David Slonim

Funny, incredibly cute, and touchingly sweet, this book has it all. When Sophie's family gets a new couch, it comes with someone on it - and they can't get him off! As they try various methods to remove the person on the couch, they eventually realize that it will take something, or someone, very special to move him off that couch. The illustrations are vibrant, clever, and funny adding to the overall enjoyment of the story. Loved it!

This book was absolutely fantastic! Though simplistic in terms of writing style, I found that the story contained joyful bouts of humor that truly made me bust with laughter! The pictures were oil painted and relayed the light, humorous tone of the story. The art also showcased the personality traits of each story character. This was extremely important, because the text did not elaborate on the character's personalities. This was especially true of the "thing" on the couch, who does not show more speak at all. In fact, he barely moves the entire story. Despite the "Thing's" immobility and placidity, the illustrator captured its personality by alluding to its inner emotional depth.

The couch, obviously, was a metaphor for life. The author wanted his audience to understand that in life, things come and go randomly and seemingly without purpose. However, laughing and finding humor in those unexpected moments will bring joy and happiness into life. show less

I am sorry but I have to disagree with the 96% of the people who liked this book. In today's society, having someone say that they loathe someone else is not appropriate. Isnt there enough hatred and loathing in this world that we dont have to teach it to our children as a bedtime story? Regardless if it is a story about monsters or not, to deem it as an endearing quality and a form of "love" is misleading. I would be upset if someone told my child that the loathed them because it was in a show more bedtime story that their mother read to them.

I read this book in the book store and actually read it out loud and there was another woman there who gave me a blank stare. She thought that I was joking and making up a story. At least at this point I knew I wasnt the only one to think that this is the wrong message to send to our children. show less

I loved this book for several reasons. First, because of the plot of this book. It is a play on parents saying how much they love a child. Instead it is a monster telling its child how much it loathes it because that is how this monster family shows affection and they enjoy things that most people loathe like mosquito bites, weird smells, and flees.

Another reason I liked this book was because of the writing. I really enjoyed how the book rhymes throughout it and it gave it a sort of bounce show more when you read it. For example, "I loathe you more than slimy rats, more than frostbite, skunks, or bats!"

I think the message of this story is that parents will always love their children no matter what. Often times children are afraid if they get one bad grade, or they do not do as well at a sports game as they wanted. They think their parents will not love them anymore but in reality parents love their children more than they realize. show less