(2) K-3 Illustrated by Grady McFerrin. The in-between places, we learn, are neither here nor there. They "are not up or down, not in or out. They're not all the way to one side or the other." Killian (This Table, rev. 3/24) goes on to describe what in-between places can be: bridges and ladders; staircases and slides; a long, dark tunnel; dawn and dusk; and even dreams. On one spread, a bus full of people goes in one direction while bicyclers determinedly go in another; you're "between where you're going and where you've been." McFerrin's imaginative illustrations make the most of Killian's open-ended musings. Full-bleed double-page spreads, saturated in bold colors, provide detailed scenes to pore over, from the everyday (a car trip) to the adventurous (a descent by parachute; a hot-air balloon ride) to the fanciful (a dream's make-believe animals). Many images emphasize forward motion such as a spread showing a child mid-launch from a tire swing into a body of blue water. As the text says, eventually you might "choose...to leap!" which can "lead to just where you wanted to be" or "to more in-between places...or somewhere unexpected." There is a world of possibilities. Pair with two other recent contemplative picture books: Völker's Are We There Yet? (rev. 9/23) and Schwartz's Head Full of Clouds (rev. 3/25).

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Brooke Smart. The main table in a home is often where memories are made. Killian's debut picture book explores this table's many roles in one family's life. The easy-to-read story starts where a wooden table begins: "as a seed that grew into a great strong tree." The tree is felled, taken to a workshop, and carefully crafted. The top is sanded, legs attached. The wood is stained, sealed, and set to dry. The family places the table "in the middle of a house, and life grew up around it." Smart's watercolor illustrations add to the story with playful and inventive scenes. The number of people grows and shrinks, and scenes evolve from the quiet act of arranging flowers to a birthday party spilling over with family and friends. Their table is filled to overflowing with the chaos of an unfolded map, children's drawings, and more. A clean, empty table shown near the end prompts discussion about readers' own experiences around family tables. The story concludes where it started: "This table began as a seed and became the heart of someone's home."

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024