The Kids Table Book

The Kids Table is a 432-page cookbook that explores the beauty and chaos of family mealtime through the lens of photographer and author Monroe Alvarez. Featuring 22 families and their recipes, the book captures the intimacy, joy, and unpredictability that unfold around the table.

I designed the cover and full interior with a sense of play, pairing Monroe’s warm film photography with expressive typography and a structured editorial layout. A custom typeface, inspired by the geometry of children’s play blocks, runs throughout the book and defines its visual language. I selected the photographs and pacing to shape each family’s story and recipe.

The first edition is nearly sold out—there are a few copies left on Koko Momo,  Woon, and Now Serving.

Client: Monroe Alvarez
Studio: Tina Smith Studio
Role: Cover Design, Book Design, Typeface Design, Lettering 
Photography: Monroe Alvarez
Year: 2025

Each divider spread features the custom typeface arranged around a central “table,” turning typography itself into a moment of gathering.

Recipes are divided into three sections—breakfast, lunch & dinner, and dessert—each opening with a custom lettered title that pours across the spread like syrup.

Created a custom variable-width typeface for the book, Niblet, inspired by children’s play blocks. The typeface appears throughout, flexing across multi-color type spreads and quote pages where large words needed to fit within consistent proportions.

The typographic system balances playfulness with structure, with the typefaces Roslindale (refined, dramatic) with Seabirds (geometric, warm) grounding the expressive custom type. 

Syrupy hand-drawn lettering adds a tactile, human energy to the book. Handwritten details appear throughout as small gestures of warmth and imperfection.

The color system assigns each family a single hue, creating a gradual shift from one family to the next and tying back to the gradient that opens each recipe section.

Each family’s recipe is paired with a profile, interview, and Monroe's film photography from their home and mealtime.