Meet the Smushkins
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
What if you mixed the gentle spirit of Lucy Cousins’s Maisy with the offbeat world of the Moomins? Meet the Smushkins, a family of characters that toddlers will find irresistible. The Smushkins are looking for a house, but what makes a good house for the Smushkins? They all agree: there must be lots of light, a big table everyone can sit on to look out the window, and an apple tree for making pies. Oh, and a playground, puddles to jump in, an ice cream cart, and so much more! But most of all, a good house for the Smushkins is a house full of Smushkins! Kicking off a delightful concept board book series, this boldly illustrated, giftable picture book introduces a family of characters so adorable, so goofy, and so lovable that readers of all ages can’t help but feel that they’ve known them forever.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Rueda (Redlocks and the Three Bears) kicks off a new series starring a charismatic crew of critters as they act out a wish list for the perfect home. Via a mix of biomorphism and crisp geometry rendered in bold, flat colors, the eight Smushkins, plus two pets, range in looks from recognizably animalian to winningly referential (one is straightforwardly Moomin-esque; another transports a Lowly Worm–like figure in one pocket). "So, what makes a good house for the Smushkins?" Starting with pencils in paws, they begin sketching, then, as the pages turn, move through a room with light streaming through a large window, stare out the panes at an apple tree, and enjoy proximity to a playground, picnic spot, ice cream cart, and library. Oh-so-squishable character design aside, this remarkably respectful work mirrors young children's natural curiosity about creating spaces where they feel happy and safe. The omniscient narrator's concrete commentary always honors the characters' desires: when spreads assert that the home should include "puddles for splashing," "a bathtub for soaking," and "bouncy beds for jumping," these wishes are presented as comfortingly legitimate. It's a vision of childhood that's generous, validating, and cute as all get out. Ages 3–5.
