The Smeds and the Smoos

By a lobular lake on a far-off planet, a young red Smed called Janet lives with the other Smeds. Not far away, on a humplety hill, Bill, a young blue Smoo is getting bored of jumping around. Meeting by accident in the Wurpular Wood, Janet and Bill delight in each other’s company until their grandparents find out and drag them away.

Continuing to meet in secret, Bill and Janet eventually decide to marry, but their families are so appalled at the idea that the only solution seems to be to steal Janet’s grandfather’s rocket and elope into space.

Can the Smeds and the Smoos find the young lovers, or will they be lost forever?

The newest rhyming picture book from the stellar pairing of Donaldson and Scheffler provides all their usual invention, quirkiness and read-aloud expertise in a story about tolerance and accepting difference.