Torla and Smorla illustrated by Chris Jevons

Here comes a hilarious and heartwarming new picture book series that introduces readers to two delightfully mismatched giraffe friends – Torla and Smorla. With brilliantly bold artwork by award-winning illustrator Chris Jevons, this lift-the-flap duo of stories is packed with laugh-out-loud moments, quirky animal encounters, and meaningful messages about friendship, teamwork, and helping others. Perfect for fans of whimsical humour and interactive storytelling, Torla and Smorla is sure to become a firm favourite for bedtime and beyond.

Torla and Smorla and The Lower Than Average Cloud

Artist: Chris Jevons

Author: Kes Gray

Publisher: Happy Yak

Published July 11th, 2024

Torla and Smorla and The Deeper than Average Hole

Artist: Chris Jevons

Author: Kes Gray

Publisher: Happy Yak

Available July 3rd, 2025

The Torla and Smorla series combines classic comedy with warm-hearted lessons, brought vividly to life through Chris Jevons’ energetic and expressive illustrations. In The Lower Than Average Cloud, readers are taken on a sky-high adventure as Smorla helps her stuck friend Torla navigate a particularly pesky cloud. The humour is zany, the flaps are fun, and the message is clear: kindness and patience can help us through the trickiest of tangles.

In the follow-up, The Deeper Than Average Hole, the dynamic is flipped – quite literally – as Torla finds herself stuck again, only this time far below ground! With help from an increasingly absurd group of animals, Smorla won’t stop until her friend is free. Designed with tall portrait formatting and interactive gatefolds, this book adds an extra layer of playfulness to storytime while gently reinforcing the value of perseverance.

Whether stuck in the clouds or down a hole, Torla and Smorla’s adventures are brimming with charm, cleverness, and the kind of deadpan humour that kids (and adults) will return to again and again.

To work with Chris, get in contact with his Agent Nicky Lander here.