Also illustrated by David Slonim: Look Out, Jeremy Bean! Moishe's Miracle   He Came with the Couch by David Slonim ages 4-8 32 pages Chronicle Books September 2005 Hardcover     Couch potatoes and non-couch potatoes alike will love David Slonim’s new book He Came with the Couch. This cute story is about a family who needs a new couch. They look everywhere but can’t find what they want. They finally locate the perfect couch at a rummage sale, but there’s one problem—someone (or something) already occupies the couch, and he’s not going anywhere! The book follows how the family tries to get their unwanted guest off the couch, all to no avail. The small daughter tries talking to him, but nothing. The doctor even comes by and diagnoses him with upholsterosis (an extreme form of couch potatoeness). All of this leads up to one moment when suddenly the entire family is glad he came with the couch—and they hope he never leaves. Along with the cute writing, He Came with the Couch has delightful illustrations that tell half of the story. The thing on the couch is adorable and the looks on the family’s faces as they try to figure out this new visitor are hilarious. Children will undoubtedly have fun looking at the busy drawings and trying to figure out exactly what is on the couch. He Came with the Couch will undoubtedly please a wide variety of young readers (and adults probably won’t mind reading this funny story to their kids multiple times). This is also a good story for parents to use to discuss tolerance and acceptance of those who are different with their children.     web reviews   Angela McQuay/2005 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)