Two families—both filled with love, both encountering hardship and joy, both living in the same place—and the one simple table that connects them all.

For years, a mining family’s life revolves around their table. It’s where they eat, read, sew, laugh, and pay the bills; it’s stained with easter egg paint, warmed by fresh biscuits and the soft morning sun. 

Outside the house, though, Appalachia changes. The coal mine closes, and the bills keep coming. Eventually, there’s no choice but to move on— and to say goodbye to the table.

But then: When a young girl’s father sees the table by the road, he slams on the brakes. A lifelong carpenter, he can see it’s something special. They bring it home and clean it up; sitting around it, they eat and work and laugh. The girl wonders if another child once sat there, if they were anything like her. She’ll never know . . . but the table remembers. 

The Table is a stirring contemplation on the similarity between even people whose lives are entirely different. The details of these different lives take many forms, but the love underlying both of these families makes them much more similar than they are different. The center of this book is family love, and the many important connections we share with the family we live with. Even in strife, this book shows, love provides a literal support.

Expressively illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Jason Griffin, the story is deeply personal to coauthors Wiley Blevins, raised in West Virginia, and Winsome Bingham, who immigrated as a child from Jamaica to the U.S. South.

BIO

Winsome Bingham is a military veteran who spent years living on Army posts like Fort Goode. Her son spent time with his friends exploring the post's PX, Shoppette, and the moat. She is the author of Soul Food Sunday one of New York Times Best Books of the Year and The Walk. She writes about family, food, military life, and mental health. You can find her online at binghamwrites.com. 

REVIEWS

“A brilliantly twined telling in which an object bears witness to the lives of two families” -- Publishers Weekly, starred Review

“A moving, elegantly constructed celebration of differences sure to foster empathy and stir the imagination.” -- Kirkus Reviews, starred Review

“Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written, this is a story that will encourage family discussion and reflection. This unique addition to the shelves celebrates the American experience through the lens of a beloved kitchen table.” -- School Library Journal, starred Review

[H]  Neal Porter Books  /  September 17, 2024

0.6" H x 10.0" L x 8.1" W (0.9 lbs) 56 pages

For ages 4 to 7