Shmoof

Shmoof by Heidi McKinnon (Allen & Unwin) PB RRP $19.99 ISBN 9781760876661

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks 

Heidi McKinnon is an author/illustrator who lives in Melbourne. With a background in art and design, she creates bright, fun, colourful picture books. Her books have received numerous award nominations including the Children’s Book Council of the Year Awards, and have been published around the world, including the USA, France, Japan, China and Korea.

Schmoof arrives and Floof is not impressed. Floof is ready to never ever be friends with Shmoof. They have absolutely nothing in common until the day they find a certain something they both dislike and that changes everything.

McKinnon has created a bouncy, happy text that creates great laugh-out-loud moments as it playfully dances with the character interactions. Her distinct author voice shines through on every page. The sparse text is creative and effective with McKinnon having a knack for invented words. Most of all her text is fun to read aloud. The use of repetition is engaging and works well with McKinnon’s engaging style of storytelling. This is Shmoof. Shmoof is shmoofy. Shmoof is super is super schmoofy. Her very clever text hits the mark with the intended preschool audience but I think it is just as much fun for the adults who read to children. Her voice is distinct, playful and matches a preschooler’s world view. Her use of rhyme with fun names and smart, short sentences really pop. The ending surprises and does not disappoint. It creates a great laugh out loud moment.

McKinnon’s illustrative style is simplistic and creative. She has crafted another endearing character that has loads of kid appeal. Shmoof is cartoon-like but is also warm and friendly with engaging eyes and a cute softness and lovability. Shmoof and Floof are captured in an animated style much like a comic strip. The attention to character with awesome facial expressions and body movements creates a sweet story that is very engaging. The colour palette of yellow and grey with use of white space for the background really draws the eye to the action in the story. The endpapers wrap this Shmoofy story in Shmoof’s soft, yellow fur.

Shmoof is a fun picture book with an important message about focusing upon what you have in common rather than what you don’t. This book is a great standalone read but also a doorway to other books like Floof  by Heidi McKinnon. Anyone that loves furballs will really get a kick out of this book. Schmoof is suitable for children 4 years plus and is sure to be a favourite with kids, parents, teachers and librarians.