The Smeds and the Smoos

Longtime collaborators Donaldson and Scheffler (The Gruffalo) convey this story of star-crossed lovers with their customary vim. “By a loobular lake on a far-off planet” lives Janet, a Smed with red skin, green hair, and a long snout; and Bill, a Smoo with polka-dotted blue skin, orange horns, and spotted green slippers. Forbidden by their grandparents to pair up (“Never, never marry a Smoo..../ They drink black tea!/ They eat green stew!”), the two eventually elope. As their families travel the galaxy together in hot pursuit, they discover just how diverse worlds can be, and gradually let their guard down with each other. Back home, another discovery awaits: Janet and Bill are new parents of “A red one? A blue one? But no—/That baby was purple, from head to toe!” The Sneetches-esque story bogs down a bit under its Seussian vocabulary (“Janet met Bill in the Wurpular Wood,/ Where the trockles grew tall/ and the glompoms smelled good”). But the timely message of inclusivity is proffered unmistakably, and with a panoply of adorable creatures to boot. Ages 4–8. [em](Nov.) [/em]