He Came With the Couch
by David Slonim
This books is silly, and that’s a compliment. When Sophie’s family buys a sofa at a rummage sale, a silent, unmoveable creature comes stuck to it. The book’s dedication to Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, probably accounts for the figure’s resemblance to the famous puppets, with his blue skin, yellow bulb nose and purple hair.
He won’t budge, and the book’s at its quirkiest with the couch getting dragged on family outings, until one day he springs to life in a quick and instinctive act of love. The story’s playful innocence is also reminiscent of Henson, but rendered with the tenderness and simplicity of a bedtime story.
Rating: *\*\
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