Can I be honest with you?
I was worried about my kid. Really worried.
Every night was a battle. "Time to read!" I'd say cheerfully, and I'd get eye rolls, groans, or the classic "I'm too tired" (even though they'd spent three hours on their tablet).
Sound familiar?
My child isn't dumb. Far from it. But books? Forget it. "They're boring, Mom." "Reading is hard." "I don't like it."
I tried everything—funny books, scary books, graphic novels, books about their interests. Nothing stuck.
Then we found the Under the Couch series.
And everything changed.
The First Night We Read Book 1
I'll admit, I wasn't expecting much. Another book that would sit on the shelf collecting dust, right?
We opened Book 1: Hide and Seek together. I figured I'd read a chapter, they'd zone out, and we'd call it a night.
But something weird happened.
By page 15, my kid sat up straighter. By page 20, they were leaning in. By the end of Chapter 3, I heard the words I never thought I'd hear:
"Can we read another chapter?"
Wait. WHAT?
What Makes These Books Different?
I've spent a lot of time thinking about why the Under the Couch books worked when nothing else did. Here's what I figured out:
The Characters Are REAL Kids
Spencer is ten and grumpy about moving. He misses his old friends. He's stuck with his annoying little brother. He's quiet and wishes he was more outgoing.
My kid SAW themselves in Spencer. Finally, a character who actually felt like a real kid with real problems!
Justin, the seven-year-old brother, is the opposite—energetic, impulsive, friendly. If you have multiple kids, you'll recognize both personality types.
The Action Starts IMMEDIATELY
No boring setup. No fifty pages of backstory. Within the first few pages, Justin disappears under the couch, Spencer follows, and BOOM—they're in a mysterious world trying to find their way home.
Reluctant readers need hooks fast. This series delivers.
Short Chapters = Quick Wins
Each chapter is just long enough to feel like progress but short enough not to be overwhelming. My kid could say, "I'll read one chapter" and actually finish it. That built confidence like nothing else.
And those chapter endings? They're sneaky. Just when you think you're done reading, there's a cliffhanger that makes you need to know what happens next.
Twelve Books = Lasting Momentum
Here's the beautiful part: Once your kid finishes Book 1 and wants Book 2, you've won. They're invested in Spencer and Justin. They want to know what happens on the next adventure.
We've now finished eight books. EIGHT! My "reluctant reader" has voluntarily read eight chapter books!
The Lessons Snuck In (But Not in a Preachy Way)
Okay, so beyond the reading momentum, these books are actually teaching my kid stuff. But it doesn't feel like learning.
Book 3 helped with fears. Spencer has to face spiders (his worst nightmare). We had great conversations about being brave even when you're scared.
Book 5 was huge for self-acceptance. Spencer learns that being quiet and introverted is okay. My kid needed to hear that.
Book 9 addresses dyslexia. Even though my kid isn't dyslexic, understanding learning differences built empathy for classmates who struggle.
Book 8 taught about nature and conservation without being preachy. Just a good story that made my kid care about the environment.
Every book has stuff like this woven in naturally. It's not homework disguised as fiction. It's just good storytelling that happens to teach important things.
What Happened Next
Here's the crazy part: Reading time stopped being a battle.
Now my kid asks, "Can we read Under the Couch tonight?"
We've had to set limits. "Just one more chapter, please?" has become a regular plea at bedtime.
My child talks about Spencer and Justin like they're real friends. They predict what'll happen next. They get excited when we're close to finishing a book because it means we can start the next one.
This is the same kid who six months ago claimed to hate reading.
If You're Struggling Too...
If your child is a reluctant reader, I can't promise the Under the Couch series will be a magic solution. Every kid is different.
But here's what I learned:
Start with Book 1 together. Don't make them read alone if reading is hard. Make it bonding time, not homework.
Have multiple books ready. When they finish Book 1 and want Book 2 RIGHT NOW, you want to have it available. Don't let momentum die.
Talk about the books. Ask questions. Wonder aloud what'll happen next. Make it a conversation, not a quiz.
Celebrate finishing books. Each book completed is a win. Acknowledge it!
Be patient with Book 1. It might not hook them instantly. Give it a few chapters. The investment pays off.
The Bottom Line
The Under the Couch series didn't just teach my kid to read better. It taught them that books can be exciting. That reading can be fun. That stories can transport you somewhere amazing.
Now when people recommend books, my kid actually listens instead of automatically saying no.
That's the transformation I never expected.
If you're tired of fighting about reading time, if you're worried your kid will never like books, if you've tried everything else...
Maybe it's time to see what's under the couch.
👉 Ready to try it? Visit UnderTheCouchBooks.com to:
- Get Book 1: Hide and Seek in paperback or eBook
- Read free sample chapters
- See all 12 books in the series
- Join other parents in the Under the Couch community
Start with Book 1 and see if Spencer and Justin can work their magic on your reluctant reader too. Available in paperback and eBook, so you can start reading together tonight.
Spoiler alert: You might end up becoming a fan yourself. These books are genuinely enjoyable, even for adults reading aloud. (Don't tell my kid, but I'm invested in finding out what happens next too!)
Head to UnderTheCouchBooks.com and start your family's reading transformation today!Can I be honest with you?
I was worried about my kid. Really worried.
Every night was a battle. "Time to read!" I'd say cheerfully, and I'd get eye rolls, groans, or the classic "I'm too tired" (even though they'd spent three hours on their tablet).
Sound familiar?
My child isn't dumb. Far from it. But books? Forget it. "They're boring, Mom." "Reading is hard." "I don't like it."
I tried everything—funny books, scary books, graphic novels, books about their interests. Nothing stuck.
Then we found the Under the Couch series.
And everything changed.
The First Night We Read Book 1
I'll admit, I wasn't expecting much. Another book that would sit on the shelf collecting dust, right?
We opened Book 1: Hide and Seek together. I figured I'd read a chapter, they'd zone out, and we'd call it a night.
But something weird happened.
By page 15, my kid sat up straighter. By page 20, they were leaning in. By the end of Chapter 3, I heard the words I never thought I'd hear:
"Can we read another chapter?"
Wait. WHAT?
What Makes These Books Different?
I've spent a lot of time thinking about why the Under the Couch books worked when nothing else did. Here's what I figured out:
The Characters Are REAL Kids
Spencer is ten and grumpy about moving. He misses his old friends. He's stuck with his annoying little brother. He's quiet and wishes he was more outgoing.
My kid SAW themselves in Spencer. Finally, a character who actually felt like a real kid with real problems!
Justin, the seven-year-old brother, is the opposite—energetic, impulsive, friendly. If you have multiple kids, you'll recognize both personality types.
The Action Starts IMMEDIATELY
No boring setup. No fifty pages of backstory. Within the first few pages, Justin disappears under the couch, Spencer follows, and BOOM—they're in a mysterious world trying to find their way home.
Reluctant readers need hooks fast. This series delivers.
Short Chapters = Quick Wins
Each chapter is just long enough to feel like progress but short enough not to be overwhelming. My kid could say, "I'll read one chapter" and actually finish it. That built confidence like nothing else.
And those chapter endings? They're sneaky. Just when you think you're done reading, there's a cliffhanger that makes you need to know what happens next.
Twelve Books = Lasting Momentum
Here's the beautiful part: Once your kid finishes Book 1 and wants Book 2, you've won. They're invested in Spencer and Justin. They want to know what happens on the next adventure.
We've now finished eight books. EIGHT! My "reluctant reader" has voluntarily read eight chapter books!
The Lessons Snuck In (But Not in a Preachy Way)
Okay, so beyond the reading momentum, these books are actually teaching my kid stuff. But it doesn't feel like learning.
Book 3 helped with fears. Spencer has to face spiders (his worst nightmare). We had great conversations about being brave even when you're scared.
Book 5 was huge for self-acceptance. Spencer learns that being quiet and introverted is okay. My kid needed to hear that.
Book 9 addresses dyslexia. Even though my kid isn't dyslexic, understanding learning differences built empathy for classmates who struggle.
Book 8 taught about nature and conservation without being preachy. Just a good story that made my kid care about the environment.
Every book has stuff like this woven in naturally. It's not homework disguised as fiction. It's just good storytelling that happens to teach important things.
What Happened Next
Here's the crazy part: Reading time stopped being a battle.
Now my kid asks, "Can we read Under the Couch tonight?"
We've had to set limits. "Just one more chapter, please?" has become a regular plea at bedtime.
My child talks about Spencer and Justin like they're real friends. They predict what'll happen next. They get excited when we're close to finishing a book because it means we can start the next one.
This is the same kid who six months ago claimed to hate reading.
If You're Struggling Too...
If your child is a reluctant reader, I can't promise the Under the Couch series will be a magic solution. Every kid is different.
But here's what I learned:
Start with Book 1 together. Don't make them read alone if reading is hard. Make it bonding time, not homework.
Have multiple books ready. When they finish Book 1 and want Book 2 RIGHT NOW, you want to have it available. Don't let momentum die.
Talk about the books. Ask questions. Wonder aloud what'll happen next. Make it a conversation, not a quiz.
Celebrate finishing books. Each book completed is a win. Acknowledge it!
Be patient with Book 1. It might not hook them instantly. Give it a few chapters. The investment pays off.
The Bottom Line
The Under the Couch series didn't just teach my kid to read better. It taught them that books can be exciting. That reading can be fun. That stories can transport you somewhere amazing.
Now when people recommend books, my kid actually listens instead of automatically saying no.
That's the transformation I never expected.
If you're tired of fighting about reading time, if you're worried your kid will never like books, if you've tried everything else...
Maybe it's time to see what's under the couch.
👉 Ready to try it? Visit UnderTheCouchBooks.com to:
- Get Book 1: Hide and Seek in paperback or eBook
- Read free sample chapters
- See all 12 books in the series
- Join other parents in the Under the Couch community
Start with Book 1 and see if Spencer and Justin can work their magic on your reluctant reader too. Available in paperback and eBook, so you can start reading together tonight.
Spoiler alert: You might end up becoming a fan yourself. These books are genuinely enjoyable, even for adults reading aloud. (Don't tell my kid, but I'm invested in finding out what happens next too!)
Head to UnderTheCouchBooks.com and start your family's reading transformation today!
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