Claudia Rueda's Smushkins burst into the world!

Oops, that's just Bloo, riding on their scooter! I meant to introduce you to ALL the Smushkins.

Leo, Opie, Ook, Dog, Tippi, Iona, Puff, Ki, Moe... and yes, Bloo:

The Smushkins are good friends with each other. Right now, they're busy with something important.

They have some strict qualifications for this house, though. It needs:

There's one thing the Smushkins' house needs more than anything else, though...

What could it be? You'll have to read the book to find out!

Where Did the Smushkins Come From?

The Smushkins came from the imagination of Colombian author-illustrator Claudia Rueda. We were bouncing ideas around during Covid times, and at a certain point Claudia showed me some sketches of odd-looking creatures like this:

I thought these little guys were quite intriguing. Claudia kept playing with them, and they evolved into this:

And then Claudia started putting them into their environment...

And asking, what would the Smushkins do together?

It turns out the Smushkins are very, very busy doing all kinds of things!! And there are more Smushkins waiting for their moment in the sun!

Don't worry, you won't have to wait for too long to see what else the Smushkins are up to. There are two more books coming in March 2025 (and after that, another two books in 2026!)

Celebrating the Smushkins' Big Day

Trust me, the Smushkins didn't tiptoe into the world. THEY ANNOUNCED THEMSELVES WITH A PARTY.

Claudia celebrated their very first book birthday with a talk and dinner at the Smushkins' favorite bookstore, Sullaluna on Carmine Street in NYC.

It was a packed house of picture book lovers who wanted to hear more about the Smushkins' philosophy of life.

In fact, the Smushkins already have die-hard fans -- one of them presented Claudia with a hand-sewn felt plushie of Moe. Carrying a colored pencil in case she needed to doodle at any moment.

And the Smushkins, being good hosts, know that you don't want your guests to go hungry. You should serve popcorn to the audience.

After the presentation, party-goers retired to the upstairs restaurant for Crocchette Cacio e Uovo, Fettuccine ai Funghi, and other delicacies. The Smushkins have good taste.

What Are People Saying About the Smushkins?

Don't just take my word for it. People are talkin'. They really, really like the Smushkins.

• “A vision of childhood that’s generous, validating, and cute as all get out.” – Publishers Weekly
• “You know what’s going to save us from AI? .... I’m talking Smushkins, people. The kind of creations that only people like creator Claudia Rueda could come up with.” – Betsy Bird, A Fuse 8 Production
• “Little ones will love poring over the light, breezy, and pleasantly jumbled pastel-colored illustrations of the characters as they demonstrate all the places and activities they believe are important to a home.” – Booklist
• “Deftly taps into the fun of coming up with one’s dream home with all one’s best friends.” – Kirkus Reviews
• “[The Smushkins] have pretty good taste in their choice of location; who doesn’t want to live near a park with a playground and hill for picnics AND near a library?” – YA Books Central

Click to find out more about Meet the Smushkins, The Smushkins ABC Zoinks, and The Smushkins Colors.

Find out more about Claudia Rueda on her website, and sign up for her newsletter here!

Congratulations, Claudia (and Leo, Opie, Ook, Dog, Tippi, Iona, Puff, Ki, Moe, and Bloo)!

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by Janna Morishima