A table is the central character in this unusual story of a family of three (a child and two parents) preparing for another family to join them for a special Thanksgiving dinner. The scene never moves from an overhead shot of a blue table that holds the visual cues telling the story of the day, from breakfast with coffee, newspaper, and crayons to several scenes of food preparation to the setting of the table and enjoyment of the feast. There are no humans in the illustrations until the very end; even then, it's just hands and arms (three people with white skin and three with brown skin). The entire story as told through the objects on the table requires a great deal of inference on the part of the readers in order to interpret the day's events. Raschka's sunny watercolor and cut-paper collage illustrations are playfully inventive, while the table's whimsical legs make it seem like a living creature. (Ages 3-7)

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.