The Blue Table - by Chris Raschka (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The blue table is just a table until plans are made, lists written, ingredients found, pies baked, delicious things are served and poured, and families gather around it to celebrate. Then, the blue table becomes the world"--Dust jacket flap.

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"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