The Couch Potato: A Funny Story About Balance and Trying New Things for Children (Ages 4–8) (The Food Group)

The Couch Potato: A Funny Story About Balance and Trying New Things for Children (Ages 4–8) (The Food Group)

An Instant New York Times Bestseller * An Instant Indie Bestseller * An Indie Next List Selection Feeling fried? Peel yourself on the couch and meet your new pal-tato! The winning fourth picture book from the #1 New York Times bestselling creators of The Bad Seed , The Good Egg , and The Cool Bean , Jory John and Pete Oswald, will get you and your kids moving! The Couch Potato has everything within reach and doesn't have to move from the sunken couch cushion. But when the electricity goes out, Couch Potato is forced to peel away from the comforts of the living room and venture outside. Could fresh air and sunshine possibly be better than the views on screen? Readers of all ages will laugh along as their new best spuddy learns that balancing screen time and playtime is the root to true happiness. Check out Jory John and Pete Oswald’s funny, bestselling books for kids 4-8 and anyone who wants a laugh: The Bad Seed - The Good Egg - The Cool Bean - The Couch Potato - The Good Egg Presents: The Great Eggscape! - The Bad Seed Presents: The Good, the Bad, the Spooky! - The Cool Bean Presents: As Cool as It Gets - That’s What Dinosaurs Do K-Gr 3-The term couch potato was coined in 1979 to describe kids who spent more time on the couch than outside playing. John's book toys with that concept in this exaggerated story of an anthropomorphic potato who pridefully shows the reader every device it owns. Each of them is designed to make sure Couch Potato never gets off the couch. When one last device is delivered and is plugged in, the lights go out. Couch Potato opens the curtains and notices what they haven't seen in ages: the outdoors! With nothing else to do, Couch Potato ventures outside and finds there is plenty to do. The COVID-19 pandemic has kept children in isolation indoors and developing couch potato tendencies through no fault of their own; this tale is timely and helps make the point that a balance of technology and old-school fun might be the way to go. The cartoonish art serves the story well, reaching for every last pun and bit of wordplay. VERDICT A goofy story about the dangers of too much of one thing, and a lighthearted lesson for all.-Joan Kindig, James Madison Univ., Harrisonburg, VAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Looking for a spud-tacular read? Starch here.  - Kirkus Reviews From the writer and illustrator of The Bad Seed (2017), The Good Egg (2019), and The Cool Bean (2019), this picture book certainly has a point to make, but it does so with disarming wit and abundant charm. - Booklist [T]his tale is timely and helps make the point that a balance of technology and old-school fun might be the way to go. A goofy story about the dangers of too much of one thing, and a lighthearted lesson for all. - School Library Journal Text and illustrations are packed with humor. - Horn Book Magazine A stylish and witty picture book. - Sunday Times (London) Jory John is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and two-time E. B. White Read Aloud Honor recipient. Jory’s work includes the award-winning Goodnight Already! series; the bestselling Food Group series, including The Bad Seed, The Good Egg, and more; the national bestseller All My Friends Are Dead; and many more popular picture books. You can visit him online at joryjohn.com. Pete Oswald is an artist, picture book creator, and production designer. Pete is the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Food Group series by Jory John and the Cranky series by Phuc Tran as well as many other picture books. When Pete is not working on books, he is helping to uplift many of the most successful animated franchises as a character designer, concept artist, and production designer. Pete lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and three sons.