In The Gathering Table by Antwan Eady, illustrated by London Ladd, one family’s special table is THE place to be! From a golden anniversary to a wedding and the arrival of a new baby, there’s always a reason to pull up a chair and share a meal.
The story follows a young boy as he looks back on the traditions that bring his family around their outdoor table. Set in South Carolina’s Low Country, the book draws from the Gullah Geechee culture and Eady’s own connection to the region.
The writing has a gentle, lyrical rhythm that makes the story a pleasure to read aloud, while the narrator’s observations add charm. His perspective keeps the story feeling playful & familiar to kids, even as it celebrates some pretty big family milestones.
The illustrations are created with acrylic paint, cut paper and tissue paper, giving them texture & depth. And then there’s the food! The family gathers around everything from a celebratory wedding dinner to a traditional Low Country boil.
As the occasions change throughout the book, the table remains the one constant. That makes The Gathering Table feel especially fitting as we head into Thanksgiving in October. Thanksgiving has a funny way of making the table the star of the show. There’s the meal, of course, but there’s also the catching up, the familiar traditions, the stories that somehow get told every year and the people who make the whole thing worth gathering for.
Get your copy here.