Review - The Couch Potato

The Couch Potato (The Food Group #4)
by Jory John
illustrated by Pete Oswald
Date: 2020
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Meet your new pal-tato in the fourth picture book from the #1 New York Times bestselling creators of The Bad Seed, The Good Egg, and The Cool Bean, Jory John and Pete Oswald.

The Couch Potato has everything he needs within reach of his sunken couch cushion. But when the electricity goes out, Couch Potato is forced to peel himself away from the comforts of his living room and venture outside. And when he does, he realizes fresh air and sunshine could be just the things he needs...

Readers of all ages will laugh along as their new best spuddy learns that balancing screen time and playtime is the root to true happiness.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This, the fourth installment in Jory John and Pete Oswald's series about sentient foodstuffs, was obviously conceived before 2020 and children became bombarded with the message to stay inside, glued to a screen, lest they kill granny. The Couch Potato is a call to go outside, breathe the air, and explore the world around us... in person.

The illustrations are just as cute as in the other books. But I think I like the message of this one a little more than some of the others. Humans (and potatoes) were never meant to spend all day inside staring at screens. That message is now more important than ever.

Fans of the series will probably love this one. Check it out to add to your tasty collection!

Quotable moment:

Premise: 5/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.17 out of 5