Former Sandy Hook resident Katie (Burns) Rissolo has illustrated the next book in the Mom’s Bed series, Dad’s Couch.

It is authored by Elizabeth Busel and is the second book collaboration for the two friends through Hobo Jungle Press. Dad’s Couch was released in November 2022.

“The story follows a similar line as Mom’s Bed insofar as it is about two children whose imaginative play centers around a family member’s favorite, sanctuary-like space in the home,” Rissolo recently explained. “In the first book, that space was mom’s bed. In this case, the setting is dad’s couch which inspires many playful moments and is transformed in their minds into a canvas as artists, a springboard as long jumpers, a stage, an aircraft, and many other imaginative situations.

“It is a simple story with a rhythmic quality to it, great for young readers as it was written by a Montessori School teacher with over 20 years teaching experience,” she added.

Rissolo shared that her approach for illustrating the second book in the series was similar to that of Mom’s Bed. She used both watercolor art as well as computer technology.

“What makes these books unique, in a sense, is that each page has the same foundational imagery — the living room and the sofa in this case — which repeats page after page, and is then modified and added to depending on what the children are doing,” she explained.

She sought to have the background be both interesting and serve as a neutral ground for the action to take place around. She carefully considered the colors and patterns, as they would be appearing on each page of the book.

Rissolo noted: “I also wanted the sofa to feel classic or to at least have a sense of familiarity. Didn’t everyone at some point have a gold plaid sofa in their living room?”

For fans of the first book, they may even notice some similar elements that were snuck in.

“In the first book, the featured element, the bed, had a covering with scalloped edges, and in Dad’s Couch, you’ll notice a small skirting detail on the sofa which was intended to repeat a similar motif. Also, with all the repetition, I wanted to add in small elements that change from page to page — the ‘Easter eggs’ that young readers can look for. In this case, readers will find that dad has quite an interesting slipper collection,” Rissolo said.

Since Rissolo has two children, Stevie and Emmett, she enjoyed getting inspiration from them for fun details to add, too.

She also found that she had established more confidence in her work, being that it was her second go-round.

“The only difference in approach with this book and the previous book is my experience level,” Rissolo said. “I started with an art background but no experience illustrating books, and having gone through that first experience, I approached this book much more organized and comfortable with the process.”

According to Rissolo, Dad’s Couch is available online wherever books are sold.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.