Space for Everyone

By Seina Wedlick, Camilla Sucre (Illustrator)

A girl fears losing family rituals with a move, but discovers community transcends location.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 117 ratings

40 pages

$18.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Zainab dreads her family's move, fearing the loss of cherished rituals around their kitchen table. As boxes pile up, she wonders if the warmth and community will follow them to their new home. In a heartwarming journey, Zainab discovers that the essence of home isn't tied to a place but to the people who gather around. Will new friends and old neighbors find their way to her new table, keeping the spirit of togetherness alive? This story beautifully explores the challenges of moving and the enduring power of community.

From the publisher

This lyrical and heartwarming picture book follows a Nigerian girl who worries about her family’s upcoming move. But she soon realizes that no matter where they go, there will always be room at their kitchen table for her community to gather around. When Zainab runs down the stairs in the morning, she knows what she’ll find: Papa cooking at the stove, Mama pouring tea, and then everyone gathering around the family table. Neighbors stop by, and there’s plenty of room for them, too. There are so many beloved rituals that happen at the table: homework and crafts, aunties coming to plait hair, and festive gatherings with neighbors and relatives. But soon boxes start piling up around the house, and Zainab worries about the move–will the rituals feel the same in her new home? In the new house, the family table still feels cozy to sit around. And soon, old neighbors and new friends stop by, and everyone is welcome at the table. Meg Medina’s Evelyn Del Ray is Moving Away meets Peter H. Reynolds’s Our Table in this heartwarming story about how difficult it is to move, but how connecting with community makes everything better.

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