Reading to children before bed is always a good way to wind down and talk a bit before it’s time to finally go to sleep. We’ve always read stories each night before bed, but that means getting more and more new books to bring new adventures into our home. The Smeds and the Smoos is written by Julia Donaldson, who has written fantastic children’s books. After seeing the book advertised on the London Underground, I went and ordered a copy.
The Smeds and the Smoos is a lovely, well illustrated children’s book with an important message. I find that stories that have these sorts of messages are very good for reading and pondering over, as you can talk to children about the meaning behind them and what they think of the theme. You see, the Smeds are one type of creature, while the Smoos are a different type. One blue, one red, one drinks pink milk, the other does not. There are lots and lots of subtle differences between these two types of creature; mainly cultural and through how they look.
One thing is clear though; they are not meant to be friends with each other or play with each other. Two children, one a Smed and another a Smoo, do hang out and exchange cultures, before being torn apart. After that, they decide to go off together, and in search of their own kind, both the Smed and Smoo rulers need to work together to find them. The last page of the book struck a cord with me; ‘To all the children of Europe.’
In a time of Brexit and leaving the EU, with people being so harshly against immigration and the sharing of cultures, The Smeds and the Smoos is a very important book with a simple message; our cultures and the way we look should never be something to separate us. Through an adorable children’s book, with far off planets and strange aliens, a message that everyone could understand and learn is given.
You can purchase a copy of The Smeds and the Smoos on Amazon.