The table is where this loving Black family enjoys the first meal of the day; it’s where the children do homework and make cookies and where everyone prepares for fish fry Fridays. Extended family shares space here during somber moments, such as deaths, and on happier occasions, including birthdays, Kwanzaa, and other holidays. Grandpa regales the young protagonist (who narrates) with stories of Mom and Dad’s past as the child listens intently. And when it’s time for Mom to braid the youngster’s hair, this, too, happens at the table. “The process is exhausting for both of us, and I sometimes struggle to sit still,” but “when she is finished, I feel so pretty—and thankful that it’s done.” In her authorial debut, Washington relies on the cut-paper collage technique that won her a Caldecott Honor for Choosing Brave (2022), written by Angela Joy. Her images boast bright colors, rich textures (the grain of the wooden table is particularly eye-catching), and a level of detail so intricate, it’s hard to believe the artist relied on cut paper alone. Her straightforward prose often ripples across the page, conveying warmth and visual verve. Photos of Washington’s own family table close out the work.