The jargon and rhymes also massively lend themselves to phonics work - especially when looking at nonsense/alien words! The newest rhyming picture book from the stellar pairing of Donaldson and Scheffler provides all their usual invention, quirkiness and read-aloud expertise in a story about tolerance and accepting difference. The Smeds and the Smoos follows two young aliens. A Smed, named Janet and a Smoo named Bill. The Smeds and the Smoos are rival. Janet and Bills’ families tell them stories to warn them of the others. But Janet and Bill fall in love.

The Smeds and the Smoos (Paperback) - Waterstones

The Smeds and the Smoos visit other planets to find Janet and Bill. Can you imagine a new planet that they might explore? But peace is restored, and love conquers all in this happiest of love stories. Teaching Ideas and Resources: English

Credits

Julia Donaldson’s uses phonetically decodable alien words, such as ‘loobular lake’ and ‘glompoms’. This means that children are able to watch the decoding of alien words, modelled by a reader, or are able to practise decoding them themselves within a fun and memorable story, giving their work at school on alien words meaning and excitement. Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol. Make a list of all the rhyming words in the book. Can you think of other words that rhyme with those? With its made-up words and rhyming text, this will remind readers of Dr. Seuss. The Smeds and the Smoos join together when their children run off to elope. Where could the couple be? Can these two groups set aside their differences to find the two?

Shows - Tall Stories

Music, laughs and interplanetary adventures for everyone aged 3 and up, from Tall Stories – the company that brought you The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom live on stage. Soar into space with this exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler – also seen in the BBC TV animation on Christmas Day. One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading. A magical blend of catchy songs, adept storytelling and audience participation that youngsters lap up.” East Midlands Theatre

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Write a diary entry for Janet or Bill from a time when they crept off to play in the Wurpular Wood together.