The Couch in the Yard
By Kate Hoefler, author
Dena Seiferling, illustrator
Neal Porter Books, 2025
Ages 4 – 8
This is a magical story about a road trip based on the author’s childhood. The Couch in the Yard encourages imagination while showing how families live in the Appalachian mountains.
“Every night as soon as dusk falls it’s time… time to get the car running, strap the couch on top and take off into the world”. As the family prepares for the trip, their anticipation and excitement builds, and you can feel it. Everyone can see the moon, but for this family it is special. They load up their couch on their ancient, rusty car to gaze at the moon and stars.
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, about seeing beauty in the ordinary, offering a glimpse of mountain life as well as an appreciation for overlooked beauty in things often discarded.
There is a desire to create a good time together. The last line of the book. “This is a home And this is love.”
Perfect for a summer night bedtime story.
The illustrations are scratchy and sketchy, with a blurred, dreamy quality in some sequences. The sepia-tone evokes a days past and rusty memories of sentimental junk, but the star-strewn sky is gorgeous. Look for their car, several deer, and children in the stars, maybe the cow jumping over the moon!
Do read the author and illustrator notes at the end of the book for more memories.
Dena Seiferling book’s dedication: “For the place I call home and the people I share it with, located on Treaty 6 territory, traditional lands of First Nations and Metis people.”
Submitted by Karen Kosko
