Reviewed by William Cramp Fit Flyer Cub reporters
The Couch Potato
Written by Jory John
The Couch Potato is about a potato who likes to sit on his couch in one spot watching screens all day. When the power goes out one day, he decides to take his dog on a walk and discovers all the things he’s been missing. He enjoys the fresh air, the sunshine, and nature. He learns that having a balance between screen time and outdoor time is important.
Second-grade reporters in Ms. Salkin’s class recently read and reviewed The Couch Potato and enjoyed the book. They said they could identify with the Couch Potato because they also like to be on screens. The book taught them that it’s important to balance activities and not spend all their time on screens. When the Couch Potato goes outside, he realizes that he’s been missing out on so many things. “You can be a couch potato AND a fun potato,” one student said. This means you can enjoy your screen time and also do healthy outdoor activities.
Reporters said this book would be best for students in grades 1 to 4. Younger kids might not understand the idea of a couch potato, since the character is actually a potato. This book would also be good for teachers or parents who are trying to help kids understand why it’s not healthy to sit on a couch all day using screens.
