He Came with the Couch

Nothing says comfy like a couch. But what if the family sofa comes with a wacky-looking blue creature instead of a decorative pillow? Such is the dilemma faced by a family in this quirky picture book. When young Sophie's overzealous pup, Roscoe, chomps up the old couch, the search is on for a replacement. Dad finds the perfect model at the rummage yard even though a blue Muppet-like fellow seems permanently attached to it. Back at home, Sophie's family can't get any response from the guy—who, doctors say, suffers from extreme "upholsterosis," the ultimate couch-potato state—until an urgent situation arises and the family's new blue buddy saves Sophie from harm. Slonim's (Oh Ducky! A Chocolate Calamity ) multimedia paintings are both silly and clever in their depiction of a boisterous, take-charge clan. (Laugh-out-loud parental efforts to chase away the unwanted guest include a plunger pull, scraping fingernails on a chalkboard and playing the bagpipes.) Sophie's wild blond hair and bright eyes render her an endearing kid. And by book's end, Roscoe's teething tendencies ensure material for a sequel—even if it's one just imagined by readers. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)