Aliens feature in Donaldson and Scheffler's next book

The next picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler will be The Smeds and The Smoos, to be published by Scholastic imprint Alison Green Books next year.

The Smeds and The Smoos is about two groups of aliens - The Smeds (who are red) and The Smoos (who are blue) - who never mix. When Janet and Bill, a young Smed and Smoo, fall in love, their families strongly disapprove, but love conquers all and Janet and Bill not only bring their warring blue and red families together – they also celebrate the arrival of their gorgeous purple baby.

Publisher Alison Green struck a deal with Donaldson’s agent Caroline Sheldon and with Scheffler, and will publish in September 2019.

“It’s always such a thrill to publish a new book from Julia and Axel," said Green. "The Smeds and The Smoos is particularly exciting, as the alien world is so totally different from anything they’ve done before, and offers Axel the chance to create a vivid array of new landscapes and characters. Julia’s joyous, witty tale is also very much a story for our time, with a powerful, positive message about the importance and value of cultural diversity.”