Shmoof by Heidi McKinnon

Title: Shmoof

Author: Heidi McKinnon

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Published: 1^st July 2025

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Price: $19.99

Synopsis: A dog makes a great best friend… unless you are a cat! An adorable picture book from the author of the bestselling and much-loved Floof.

Shmoof is Shmoofy.
Shmoof is super shmoofy.
Shmoof is ready to be best friends.
But Floof? Floof is not so sure…

A story to warm the heart of anyone who has ever loved a playful furball.
From the creator of the beloved bestsellers Floof and I Just Ate My Friend.

~*~

Shmoof is a furry ball of a dog, and has just moved in with Floof. Shmoof wants to be friends, but Floof doesn’t. Even though Shmoof wants to get to know Floof and be Floof’s friend. Cats simply are not meant to be friends with dogs, according to Floof! But Shmoof does – Shmoof is so ready to be friends!

In Heidi McKinnon’s follow-up to her 2022 book, Floof, we get to meet a new member of the household – this time, a brown ball of fluff called Shmoof – who is sure and very determined to become friends. In this little snippet of Floof and Shmoof, we learn what Shmoof likes, what Floof doesn’t like, and what scares them both. Could that be what brings them together?

Stories about dogs and cats are often cute and funny, and Shmoof is no exception, taking the traits that we all love about dogs and putting them into Shmoof – who looks a little bit like a cavoodle, and Shmoof’s personality reminded me of Indy, a dog I had as a younger person. The alliteration and words that sound squishy and soft are a joy to read. They can help children learn about the sounds, have a laugh, and get into a really good story that celebrates cats, dogs, and friendship.

Reading Shmoof was fun, because it brings the fun and quirky things our pets do to life. Shmoof and Floof’s personalities shine through, and give readers an idea of what their favourite dog or cat might be thinking about. Shmoof is such a fun character, and when Floof and Shmoof come together, it appears that there will be fun and chaos all round. Dogs and cats make fun characters for picture books, and amongst all the books that focus on diversity and issues, it’s also great to see these fun books. Because we can learn something from all sorts of books, however they frame a story, a topic or an issue. Every book is going to have a message for the reader. And this one celebrates friendship and the unlikely things that can bring us together.