Ruth Ohi, illustrated by the author
The Couch was a Castle
Annick Press, 2006

Rating: E

Burt and Twitch love playing on their living room couch. With a bit of imagination, the possibilities are endless. Wielding a paper tube telescope and china plate steering wheel, these two loveable guinea pigs imagine "the couch was a boat that sprung a leak". Riding up high on the back, they pretend "the couch was a horse - gallop and leap". Adding a red blanket creates a spooky cave. The sofa also doubles as a circus trampoline and a theatrical stage.

The simple, rhyming text is brought to life by Ruth Ohi’s charming watercolour illustrations. A smaller picture shows the comfy couch and the brothers play acting (sometimes with colanders on their heads for pith helmets). The facing full page shows the detailed make-believe adventure. The narrative also unfolds through the illustrations. When a duelling sword fight turns a bit rough, little Twitch leaves in tears. Not having any fun alone, Burt reconciles their differences and the couch returns to being "a couch for just me and you".

This sweet and playful story is good for one-on-one sharing. Children will enjoy dreaming up imaginary adventures of their own.

Thematic Links: Imagination; Siblings

Linda Ludke
Vol. 12, number 1
October 2006

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.