Reposted from Chat as someone suggested it was better here.
I've been reminded (can't think why!) of a book I had when I was a child in the 1990s and I'd like to see if I can get a copy. I have tried googling the story line (with difference phrases) but can't find it and I was hoping someone on MN might know it / remember it.
The book was set on another planet and describes an alien race who are exactly like humans except they have blue skin and they can physically close their ears when they don't want to listen. I'm not 100% on the blue skin, but I think I remember an illustration with blue skin.
The narrator describes how the aliens co-exist peacefully, but eventually start closing their ears when they don't want to listen to things they don't like and eventually end up either at war or in a lot of arguments. It was a relatively simply-written cautionary tale.
I can't remember how the book ends. I read it in primary school, in the early-mid 1990s.
Appreciate this isn't a lot of information (and is probably why I can't find it!) - does anyone have any ideas please? I'm really keen to find it. 