The Couch in the Yard

Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 3

A family takes a nighttime drive to the moon in this love letter to Appalachia, crackling with wonder and warmth.

In this heartfelt and lyrical book, a family in a small Appalachian town spends the evening preparing for a special nighttime tradition. As the sun sets and the sky slips into dusk, they load up a spare couch on a rusty old car and drive into the mountains. With a little imagination and the magic of moonlight, their plain old couch transforms into something so much more.

Animated by the beauty of seemingly abandoned things and the dignity of the people who inhabit these often-overlooked areas, The Couch in the Yard is a deeply layered story, a lilting and lyrical tribute to the beauty of an oft-overlooked American culture. 

Text inspired by author Kate Hoefler’s family drives through Appalachian Ohio and Dena Seiferling’s textured, atmospheric illustrations conjure a fantasy readers will readily believe. Soothing yet fanciful, both lofty and earthy, The Couch in the Yard guarantees sweet dreams and unforgettable fantasies.

About the Author

Kate Hoefler grew up in the rolling hills of Ohio’s Appalachia—a home she returned to after a stint trying out bigger cities. (The heart loves the landscapes it loves.) She is the author of many beloved picture books for children, including Real Cowboys, which won the Friends of American Writers Chicago Award in Juvenile Literature. She makes her home with two children and a small dog who thinks he’s much bigger than he is.

Author Residence: Ohio

Author Hometown: Ohio

Dena Seiferling is the author and illustrator of The Language of Flowers, and the illustrator of King Mouse by Cary Fagan and Night Lunch by Eric Fan, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book, among other titles. She also creates and exhibits needle-felted sculptures. A graduate and former instructor at the Alberta College of Art and Design, Dena lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her husband and two children.

Illustrator Residence:Calgary, AB