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THE HEART OF OUR HOME
Author: Janelle Washington
Illustrator: Janelle Washington
Roaring Brook Press
Age Range 3 - 6
ISBN: 9781250357366
On Sale: 03/24/2026
A Macmillan Audio production from Roaring Brook Press
Imprint Publisher
Macmillan Young Listeners
Audio - ISBN:9781250430632
Check out book illustrations!
This author-illustrator debut from Caldecott honor-winning creator Janelle Washington is a timeless ode to one family's kitchen table: stained, scratched, and full of love.
The heart of this family’s home beats steadily at the round wooden kitchen table.
Every morning, they gather around it for breakfast. In the afternoons, it’s where homework gets done, and where art projects, and sometimes brownies, are made. On Fridays, it's where they prepare the fish fry.
Anniversaries, birthday parties, and graduations. All are celebrated at their kitchen table.
When they tell their stories, it listens. And when they cry, it gives comfort.
Their kitchen table is a place for family, friends, and memories.
In the News
"A beautiful, relatable, and must-have picture book that honors the kitchen table as a uniting force. " -
School Library Journal
“The audiobook is peaceful; Melinda Sewak's rhythmic narration is accompanied by soft acoustic guitar music that evokes love and warmth...These sounds don't overwhelm the narration; instead they help to make this audiobook an immersive experience for all...” — Booklist (Starred Review)
Booklist (Starred Review)
"[An] emotionally and visually layered celebration of connection, culture, and family that focuses on the ways a stalwart object can reinforce engagement and community in the everyday.
Publishers Weekly
"The love and warmth the family shares glows on each page."
Booklist
"[Washington's] 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... Pure family joy."
Kirkus