The Blue Table

It’s time to celebrate family, community, generosity, and giving! Two-time Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka’s stunning picture book is the perfect pick to share whenever family and friends gather together to celebrate and give thanks, no matter the occasion.

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!

Limited text, bright colors, and stunning collage illustrations make The Blue Table ideal for the youngest reader and for storytime sharing. In just thirty-two pages, two-time Caldecott Medalist and New York Times–bestselling picture book creator Chris Raschka captures the very essence of community—and gratitude.

A gentle, beautiful book that celebrates what matters most:

• A Celebration of Gratitude: Follows a family as they prepare and share a meal, focusing on the simple joy of being thankful for food and community.
• By a Caldecott Medalist Author: From Chris Raschka, the beloved creator of award-winning picture books, known for his unique and vibrant collage illustration style.
• Welcoming Diverse Families: With simple, inclusive text, the story shows different families coming together around the blue table to connect and share.
• From Garden to Table: Shows the whole heartwarming process of a shared meal, from writing the shopping list and preparing the food to gathering together and cleaning up afterward.

“A blue table symbolizes and facilitates the connections among family members and between friends. . . . [Raschka’s] paintings reflect the action and objects described while adding nuance and detail. . . . A charming and cozy celebration of the places and routines that anchor and connect us.”   - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“A simple story of gathering and gratitude. . . . Bright watercolor pictures will offer opportunities to engage young readers in discussions about what the pictures mean and what they might enjoy for a shared meal. . . . [A] story with an indelible blue table as its hearth.” - School Library Journal

“Spare text and images center the titular cerulean table, around which a small family—and later, a second—gathers to share meals and gratitude. . . . Caldecott Medalist Raschka showcases tabletop objects and dishes . . . in colorful illustrations crafted from watercolor and cut-paper collage . . . A gentle picture book that celebrates the joy to be found in both everyday routines and holiday abundance.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Minimal text treats a compact blue table as the center of a holiday as a family gathers . . . Raschka’s fluid watercolors balance the dreamy with the homey . . . A gentle early treatment of holiday gatherings.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Watercolor and collage illustrations match the text’s simplicity . . . The most pleasing arrival is anticipated by wordless pages in which the table is extended to accommodate ‘one more family.’ . . . Evoke[s] any occasion of togetherness, perhaps providing comfort and hope.” - Horn Book Magazine