I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book just didn't do much for me. I wanted to love it because it was a cute idea. But I just couldn't get engaged.

Well, this was a let down. I'm generally pretty easy going when it comes to rating children's books, but this one really missed the mark for me. The whole family refuses to clean up, and instead leaves it for the next person to deal with. I don't feel like this would be a great read for a child.

A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I started reading this with the kids and they just didn't enjoy it at all. Thought maybe I would try again at a later date, but then forgot all about this book.

Before I read this to the grandkids, I read it myself and thought this was a pretty weird story. However, they loved it. My grandson thought it was hilarious that Mr. Russet got so worked up about this potato and wouldn't pick it up. We talked about how he was tired of picking up after everyone and he was trying to make a point. He also shared a bunch of things that you could use a potato for as we read about other things the family did with the potato. When Mr. Russet made fries out of the potato, he thought it was gross, not because the potato had become a friend, but because of all the stuff the potato had done, especially after the dog played with it. He laughed a lot while we read it, but I still thought it was pretty weird. I have a hard time rating these books. He enjoyed it, but didn't ask to listed to it again. So overall, a good book for a library, but not one I would buy. 3.5 stars for me.

What an odd story. I had expected something about activity versus laziness. And instead it's about not cleaning the house? Not working for the good of the household? Somehow the potato becomes a sort of mascot, and the father who only wanted the family to help him out ends as a kind of villain. Pass.

The Couch Potato is funny! Kids and adults alike will enjoy the humor in this book and adults will take a genuine liking to the spirit of the story. So silly and inspires a great deal of silly thinking about phrases we say!

I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, this is hilarious. I need to put together my thoughts, but I loved this! The twist at the end had me smiling too.

I’d love to read more by this author!

Will write more later.

Yay for bending gender roles! Always refreshing to see.

The father's frustrations were comical and though I'm not a parent yet, I remember my parents similar frustrations (minus the potato.)

Review to come next week on my blog.

I received this picture book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

What would you do if you find a potato on your couch? A couch potato?

I had such a laugh seeing the dad decide that no, no not today he would clean up that potato. And then see each and every experience of the other family members as they played or were near the couch. To see how the potato got more and more of a family member and less and less a potato that it was.

I did think that the dad was a bit overreacting in regards to the potato and then especially that he just didn't clean up anything at all. I can imagine leaving the potato alone, but not do anything at all in the house? Eh? Also why is no one else in the house helping him out with chores and cleaning up? I know that in my parents home my mom was mostly the one who cleaned up, but my dad and I also helped. And same now with me and my hubby, I do most of the work, but he also helps out here and there.
I also thought it was weird that they apparently couldn't care a wink that their house was becoming a pigsty.

I had a big laugh at the ending though. Oh my dad. Oh my.

The art was so-so. Sorry, it just isn't my style. At times I liked it, but at other times it just wasn't for me.

All in all, I still had fun reading this one, but not as much as I had hoped.

Cute read. I tested it by reading it to my seven year old, and she was not that entertained by it. Probably better for younger children.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC for a fair and honest review of The Couch Potato.

I was expecting this to be a story about children spending too much time indoors, on screens, and didn't get what I expected at all. This story was strange. It didn't have any sort of lesson or moral, like most children's stories do, and it doesn't have the sort of humor that I'd expect most children to like. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't particularly enjoy it, and I don't imagine I'll be recommending it any time soon.

I love that the main character's last name is the name of a type of Idaho potato.... Russet.... Mr. Russet to us. It's not weird then that he is the first one to spot a random potato parked on his couch in the living room when he is doing his morning-time clean up.

Mr. Russet is a stay-at-home dad. His wife has gone to work and his kids are off to school so now it's his job to straighten up the house and get things in order for the day. But come on... a potato on the couch? Who is responsible for that uninvited guest? That's way too weird and the last straw for him. Mr. Russet is very annoyed and he will not remove it. No way. He's had it with the messiness around their home and the uncaring attitudes of not taking responsibility to help tidy up so that stupid old potato can just stay there. And stay there it does.

Mr. Russet stages a protest and goes on strike. He decides that it can stay there forever for all he cares. But, in fact, he does care. He cares so much that it starts affecting his mental well-being and his physical appearance. He becomes obsessed with that ridiculous potato intruder. The rest of the family seems oblivious to it being there but Mr. Russet can't let it go. He cooks up a perfect plan to deal with his unwanted potato squatter and get rid of it forever.

This is a fun read aloud and the simple, short text makes for a quirky, silly story that kids will love. The illustrations are colourful and full of humour. I would use this book to discuss the dynamics of a family. It is a wonderful tool to talk about roles in a family, responsibilities, communication and respect for one another's feelings and actions. The book can be used to discuss such topics as adaptability and tolerance. I like the book and I recommend it.

Mr. Russett is frustrated that the house is a bit messy and his family is oblivious. Especially when he finds a potato sitting on the couch! Reid didn’t notice it was out of place because to him it became a boulder to move with his tractor. Violet dressed it in her doll clothes. And Mrs. Russett just tossed it aside while reading her book. Mr. Russett humorously exclaimed, “It’s a vegetable, for goodness’ sake, not a houseguest!” He decided to go on a housecleaning strike until the mess was noticed. You’ll have to read it to find out what happens.

I found the story humorous because as a mom, I can relate to no one else seeing the messes. One minor complaint is that I felt like Mr. Russett’s expressions seem a bit angry towards his family. But I think he came around and made the best of the situation in a more light hearted way.

I was provided an electronic copy from Net Galley in exchange for my opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Kids Can Press for allowing me to preview this book.

I was excited to read this title when I saw it mentioned on Twitter. To me, the title suggests a story about the traditional definition of a “couch potato” - this was not the case. I enjoyed the gender switch of the traditional family roles of a household. Mr. Russet seems to be a stay at home dad and always picking up after his family. His frustration with the clutter and lack of responsibility of his family reaches a climax when a random potato is left on the couch. Mr. Russet is the only one bothered by its presence and decides that this is the last straw. He refuses to move the potato and stops cleaning up after his family members. After a week of silent rage and avoidance, he decides to cook the potato and serve it to his family over dinner.

I did enjoy the murderous twist at the end but thought Mr. Russet’s potato was slightly passive aggressive. The importance of communication in a situation similar to the Russet family fell flat. It reminded me of growing up with my own mom and how she never talked through her feelings until it was too late. There was no lesson learned in this book. Although colorful, the illustrations were slightly underwhelming. This one will not make the cut for my library shelf.

I'm amused by the role switch in this story. Traditionally it's the wife/mother that does all of the tidying up and goes on strike and hides in the bathtub. I very much enjoyed that aspect of this story. It was a good attempt at telling a quirky tale that actually did kind of teach about tidiness.

I didn't particularly enjoy the writing style or the illustrations and I felt that the story could have benefited from some additional editing.

The Couch Potato
By Kerry Lyn Sparrow, Yinfan Huang (Illustrations)

I give this book 3 out of 5 birds…. I first want to say that I am a born and raised Idahoan and so how could I not read this book? I saw the cover and knew I needed to. The cover portrays a potential hilarious story. That was not the case. It was WEIRD. I mean absolutely absurd. I am all about role reversal and showing kids mom and dad’s can do different jobs… but the father in this story was portrayed as a horrible git. It was depressing to think this is what people think of my job as a “stay at home mom” or what a “stay at home dad” does. That was my first problem and biggest. I also thought that the storyline was bizarre which can be awesome- but the humor fell flat. I did gasp at the ending because for a kids book it was messed up lol, my kids didn’t understand it but I did…. And is it horrible that that was the part I enjoyed the most? Overall, I’d maybe say read it so you can be like did you read this insanely weird book?

Thank you to Netgalley for a free advanced EBOOK in exchange for my honest review…. And sorry it was probably too honest.

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The Couch Potato
Author: Kerry Lyn Sparrow
Format: eBook
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
Read this book to our 4 year old daughter.
We both loved the cover of this book .She laughed alot throughout the book and fell in love with the dog. Which was her favorite. However something's were a little over her head. All of the pictures in the book were really cute and she loved them. Over all this is a good read. The author really did a great job! We hope to read more from her. Thanks to Kids Can Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC and the opportunity to read this book. My review is honest, unbiased, and voluntary.
Currently this title will be available for purchase on September 3, 2019!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I get the point of this book, but I think that it is far too over kids heads. I just don’t think they are going to get it, that being said, I loved seeing the mom going to work and the dad staying home and doing the housework.

BOOK REVIEW
Title: The Couch Potato
Author: Kerry Lyn Sparrow
Format: eBook
My Rating: 4/5
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This is such a clever book! This was read with my 5 year old son who was laughing out loud at the crazy things going on with this potato. Over all this is a very enjoyable read. From my five year olds point of view, he stated the book was funny but the ending was sad. The art is fun and clean, the wording is simple and understandable. Sometimes children’s books for this age rang are much to wordy and the sentences can be very long. The author Kerry did a great job! We hope to read more from her and will request this for our library to purchase one published.
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Currently this title will be available for purchase on September 3, 2019!
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💛
All opinions are my own.

A potato is informally welcomed (by all but Mr Russet) as the newest member of the family, having appeared on the family’s couch under circumstances unknown.

Mr Russet’s petulant attitude throughout the book was something I couldn’t come to terms with and his angsty brooding was off-putting. Rather than act like an adult and ask someone to throw out or put the potato where it belongs, he watches his family play with it, dress it, and even watched the dog use it as a ball. Kerry Lyn Sparrow’s writing mixes up the typical family stereotype a bit, sending Mrs Russet to work while Mr Russet stays home, cooks, and cleans.

Not only does Mr Russett refuse to take care of the potato, he lets its presence stress him to the point of allowing the rest of the living room to become a disaster zone. None of the other family members seem to mind walking around shoes or toys, finding a toothbrush and an umbrella in the couch, or care that there aren’t and clean coffee mugs. More than a week passes before Mr Russett decides he can’t take it with the potato anymore. He cleans and then cooks a meal of hamburgers, tacos, noodles, and fries. And we’re led to assume that Mrs Russet, Reid, and Violet have lost their appetites because Mr Russet has cooked up some deep-fried revenge? The family didn’t even know he was begrudging their sweet potato.

I just wasn’t on board with this story. There is no family communication whatsoever. Future messes are sure to present themselves because Mr Russet couldn’t bring himself to ask his family to help clean their messes. The illustrations by Yinfan Huang didn’t draw me in. Other than straighter lines and a touch more depth, they had a distinctly childish look about them, a style that doesn’t appeal to me. (If it’s actually a child’s artwork, that’s another thing altogether.) Frisky, the family dog, was my favorite character, and really the only character I liked. I reread it a couple more times, attempting to like it as a fun silly book, one without a lesson or a moral, but Mr Russet’s attitude uprooted that possibility.


Thanks to Kids Can Press and NetGalley for the provided e-ARC and the opportunity to read this book. My review is honest, unbiased, and voluntary. #NetGalley #TheCouchPotato