The witch's table

When you think you don't have a leg to stand on… A young witch inherits a misbehaving Table from a long line of ancestors who couldn't curb its antics. The Table's legs are humanlike, complete with warty knees. The clever witch at first simply outsmarts it, but she's genuinely empathic and comes to realize that the Table needs compassion and understanding. The author subtly hints that this is no ordinary table. The wordtable is capitalized, suggesting it has importance and worth. The shift in the witch's relationship with her new friend is reflected in the refrain "she thought about the Table." The witch considers things from the Table's point of view, buying it a rug to keep its feet warm, fashioning a tablecloth for it, and purchasing a lamp to brighten up her home. Unsurprisingly, the witch's thoughtful acts and patience eventually result in a complete turnabout in the Table's behavior, and the pair become boon companions. Despite the cobwebs, bats, and scowling black cat, the witch's home is downright cozy; the cartoon illustrations reflect the warm message of this comical, thought-provoking tale, while the clever wordplay ("sometimes it is less important to see eye to eye…than it is to see toe to toe") will have readers chuckling. The dark-haired young witch has light-brown skin; other human characters are racially diverse. A witty charmer.(Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.