Format:
Available from:
* Kirkus Reviews, starred review
From international picture book star Beatrice Alemagna comes an enchanting new fairy tale set in a mucky, magical underground world where the Mud Princess rules.
A little girl’s too-big feelings spur a cathartic journey of adventure and discovery, in this picture book for kids ages 5–8, perfect for fans of Where the Wild Things Are.
Yuki is lost in a dark mood on her way home from school. In a flash of frustration, she tosses her house keys down an open manhole. When she climbs down to retrieve them, she discovers another world: Mudland.
The Mud Princess, an enormous dripping thing made of mud and sticks, greets Yuki and shows her the wonders of her kingdom. Yuki’s dark mood is at home here—her sadness and anger fit right in. As they journey together, the Mud Princess becomes larger, absorbing the anger around her. Everything the princess touches becomes muddy, even Yuki. Yuki faces a choice—to become a Mud Princess herself or to return to the world above ground and its expectations.
As in her other picture books, Beatrice Alemagna explores children’s feelings in a way that speaks to them directly. The Muddy Majesty of Muck explores anger and frustration with humor and brings us two unforgettable characters, the relatable Yuki and the strange and fascinating Mud Princess.
Book Details
Format:
Hardcover
Price:
25.99 CAD / 19.99 USD
Published: 03/31/2026
ISBN: 9781662641305
Imprint:
Hippo Park
Page Count: 56
Trim Size: 8 x 11
Grades:
Grades K-3
Ages:
5-8 years
★"In the best tradition of enlightening literary journeys, the duo pass through Wicked Woods, Lake Youbegone, and the Grumporium. Each setting is wondrous, the earthy palette incorporating shimmering blues and textured mixed-media patterns. Comic relief comes in various forms, among them the smelly, mean Boogers that trail after them. As she travels with Her Royal Muddiness, Yuki learns some profound truths about family and emotion: 'When people get angry, they take it out on the things they love.' Tenderness undergirds Yuki and Shen’s ensuing reunion. Alemagna’s narrative employs lovely alliteration, striking figurative language, subtle exchanges between characters, and delightful images to probe the siblings’ complex emotions while allowing readers to discern meaning for themselves... An imaginative, deeply satisfying odyssey."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“(A) fantastical journey... (and) deeply empathic picture book.... (with) surreal mixed-media illustrations... Alemagna (Pepper and Me) uses fantasy not to escape negative feelings but to make them tangible—and offer hope that tangled wires can finally be smoothed.”—Publishers Weekly