Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff

December 10, 2012
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. Agent: Jackie Kaiser, Westwood Creative Artists.

December 1, 2012
Like Zorgamazoo (2008), A novel in rhyme, anything but sedate. It seems that Francesca, a book-loving princess Cares nothing for Fashion, despite her dad's winces-- Till scorned by the guests who have come one and all To the Kingdom of Spiff's Centenary Ball, She blanches in shock from their laughter and jeers And runs off in naught but pajamas and tears. Likewise Prince Puggly from neighboring Spud Is subjected to similar slinging of mud, And reeling dismayed from the general mocks At his laughable wig and nonmatching socks Conspires with Fran on a brilliant prank That leaves their tormentors repentant but rank. Presented in couplets that use a full range Of fanciful fonts and typography strange, This sendup of Fashion quite properly ends With a note about slavishly following Trends. Lighthearted flummery, far from routine. (Comical fantasy. 10-13)

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April 1, 2013

Gr 2-5-A humorous spin on the adage, "you can't judge a book by its cover." In clever rhyming verse, Weston tells the story of the people of the Kingdom of Spiff and several surrounding kingdoms who care more about appearances than character. Poor Frannie, the Princess of Spiff, is harassed by her father, King Dandy von Fop, to get her nose out of her books and put on something other than pajamas. In nearby Spud, citizens are shunned for being unfashionable and having a muddy realm. As the kingdoms come together for a ball, both Princess Frannie and the newly crowned Prince Puggly of Spud face harsh criticism from the stylish people who surround them. Frannie and Puggly flee separately but find each other and devise a plan to teach those around them a lesson in what is truly important. Plot, theme, and writing style make this a terrific read-aloud. Creative formatting and use of various typefaces add to the fun.-Erica Thorsen Payne, Meriwether Lewis Elementary School, Charlottesville, VA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2013
Grades 3-6 A kingdom enslaved to fashion is set free by the unstylish Prince of Spud and his soon-to-be consort, the bookish Princess of Spiff. In his third fantasy for young readers, Weston returns to the format of his fanciful Zorgamazoo (2008), with rhyming couplets, extensive font manipulation, and humorous, chapter-opening line drawings. In this silly saga of embarrassment and retaliation at the Spiffian Centenary Ball, Prince Puggly and Princess Fran discover each other and find a way to mock the stylish partygoers before returning to Spud, where they can dress as they please. Accurately labeling this as a meandering tale, the author reveals all in the end. Much of the humor comes from exaggerations of dress: Fran's pajamas printed with boats, Puggly's polka-dot breeches that sag in the butt, and a '60s-style shaman whose turban sports a daisy. Occasional rhythmic hiccups, repetitions, and strained humor demonstrate just how difficult it is to write nonsense verse. Still, these couplets beg to be read aloud, as the playful language and satisfying story have extensive middle-grade appeal.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)