"They work and chat until the cousins arrive,
then their aunts arrive,
and Papa, and ...
... soon the house is full. And their table
for four is a table for more."
Tables can be very different, depending on the family using them. In Zainab's house there is need for a large one; her family always has 'space for everyone'. It doesn't take long for readers to discover how that happens.
Papa cooks morning breakfast that entices his family to make their way to the table. Mama heats water for tea or cocoa. Before they settle in to eat, visitors knock at the door and invite themselves in. Luckily, the table is stretched to its limit; more chairs are added. As soon as they finish eating, the children are off to school.
After school, Zainab and her mother visit at the table, having tea and sharing news. Once everyone is home, the children settle in for homework and crafts. Then cousins, aunts, and Papa add to the number the table can accommodate. All that changes on the weekend when the women gather to do hair and henna-dye their hands, and others show up for board games. It is so quiet when everyone is gone.
All guests look stunning as they arrive for the goodbye party. They just keep coming and coming. Always, there is space for them. The day before the move, their small family (5) sits at the table to share memories. Zainab worries that they won't have friends at the new house. Once there, days are quiet but warm and welcoming. Storm sounds can be frightening, but the table is there to anchor the family. Then, warm tea and sunshine through the window after the storm has passed. Before they know it, the house is filled with aunts, uncles, cousins and Grandmama, along with their friends ... and then their many new neighbors! The table welcomes everyone.
Gorgeous, colorful digital artwork is as warm and welcoming as the story itself. The rituals we share at the tables in our homes often hold our best memories. What is your best memory from your table?
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