There's Always Room for One More

by Robyn McGrath, Ishaa Lobo (Illustrator)

Overview

A girl struggles to say goodbye to the family table until she discovers that a new, bigger table means more room for creating memories and welcoming loved ones in this heartwarming picture book perfect for fans of All Are Welcome, The Bench, and A Grand Day.

Clare loves her family’s table—it’s the perfect size for homework help and pancake breakfasts. But with Grandpa moving in, Mama says they need a bigger one. Clare is excited for Grandpa’s arrival, but not ready to say goodbye to the old table.

When the new table arrives, neighbors help clean, sand, and paint. Friends and family bring over puzzles and peaches to help make Grandpa feel at home. But it’s not until Clare helps Papa make Grandpa’s favorite treat that she finally sees how this table means more space for creating new memories. And that when it comes to the people you love, there’s always room for one more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665925389
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date:	08/29/2023
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	862,687
File size:	74 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Robyn McGrath is a native of Texas and lives in Austin with her family where she works as a play therapist. She’s the author of Dolly!: The Story of Dolly Parton and Her Big Dream, illustrated by Ellen Surrey; There’s Always Room for One More, illustrated by Ishaa Lobo; and A Mind of Her Own, illustrated by Liz Wong. To learn more about Robyn, visit RobynMcGrathWrites.com.

Ishaa Lobo is a British Indian illustrator based in London specializing in children’s books. Her work is often inspired by nature, colorful interiors, and snippets of everyday life. She is the illustrator of The Mystery of the Love List by Sarah Glenn Marsh; To Dogs, with Love by Maria Gianferrari; and There’s Always Room for One More by Robyn McGrath. Visit her at IshaaLobo.com.

Editorial Reviews

"A warm, inviting picture book."

7/1/23 - Booklist

08/25/2023

PreS-Gr 2—Casey loves the old dining table where she's had birthdays and Saturday morning pancakes, but with Grandpa coming to live with them, her family will need a bigger one. While everyone else in Casey's warm and loving Black family and diverse community is having fun preparing the new table for Grandpa's arrival, Casey sits with her sad feelings about losing the old table that felt so much like home. In a poignant social-emotional learning moment, Casey's mom says Grandpa may be missing his old home, too. As Casey empathizes with Grandpa's situation, she realizes the new table is a place where new memories can be made, and starts by baking her and Grandpa's favorite treat, a peach cobbler. The story ends with Grandpa and the neighbors joining Casey's family for a meal around the new table, where there is always room for one more. Like the previous sentence, the title concept feels a little tacked on. However, the rest of McGrath's text is clearly written and lovely to read aloud and includes such poetic phrases as "Love pours out in our favorite color" when the dog accidentally spills a can of paint. A few odd choices (nostalgia for homework help and card games as well as "pa's bad jokes") feel old for what otherwise appears to be a four- or five-year-old main character, but don't detract much from the story. Lobo's sweet stylized illustrations use a limited color palette of warm pinks and browns complemented by greens throughout, and embrace a digitally drawn look. VERDICT A solid purchase for any picture book collection.—Hillary Perelyubskiy

School Library Journal

2023-04-24
Preparing for Grandpa to move in means saying goodbye to a beloved table and embracing the chance to make memories with a new one.

Although excited for Grandpa’s arrival, young Clare feels conflicted when Mama announces that their family needs a bigger dining table. Memories of their old table and anxious questions swirl in Clare’s mind as the family brings home and lovingly fixes up their new one. Neighbors, friends, and family stop by with things to help Grandpa feel at home and receive cordial invitations (“There’s always room for one more”) to join them for dinner in return. But change is hard, and Clare eventually dissolves into tears. Mama comforts an overwhelmed Clare and says that Grandpa might be missing what feels like home to him, too. Clare is encouraged by the suggestion that a larger table means more room to make new memories, and the child’s first memory will be to help bake a peach cobbler, Clare and Grandpa’s favorite treat. The family puts the finishing touches on their feast with the arrival of guests and then finally Grandpa, who is pleased at the surprise. McGrath deftly immerses readers in Clare’s mind, while Lobo’s warm and whimsical illustrations capture this caring, tightly knit Black family and their diverse community. With the party now in full swing and new memories to cherish, Clare fully understands that “there’s always room for one more.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A helpful tale for building empathy and navigating change. (Picture book. 4-9)

Kirkus Reviews