The Smeds and the Smoos

If you have ever survived a family gathering where two sides of the room were definitely not supposed to mix, Julia Donaldson has written a story just for you. The Smeds and the Smoos follows star-crossed Janet and Bill as they fall in love across the great red-and-blue divide, narrated by the extraordinary Imelda Staunton in about 34 minutes, long enough for your child to go from mildly curious to completely absorbed, while you quietly forget you were supposed to be doing something else.

We love it because:

• Imelda Staunton's narration is genuinely, properly wonderful. Not "nice children's audiobook" wonderful. Actually wonderful.
• It's Julia Donaldson doing what Julia Donaldson does best: a big theme (love, belonging, acceptance), told in a bouncy rhyme that lands without ever feeling preachy.
• The Toniebox does the heavy lifting. Pop the figure on, press nothing, watch it go. No fiddling, no loading, no accidental subscription purchases.
• It is a really good story for a world full of people who think their side of the fence is the right side.

What's in the box:

• One hand-painted Smeds and the Smoos Tonie figure
• Works with any Toniebox (sold separately)

Great for:

• Age 3 and up
• A first proper story listen for younger children, or a favourite to return to
• Bedtime, car journeys, or those lovely ten minutes when you just need everyone to sit still for a bit
• Developing a taste for storytelling, rhyme and the quietly radical idea that people who seem different might be worth getting to know

Important to know:

• Age recommendation: 3 years and up. Not suitable for children under 36 months. Contains small parts.
• Running time: approximately 34 minutes
• Material: plastic, hand-painted
• Features: magnetic attachment for the Toniebox
• Requires a Toniebox to play (sold separately)