Our Table

by Peter H. Reynolds

Creative visionary of The Word Collector, Happy Dreamer, and The Dot, #1 New York Times bestseller Peter H. Reynolds creates a tender, lyrical story of multigenerational love, tradition, and family coming together with gratitude and thanks.

Celebrated, bestselling creator Peter H. Reynolds brings his signature touch of love and kindness to this special, timely picture book, as families now, more than ever, are rediscovering and reevaluating what means the most: time together with one another.

Violet longs for the time when her family was connected: before life, distractions, and technology pulled them all away from each other. They used to gather at the table, with food and love, to make memories, share their lives, and revel in time spent together. But now her family has been drifting apart, and with nobody to gather around it, the table grows smaller and smaller.

Can Violet remind her family of the warmth of time spent together, and gather around the table once more?

A mystical fable that feels at once timeless and utterly of the present moment, The Table Fable is renowned, bestselling creator Peter H. Reynolds at his best. Exquisite, expressive watercolor tells a tender story, growing from monochrome into luscious, joyful color as Violet's family is reunited around the beloved table. An ode to traditions that unite families, The Table Fable brings readers together with a universal message of gratitude.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Food, Fiction, Thanksgiving, Art

48 pages, Hardcover

First published November 2, 2021

About the author

Peter Hamilton Reynolds is an author and illustrator of children's books and is the co-Founder and CEO of educational media company FableVision.

Reviews

[Shaghayegh · Rating 3 out of 5]

خالق به اشیاء و نحوه‌ی برخورد افراط‌گونه‌ای که می‌تونیم داشته باشیم اشاره می‌کنه. اینکه با تکنولوژی، حتی مکان نشست و برخاستمون دستخوش تغییر میشه. از پشت میزی که مدتی پیش با خونواده خوش‌وبش می‌کردیم به کنج اتاقی پناه می‌بریم و این منجر به تزلزل روابطمون میشه اگه حد و حدودی مشخص نکنیم.
وایولت به دوران دور اشاره میکنه که میز خونه‌اش باعث میشد همگی دورهم جمع شن و صمیمیت پابرجا بمونه. اما با دور شدن اعضای خانواده به‌واسطه‌ی وسایل الکترونیک، میز رفته‌رفته آب میره و ناپدید میشه. حالا وایولت میخواد دوباره برای پیوند عمیق تلاش کنه و مسبب نزدیکی شه.
دقت به اسم شخصیت و رنگی که به کار میبره هم تطابق داشت و جالب بود.
در کل به‌سادگی توصیف کرد و خیلی واضح و مسقیم پیامش رو انتقال داد.

[Payam Ebrahimi · Rating 1 out of 5]

رینولدز دیگه رسما دچار زوال عقل شده. این حجم از ابتذال رو واقعاً نمیشه هضم کرد.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart. This book is so sweet. Violet remembers the good times when her family gathered around the table. Now everyone is glued to a screen, but Violet is determined to bring back the table.

I really like how the book gently comments about our addiction to technology without condemning it. Violet invites her family to use their devices to learn how to build a new table for family meals. Technology can separate us, but when used wisely it can solve problems and bring us together.

I also love that Violet and her family have brown skin. That means more families can see themselves in this beautiful book.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute easy/early reader on how a young girl brings her family back together to sit and enjoy eating around their table as a family.

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think many of us will read this story differently after the pandemic. I wonder how many families had started to grow away from family time at the table - too many scheduled activities. I wonder how many families found attention drawn to time on devices instead of time spent together at the table. Whether it's a shared meal or perhaps time playing a board game, I think the pandemic probably brought more time together around the family table.
Without being didactic or in-your-face, Reynolds crafts a beautiful story that says so much in what isn't said.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up. It lost me when the table started shrinking and then disappeared. Then they built one??? No one said “ hey! What’s going on?”. Not at all what I thought. Since it was recommended at Thanksgiving l guess l thought, in error, it would be about family and folks gathering for holidays. Read 2x to see if felt better towards it the 2nd time.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excessive screen time causes a family’s dinning room table to shrink until it vanishes all together.

When the family members stop interacting with each other and start staring at screens and interacting with electronic devices instead, their dinning room table — the figurative center of their home life — gets smaller and smaller and then finally disappears all together. Luckily, the daughter comes up with a plan and gets her family to build a new table together, thus rebuilding the human relationships damaged by electronic devices.

This picture book warns about the dangers of too much screen time and its cost to human relationships.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. A little girl realizes technology is creating distance between her family members, so she takes matters into her own hands to bring them back together again. I appreciate the message.

[Andrea Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this story is a beautiful reminder to readers about how important it is to spend quality time with family and those around us! In this book, a girl named Violet wonders why her family doesn’t gather at the table anymore like they used to. She finds her father watching TV, her mother watching videos on her phone, and her brother playing games on his computer with his online friends. Violet remembers the times when her family would gather around the table, and she checks to see if the table was still there; she notices it got smaller until it disappeared. She makes a plan to build a new table with her family. She asks her family to build a new table together, and they did! The table brought her family back together, and they shared stories and spent time together again as a family! A major theme in the book was nonverbal communication because in the book, Violet’s family was not spending time with her anymore and spoke to her less, which was a form of communication to Violet without having to say anything. This was a form of nonverbal communication to Violet, communicating to her that they have more important things to do, like watch TV or play video games. Another major theme in the book was change versus tradition because the book is focused on changes like more advanced technology and how they play a role in and lead to changes in typically family traditions such as eating dinner together at the dinner table. This book highlights the challenges of technology and how it can be a bad thing when it comes to spending time with family and other family dynamics or traditions because it can take away from spending time with family and acknowledging family members, as we see in the book. The main genre of this book is fantasy. Children reading this book could learn that technological advancement is a gift, but it can also be a bad thing, sometimes without even realizing it. Children reading this book can also learn how important it is to spend time with family and people in your life in person rather than always being on screens. This book was a WOW book for me because it really emphasizes the importance of spending time with family and the importance of acknowledging those around you! This book had a beautiful message and a lovely ending of Violet’s family reconnecting at their table and continuing to share stories and spend time together. The illustrations were also beautiful, and I loved how the images get more colorful when Violet’s family comes together at the table! Two of the literary devices the author used in writing this book were illustrations and oxymoron. These literary devices added to the quality of the writing in this book by adding color to the scenes where the family was at the table, emphasizing the “light” the family table brought compared to the dark without it. The use of oxymoron in the book contributes to the quality of the writing by adding contrasting words and emotions in the same sentence; it implies a strong tension in the room without the table. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because the author detailed his understanding of change vs. tradition and how change can negatively impact family traditions or dynamics.

[Julie Senn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you know, “Globally, people average 6 hours and 40 minutes of screen time per day, daily screen time has increased by over 30 minutes per day since 2013, and the average American spends 7 hours and 3 minutes looking at a screen each day?” (Source: ExplodingTopics; Alarming Average Screen Time Statistics {2025}) Well, Violet knows all too well…

Our Table by Peter H Reynolds tells the tale of Violet, a little girl who misses the wonderful memories spent around “the table” in her household. As her family becomes consumed by their (technology) screens, Violet is left feeling invisible and disconnected. The table that she once loved abruptly began shrinking over time until ultimately it was gone altogether. Wanting her family to reconnect, Violet cleverly uses their love for screens to draw them into the shared task of building a new table together. As the table was rebuilt, so did the family's connection; restored and renewed.

The major themes in the book involved family/connection (the story centered around Violet and her family – Violet wishing for that reconnection once more) & {the pros and cons of} technology (pros being that they played a part in rebuilding the table and cons, that they were the reason the family became disconnected in the first place).
Due to the fantasy elements of a shrinking/disappearing table, I am categorizing this as book in the fantasy genre.
Children reading this book could learn about the harmful side effects of technology if they haven’t already come to this realization on their own. So often, children (and adults) believe technology is primarily good because of the entertainment value it provides, and while that may be true, there certainly are a lot of negative downfalls included with it too. Children can also learn about collaborative efforts and the importance of it – the feeling of accomplishment, pride, and knowing you achieved something great with and alongside your loved ones. Doesn’t get much better than that.
This book was a WOW book for me because it’s an eye-opener. In today’s technology-driven world, we often prioritize screen time over meaningful human connection, unintentionally allowing our relationships to suffer. Too often, we willingly choose to spend our time and energy (or lack thereof) on these devices instead of engaging in more meaningful or productive activities.


Two of the literary devices the author used in writing this book were repetition and symbolism. Repetition is used many times throughout with the quote, “And they did,” whereas symbolism is used to represent the shrinking, and ultimately diminishing, of Violet’s family in the form of the table.
I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it promotes inclusivity, togetherness, love (family), connection, and the importance of nurturing and sustaining relationships. This could be applicable to any race, sex, culture, ethnicity, etc.

[Bilge Turhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Our Table", by Peter H. Reynolds takes a journey by magically shrinking a table to connect a family back together! In this book, a young girl named Violet feels like her family has gotten distant recently and notices that they are doing their own things. She feels lonely at the dinner table and one day the table starts to shrink until it disappears. Because of this incident she ended up talking to her family to get help/ideas on building a table. In the end they collaborated to build a table where they formed new memories together. The story took me back to past memories with my family! The major themes in this book were problem solving and teamwork. Violet noticed there was a problem when her family became busy and the table disappeared. Instead of making it a big deal she decided to find a solution by reaching out to her family to rebuild another table. The theme of teamwork was also heavy in the book and is related to the theme of problem solving. When Violet decided to reach out to her family she collaborated with them by asking for different things. For example, she asked her dad to watch a carpentry show then she asked her mom to post on social media to see if anyone knew how to build a table. Then, after drawing and planning with her brother they all came together to create the perfect family table. The main genre of this book is fantasy. Children reading this book could learn the power of collaboration and how it can lead to new ideas and build strong relationships. Another lesson children can take away from this book is family unity and how important the connections children have with their parents is. Communicating and sharing memories with family is an important aspect of growing up. This was a WOW book for me because of its engaging magical element along with building furniture with family as that is an activity I enjoyed doing with my dad as a kid.

A few of the writing craft techniques the author used that enhanced the quality of the writing in this book were pacing, suspense, and narrative voice. The pacing in the book is steady but ties in suspense in some parts of the story making the quality better as it gives the reader time to comprehend everything that is going on in the plotline. Violet's journey is simply explained by the author making it easier for children to stay engaged and understand it. When the table starts to shrink it starts off with a small difference. As time passes the table begins to shrink more and more until it completely vanishes. This part of the story presents suspense which keeps the reader on their toes because they want to figure out what is happening to the table. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it reflects the lived experiences of many families in today's society and the author was able to showcase the themes present in the book in a solid manner.

[Vinh Tang · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing that people have valued less overtime in our society is the importance of family and time spent with each other. In Our Table, we meet Violet, a girl who values quality family time represented by their dinner table. As time went on, the family started to separate into their own personal corners. Her father would often be stuck on the couch watching TV, her mother would be on her phone by the stairs, and her brother would be in his room playing games. She would ponder about how life used to be and imagined that her table had disappeared after gradually shrinking over time from not being used. She came up with the solution of building a new table. She went over to her father to watch a show about carpeting on the TV, to her mother to post on her phone about how to build a new table, and to her brother to help draft an idea for a new table on his computer. They eventually build a new table together as a family once again.
The major themes in the book were the importance of a strong family bond with Violet longing for her family to come back together and spend time with each other rather than separate into their own realms and being able to take charge in solving a problem with Violet initiating in solving the problem of her dinner table disappearing and wanting to build a new one with her family. The main genre of this book is fantasy. Children reading this book could learn the importance of family time and helping out in the house to create special memories and taking initiative in an issue that they believe in and being the first to start solving problems. This book was a WOW book for me because I enjoyed the message that anything you do with your family, even as small as setting up the dinner table, can be a special moment and memory for others like Violet.

Two of the literary devices the author used in writing this book were personification and imagery. Personification was used to enhance the story by providing the initial problem that could lead to a bigger solution and happy ending with the table shrinking by itself. Imagery was used to describe the feelings of each scene with the separation of the family members such as “big screen– bigger than Violet” describing the feeling Violet had that the TV was more important than her to her father and “playing games with friends she could not see” describing the feeling of being ignored and neglected by her brother for people who weren’t even in the same room as him. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because the illustrations portrayed the characters as people of color without stereotyping them in any way and only focused on the normal family aspect.

[Glynis Williams-Cutts (EDUC 378)]

text to teaching
This book was given to the faculty at Alpharetta Elementary School by the principal. She expressed that she loved the book and we should take the time to read and use it as a teaching tool. After our class last Wednesday , it left me thinking about illustrations and how pictures can tell a story. This book tells the story of a little girls happiness and sadness about her family. Just through the illustrations and change in color on the pages , you can tell when Violet is very sad that her is disconnected from her family because of technology. When her family becomes connected again the pages in the book get really colorful. A teaching activity could be having the students make a list of what they enjoy doing with their family and then ask if it changed because everyone is busy on their phones or tablets and what activity would they bring to the family to get them reconnected.

[Yonas]

"Our Table" is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, published in 2021. The book revolves around togetherness and the joy of sharing meals with family and friends. The table is the heart of the family's home and a place where everyone feels welcome. The illustrations throughout the story help bring the family and their table to life as they cook together, share stories, and enjoy each other's company. In addition, the book emphasizes the importance of community and cultural diversity and encourages readers to embrace their families and traditions while appreciating and learning from others. The primary genre of "Our Table" by Peter H. Reynolds is a fantasy book for children and adults. Reading this book taught me important lessons, such as the value of spending time with family, respecting and appreciating people from different cultures, coming together around a shared space, and the joy of cooking and eating together. This book was a WOW book for me because it encourages families to spend time together, appreciates diversity, and creates meaningful memories around the table.

Peter H. Reynolds used literary devices such as metaphors, imagery, symbolism, and personification. The book uses the table as a metaphor for the heart of the family's home, and the illustrations bring the family and their meals to life. The family's table takes on a persona, emphasizing its importance as a central gathering spot. This book is an example of an anti-bias book because it celebrates diversity and encourages readers to embrace their own families and traditions while respecting and appreciating those of others. This message helps to combat biases and stereotypes by promoting inclusivity and understanding.

[Fatemehshahvari · Rating 4 out of 5]

قشنگ بود.
درباره خانواده و فضای مجازی بود.

این کتاب رو در کتابفروشی افق خوندم و به زینب آقایی گفتم، اا این پسره شبیه استینک برادر جودی نیست؟؟ گفت آره دیگه تصویرگرش یکیه.
من: اا چه باحاللل.
1تیر1402

[Jessica Calaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Reading age
4 - 8 years

2025 BAM Author https://www.booksartmusic.org/

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story of family togetherness and creativity, written and illustrated by a favorite

[Carolina Kok · Rating 5 out of 5]

i will forever add picture books i read at work to my goodreads and no one can stop me. this one’s good!!!

[Erin Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an adorable book about family and how important it is to share meals together! I am so excited to share this book with my incoming 3rd graders!

[Sarah Krajewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story about a young girl who feels alone as her brother and parents become more connected to their devices. A great read for families about the importance of togetherness.

[Kasra Shahedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

خانواده‌ چیز خیلی مهمیه. هر کدوم از اعضای خانواده، مثل ستونی هستند برای پایدار ماندن میراث و تاریخ خانواده و هر کدوم، نقش مهمی دارن.
«Our Table» و یا «میز خانه ما» داستان خانواده‌ای است که به خاطر فضای مجازی از هم پاشیده و دیگه مثل قبل همه با هم دور میز جمع نمی‌شن. و دخترک، تنها کسی که گرفتار ابن موضوع نشده، تصمیم می‌گیره اوضاع رو تغییر بده.
قلم و تصاویر فوق‌العاده پیج اچ رینولدز من رو به وجد می آره. این‌بار هم، با این کتاب، همین کار رو با من کرد.
نسخه ترجمه این کتاب، «میز خانه ما» رو نشر پرتقال منتشر کرده و ترجمه هم خوبی هم داره.

[Åmîrö ghaderi (≡^∇^≡) · Rating 4 out of 5]

نشون میداد که همکاری چقد مهمه.^-°

[Ms. Arca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quintessential story from Peter H. Reynolds with simple, thought-provoking text; a relatable context; and a self-confident, inspiring, problem-solving young character who knows the importance of human, particularly family, connection.

Thank you to Scholastic for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Maha Hafeez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book "Our Table" reflects a reality many of us live in today, in which a young girl named Violet tries to bring her family back together to eat dinner. However, they are glued to their electronic devices and aren't aware of what's happening around them. In this book, Violet is saddened when looking at the picture frame of her dining table. She remembers the times when her table would be filled with food, people, laughter, and all the amazing memories. However, it’s not like that anymore. Dad is stuck on the couch watching TV, mom is glued to her phone, and her brother is playing games on his tablet, while none of them realize the time that is passing by, and how badly Violet misses eating with them at the dining table. Now it’s just her that is present at the dining table, until one day she notices her table is shrinking until it disappears completely. That’s when Violet thinks of an idea that will bring her family back together. She asks her dad to watch a show on carpentry, her mother to post a message if anyone knows how to build a table, and her brother to use his computer to help draw out a plan. All together they unite and build a brand-new dining table, which brings back the family to their old tradition, and they start to eat together on the dining table again. In addition, I believe the two major themes in this book are the importance of family and the need for togetherness, and how technology can lead to disconnection in families. I believe the importance of family and the need for togetherness is one of the themes of this book because the book shows Violet staring into the picture frame, missing the times when her family was one and inseparable. With her buying groceries with her dad, setting up the table with her brother, everyone helping prepare the meals, lighting candles, and enjoying dinner together. Now, with her family separated, she feels lonely and saddened, which is shown in the gray illustration, but you can tell that once she brings her family back together, the color in her life comes back again, with everyone present at the dining table and helping again. It illustrates how family brings so much color and happiness to life when you're one and together. Another theme is how technology can lead to disconnection in families. The book perfectly describes how families don’t realize that electronic devices separate and pull them away from that togetherness that once used to be there. It shows how the young girl Violet feels when she sees that no one even sees her presence, and they are just so glued to their electronic devices. In this book, the author shows how leaving our electronic devices opens up so much color and togetherness again in our lives, allowing us to see the present in a new way and not miss it. Additionally, the main genre of this book is fantasy. Through reading this book, one lesson children could learn is the importance of family. I believe sometimes children don’t see what their family does and the importance of those little traditions. Like the importance of helping your parents in the kitchen, helping your siblings set up the table, or picking up groceries with your parents. These little things are sometimes ignored, but after reading this book, children could learn how to cherish those small moments and enjoy them. Another lesson children could learn from this book is to leave their electronic devices and focus on your present. The children in these generations are now glued to their devices, and it's very common. Back in the day, children were playing outside, helping parents out with chores, and being in the present. But now, children are seen on their electronic devices and not realizing what's in front of them, the present, and how time slips away when they’re focused on their devices. I would describe this book as a wake-up call to children to be with their parents and to enjoy those little traditions at home. It reminds them of the importance of being together as a family. Moreover, this book was a WOW book for me because the change of colors in the illustration was just amazing. You can see how her life looks dull without the togetherness of her family, and I just loved how the illustrations showed that perfectly. Also, the book gave a nice wake-up call to the reader and reminded me to be in the present and showed the beauty of togetherness and family.

Two of the literary devices the author used in writing this book were symbolism and repetition. The author used symbolism by showing the dining table as a symbol of togetherness, where memories are built, and what brings families together. For example, at the beginning of the book, the illustrations show how much color and happiness there was when their family was together and eating at their dining table. However, when they lose that connection, you see that the togetherness is not there, and life looks dull and empty. Another example is the illustration of the table shrinking and disappearing, symbolizing that bond that is being lost by the distraction of electronic devices. The use of the dining table is a perfect symbol that the author used, and truly shows the importance of family. Additionally, the second literary device used is repetition. Repetition is used when Violet decides to bring her family together by building a new dining table. For example, it starts with: “She asked her father to watch a show about carpentry together. And they did.” Then it goes on with: “Violet asked her mother to write a message and post it to see who knew how to build a table. And they did”, and lastly: “She asked her brother to use his computer to help draw out a plan together. And they did." So, the use of “And they did” is a repetition that is being used, and it shows how her family members came together and agreed to listen to Violet and make a new table. These literary devices added to the quality of the writing in this book by helping me to understand how important it is to be with family and be together. It gives the reader an understanding of the importance of how to utilize your table to bring everyone together and to create beautiful memories. Additionally, it teaches the reader the importance of bringing your family together, like how Violet did, and how she thought of ways that would bring those old memories back. These qualities enhanced the book and perfectly described the richness of the family. Furthermore, I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it presents strengths-based perspectives, highlighting the value of family, connection, and unity. I believe this book challenges the modern stereotypes of disconnected families and proves how a child can break those stereotypes and bring back meaningful traditions. This book encourages readers to value their loved ones, be present in their lives, and appreciate the importance of togetherness.

[Katie Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for sharing an early copy with #bookexpedition.

Violet feels disconnected from her family. Dad takes his meals in front of the TV, mom is busy being social on her phone, and her brother is gaming on his computer in his room. Violet longs for the times when her family would gather at their kitchen table with food and love, making memories and sharing their lives with each other. As the family drifts apart, Violet notices the table getting smaller and smaller, too.

A beautifully written & illustrated story that highlights the gift of time and our hunger to connect with those we love.

Publishing October 5, 2021. Preorder now!

[Paul Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm biased, but I think OUR TABLE is one of Peter's most important message books - serving as a reminder about balancing device connectivity with human connectivity. We love having people over to "our table" - and getting our guests to sign the tablecloth with a little icon that is meaningful to the person signing. My wife Janet then embroiders the illustrated signature! Over twenty-five years, tablecloth is now full of memories - of friends and family - most still with us and some who have passed away. All give us joy - and remind us of the connections that matter most. (No USB required.) :-)

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Scholastic, Inc.
Beautiful story about a young girl, Violet, and her determination to reconnect her family after they drifted to separate interests and areas of the house. She watched the old family table shrink and disappear. Then she worked to reconnect everyone and reunite at a new table they built.
Love this book on connections and the work it takes to maintain them. Too often, our young people don't have these memories as we all drift into our technology worlds.
Reynolds reminds us of our need for connection with gentle words and soft illustrations.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book needs to be read by all ages from PK-adulthood for a beautifully and pointedly written and illustrated story about the wonderful things possible around a family table and the flip side of when everyone is caught up in their devices and forget to notice the ones they love. As always, Reynolds' art tells the story vividly without the text, but the story is included in text that is simple enough for even our youngest children to understand its message. A must have book for all libraries serving toddler-grade 3. Thanks for the preview digital copy, Scholastic!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. It is just what everyone needs right now. I luckily grew up in an era where my family did sit at the family dining room table and ate meals together. We talked about our day while enjoying homemade food while enjoying each other's company.

The family table has disappeared and a lot of people don't know what they are missing. That is why this book is so lovely. Hopefully as readers read this book, the tradition will be brought back into homes all over the world. Our Table is truly appreciated and treasured.