Soar into space with this glorious love story of alien folk! The Smeds (who are red) never mix with the Smoos (who are blue). So when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love, their families strongly disapprove. But peace is restored and love conquers all in this happiest of love stories. There's even a gorgeous purple baby to celebrate!
With fabulous rhymes and breathtaking illustrations, this book is literally out of this world!
![The Smeds and The Smoos book cover](https://axelscheffler.com/media/pages/books-with-julia-donaldson/the-smeds-and-the-smoos/7f5903d52b-1642776527/smed-smoo-hbcvr-600x.jpg)
![](/assets/portraits/axel.jpg)
Axel says:
Julia has written about every subject on earth - from sticks and snails to Highway robbers - so we had to move into outer space! I love the message of this book that we should really embrace 'the other': that they are not really that different at all and that we can make friends with them. (As the father of a French-German child it is especially significant for me since the French and the Germans have been 'arch enemies' for long periods of history.) I enjoyed the freedom drawing those crazy aliens, as much as Julia enjoyed making up all those nonsense words. I wonder what she'll come up with next?!
![](https://axelscheffler.com/media/pages/books-with-julia-donaldson/the-smeds-and-the-smoos/50bedd9ab0-1642776529/1-smed-smoo-sketch-4-990x.jpg)
I did lots of sketches to work out what Bill and Janet would look like
![](https://axelscheffler.com/media/pages/books-with-julia-donaldson/the-smeds-and-the-smoos/c2a9064514-1642776526/smed-smoo-sketch-3-990x.jpg)
More alien sketching
![](https://axelscheffler.com/media/pages/books-with-julia-donaldson/the-smeds-and-the-smoos/4797589b5a-1642776529/smed-smoo-sketch-6-990x.jpg)
Sometimes I got Bill and Janet's colours mixed up!