Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff
-
- $9.99
-
- $9.99
Publisher Description
Puggly, the newly crowned prince of the muddy (and very unfashionable) Kingdom of Spud, is surprised when he receives an invitation to a lavish ball in the oh-so-chic Kingdom of Spiff. The Spiffians are known for the poshest clothes and the fluffiest wigs, so of course Prince Puggly's effort at a grand entrance only ends in humiliation. However, Puggly discovers an unlikely ally in Francesca, the bookish Princess of Spiff. Not only do her Spiffian countrymen have no appreciation for her interest in Proust and Dickens, but they also can't tell a decent pair of pyjamas when they see them! But don't worry: Francesca and Puggly have one very good trick up their unfashionable sleeves, as they set out to teach the Spiffs an absurd lesson in style.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Weston returns to the novel-in-verse format, goofy humor, inventive typography, and Seussian rhymes of his debut, Zorgamazoo, in this sartorial fairy tale. In Spiff, fashion matters above all else ("Every Spiff in the land would compete with their friends,/ to keep right in step with the latest of trends"), except to Princess Frannie, who prefers pajamas and books to sequins and gowns. Meanwhile in the neighboring kingdom of Spud, where clothing tends to be mismatched and garish, a commoner named Puggly is chosen to be prince and invited to the Centenary Ball in Spiff. Due to their "creative" wardrobe choices, Puggly and Frannie are insulted at the ball and flee in despair; when they meet up in the woods, they concoct a plan of revenge on the image-obsessed denizens of Spiff and its neighboring kingdoms. Weston's climax is as tidy as his verse, with lessons learned about what truly matters (hint: it's not a person's outfit). Villa's energetic illustrations further enliven this exuberant story that ought to enchant readers, whether they are fashion plates or reprobates. Ages 8 12.
