye and one that leads readers to more, a Thanksgiving table. It could be a Thanksgiving book, but it could also inspire many to draw what's found on their own table, blue or not! Fun!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two families gather around a table for a meal and gratitude. Very simple text with large, bright illustrations.

[Sharla Desy · Rating 5 out of 5]

With simple illustrations in vibrant colors and minimal text the author celebrates the joy of sharing a meal with family and friends. I found this a particularly poignant book based on timing: I read it a couple days after the Governor of my state issued an advisory warning people against celebrating Thanksgiving with any but those in the same household. I look forward to re-reading this book post Covid-19.

[superawesomekt · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations are in a really cool style and the sentiment is lovely, but this is too abstract for my kids to enjoy.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A blue table tells the story of a family coming together again and again around it. It starts with the blue table having a flower in a vase and a child having a glass of milk. One parent joins the child with some coffee. Another parent joins in and books, newspapers and crayons appear as they share cinnamon rolls. They get going after the table is cleared. Then items from the garden appear: carrots and potatoes. Items from the store and the farm: onions, butter, corn and a turkey! They make an apple pie from scratch and gather flowers for a larger vase. Then a leaf is added to the table, making it longer. A tablecloth and more plates are placed on the blue table, until more family gather together, holding hands to celebrate with one another.

This picture book is focused and simple, giving readers just a view of the blue table itself and never seeing the humans that use the table until we see their hands towards the end of the book. The use of different sorts of cups and plates to show the ages of the family members is clever, along with their books, newspapers and crayons. The extension of the table to be ready for a shared feast is marvelous and offers a touch of surprise for the reader.

Focused on a table that brings a family together both every day and then on special occasions, this book is a celebration of the simple things. The child’s art work in the early pages can be seen at the end as placecards for the loved ones around the table. The art is free flowing and joyous, the blue table and the various objects full of bright colors.

Just right to share around any holiday that gathers people around a table together. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

[Ina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The star of this book is a bright blue kitchen table. The illustrations, in Chris Raschka's signature childlike style, are bright and detailed and remind the reader of the many activities that take place at the kitchen table and why it is truly the heart of family and home. The most brilliant thing about this awesome book is that the reader's perspective is hovering over the table and looking down at items on the table as they appear and disappear. There are no people pictured - it is up to the reader to place themselves and their family at the table. What a brilliant device to allow all readers to create a mirror of themselves in a book. The simple text provides some context and only enhances the reader's experience.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every home has a piece of furniture that is a focal point for the family. Often, it is a table - a place where the family gathers to eat or do crafts or play games or any number of other things. This book is about such a table. This table is blue. And family members gather to make lists, eat a meal, prepare food, and welcome visitors. You don't see the people - just their hands and the blue table and the many different items that the hands use at the blue table.
This would be a lovely book to use for a Thanksgiving storytime. Or a storytime about daily routines. Raschka's illustrations are, as always, brilliant.

[Abby Johnson]

Super simple text and illustrations showing only a tabletop and the various objects and foods that get placed on it depict two families coming together to share a meal. Though not overtly Thanksgiving-holiday related, the foods placed on the table do include a turkey, potatoes, and apple pie and the text does mention that the families "come together - thankful", so you could swing this one as a Thanksgiving book if you needed to. Or it could be an anytime kind of book for storytimes about meals or food or friends or family.

[Amy Oberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can remember two, distinct tables around which my family gathered throughout my childhood, and one of those same tables is still in our family (47 years later). "The Blue Table" captures the daily routines and special occasions that involve gathering around a shared space. A beautiful way to introduce young listeners/readers to the concept of "making memories" and the value of relating with one another.

Publication Date: 2020
Format: Picture book
Elements: Bold illustrations; sparse text
Connection/Topics: Gathering, connectedness; family/neighbors; traditions; routines

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The blue table in the house represents a day in the home. What the child puts on the table, how adults use the table, all the different foods and where they come from. There is even a party with more than one family invited.

I love Chris Raschka's books - A Ball for Daisy is one of my favorites. But I'm having trouble loving The Blue Table. The perspective of the table - looking down from above - is odd and sort of abstract, a bit difficult for a young reader. I'm going to pass on this one.

Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[John Mullarkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Raschka´s distinctive style is on full display as this warm-hearted picture book tells the story of a table - where a dinner (Thanksgiving, perhaps) is planned and celebrated. There are few words - just the painted illustrations that lead to some guessing as the unseen family goes about the preparations using the table as a the focus and, of course main storyteller. This is certainly a fine book to share, or read one to one - much like a planned dinner party!

[Readersaurus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but it did not blow me away. A blue table is the center of a home. A family eats, reads, preps meals, and invites over a multi-ethnic group of friends, who are seen only by their hands. What I do like about the book is that it offers an opportunity for families to talk about what happens at their table, and to imagine the rest of the story.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

With minimal illustrations and text, this beautiful book shows that a table is more than a piece of furniture. It is the setting for family meals where a family gathers and prepares food. It can also be a setting for a larger group sharing a meal together in gratitude. A lovely book to share during the holidays.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another trademark blurry story, this one about a bright blue blob of a “table”; the colorful blobs of “flowers,” “foods,” and “tableware” that adorn it; and the existential slabs of “hands” that appear out of thin, starry air, supposedly representing “families” and “thankfulness.” For wee ones learning language through picture-word association, this exercise in abstraction misses the mark.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely quiet book about the table that brings people together. The table changes from page to page, with different items on it, leaves added to help it grow, as family members join or move from the day's meals and other activities in between. Simple text allows the reader to find visual cues to fill in details.

[Ruth Quiroa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children will think about this book!

The illustrations are perfect for what they say visually in the text. Young readers are allowed space to bring their background knowledge to this text while being given just the right amount of information in this beautiful package to be able to comprehend it visually and through the text.

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Books are read, art is created, food is prepared and a family gathers--all around a single blue table.

Veg*n parents note: A whole cooked turkey or chicken is shown on the table with the line "Good things...from the farm."

[Ann Haefele · Rating 3 out of 5]

A table is just a table until it is used to prepare food and then has family gathered around it to share a meal. While Thanksgiving is not mentioned, it would be a good story to use with children in November.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different perspective as everything revolves around the table. The book is told with an aerial view of the blue table. It tells a message of togetherness and thankfulness.
I found it decent but not spectacular.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for sure! This book will be a favorite for beginner readers. Wording is very limited and easy, but the message for family and thankfulness is there. I think readers will also have fun pointing out what is on the blue table throughout the whole book.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for Thanksgiving / Christmas / thankful seasons. Minimal text in a big font, so great for early readers or decoding readers. There's a ton of illustration, so lots to look at and label for early literacy learning.

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice, quick story to add to our holiday (adjacent) repertoire. Nothing too special, but not everything has to be. Definitely not long enough to read in a pre-school story time, but it would be good for our playgroup for babies and toddlers.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think we were a bit above the target age for this one. Oliver was disappointed in how short the story was. It is a very lovely, well-illustrated story about gathering with friends but I think he just wasn't into it.

[Aliza Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept has incredible potential, but the execution in both text and illustrations didn’t hit. The illustrations in particular are a lot of color and movement but without a particular focus, it is hard to immerse yourself in the story.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple text but the illustrations need more definition. The blue table, itself is somewhat abstract. Would need more descriptions if used in a storytime.

Themes: blue, tables, family
Ages: toddler-K
Pub year: 2020

[Lourdes Heuer]

Digital ARC accessed through Edelweiss