Shmoof by Heidi McKinnon

Shmoof is very shmoofy and wants to be friends with everyone.

And Floof is very floofy and is very nervous about Shmoof from the day they are put together. Shmoof is keen to be friends, but Floofy is sure that the opposite is true. Shmoof plays with a ball and does tricks with the bath, while Floof just runs and hides.

Floof likes to play tricks, but one of his tricks means Shmoof’s food bowl is full of potting mix. They are still not friends. Perhaps something will happen that will get them together.

Just then dad begins to vacuum; neither Shmoof nor Floof like the vacuum cleaner and both agree that the vacuum must go. Hilariously on the next page a paw can be seen pushing a ball in the way of the vacuum. And over the page, BOOM!

Now Shmoof and Floof are the best of friends. A common enemy has brought them together.

This hilarious look at the idea of friendship, as two enemies unite to defuse a common enemy, will be heartily received by readers. The text is gloriously complemented by the wonderful illustrations, full of humour, inviting the reader to laugh along with the two as they skirt around each other, then come together to rid themselves of the dreaded vacuum. Kids will love seeing the animosity between the two at the start recognising the common feelings aroused by their differences and then realising how easy it is to overcome them. I love the page where the vacuum blows up after a small paw pushes the ball in its way, and I was intrigued all through as to how the features of the two animals reveal their feelings. And the twist in the last page of the book will cause lots of fun as children work out ways of dealing with the new machine.

Themes: Animals, Humour, Friendship.

Fran Knight