Overview

In this heartfelt and lyrical book, a family in a small Appalachian town spends the evening preparing for a special nighttime tradition. As the sun sets and the sky slips into dusk, they load up a spare couch on a rusty old car and drive into the mountains. With a little imagination and the magic of moonlight, their plain old couch transforms into something so much more. Animated by the beauty of seemingly abandoned things and the dignity of the people who inhabit these often-overlooked areas, The Couch in the Yard is a deeply layered story, a lilting and lyrical tribute to the beauty of an oft-overlooked American culture. Text inspired by author Kate Hoefler’s family drives through Appalachian Ohio and Dena Seiferling’s textured, atmospheric illustrations conjure a fantasy readers will readily believe. Soothing yet fanciful, both lofty and earthy, The Couch in the Yard guarantees sweet dreams and unforgettable fantasies.

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9780823456758

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Reviews

A spellbinding love letter to rural America—and a reminder to look more closely at the world around us. —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Soft, smudgy textures mirror the peaceful vibe of the text, making even the most prosaic scenes feel a bit otherworldly and inviting—reinforcing the author’s note positioning that, under the right conditions, there is wonder to be found in the ordinary. Children growing up in rural areas will likely feel right at home, and city kids may well end up longing for the quiet, star-filled skies, untroubled by all the realities of growing up in the generally economically ravaged and culturally disdained Appalachian regions of the US. —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books A quiet and reverential nod to the value in items loved beyond a typical life expectancy, and to the transportive power of imagination. —Booklist Via grasslike textures and soft illumination, digitally rendered spreads by Seiferling (Night Lunch) create a dreamlike ambiance for this atmospheric look at a family who sees magic and possibility poised in the ordinary. —Publishers Weekly A soothing, inspiring tale for preschoolers and young elementary students, offering a glimpse of mountain life as well as an appreciation for overlooked beauty in things often discarded. —BookPage

Author Information

Kate Hoefler grew up in the rolling hills of Ohio’s Appalachia—a home she returned to after a stint trying out bigger cities. (The heart loves the landscapes it loves.) She is the author of many beloved picture books for children, including Real Cowboys, which won the Friends of American Writers Chicago Award in Juvenile Literature. She makes her home with two children and a small dog who thinks he’s much bigger than he is. Dena Seiferling is the author and illustrator of The Language of Flowers, and the illustrator of King Mouse by Cary Fagan and Night Lunch by Eric Fan, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book, among other titles. She also creates and exhibits needle-felted sculptures. A graduate and former instructor at the Alberta College of Art and Design, Dena lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her husband and two children.

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