A great way to teach children reading skills. This book uses word families, rhythm and repetition to tell a fun story with an interesting twist. Teachers, parents, and kids love its unique combination of simple words and sounds, which captivates their interest as the tale unfolds. In the story, two children try to tell Mr. Brown about a strange situation in the living room. He doesn't believe them at first, but later discovers that they're telling the truth--much to his surprise. Children will enjoy reading the easy words and looking at the beautiful pictures and will ask to read this book again and again.

Written by Glen A. Penrod

Age Range: 3 and up

Paperback: 54 pages

Publisher: Glen Penrod (2017)

ISBN: 978-0692900598

What to expect: Animals and Humor

A Cow on the Couch! is a picture book that describes what a group of young children see. In the book, the kids tell Mr. Brown that they see a cow on the couch, which leads to a series of questions from Mr. Brown about that cow and how it came to be inside on the couch.

Each page builds on the overall premise of the book - that the kids in the story need to tell Mr. Brown something very important. As they continue, Mr. Brown asks follow up questions, and the kids are able to answer each one and continue adding more detail to the story. The book encourages observations and communicates the principles of answering questions with basic information (who, what, where, when, why, etc.) in a humorous and delightful way.

"There's a cow on the couch!"

"Where?"

"In the house. There's a cow on the couch in the house!"

Acting as the perfect compliment to the story, the illustrations throughout add to the inquiries from Mr. Brown and the answers from the kids. The expressions on the character's faces jump off of the page, and will help young pre-readers understand that the characters are trying to communicate more details to one another. These illustrations are a lovely addition to the story itself, and will leave a lasting impression with young readers and adults.

The book would be well suited for young pre-readers and younger readers who are learning how to communicate details and refine their storytelling when talking with grown ups. It will also be a hit with beginning pre-readers who enjoy sounding out words, and those who enjoy the anticipation of a story that builds.

About The Author