Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff

Poetry Novel
Author: Robert Paul Weston
Copyright: Robert Paul Weston, 2013
Publisher: Razor Bill, an imprint of The Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Reading Level:
     Ages: 8-12
     Grade Level Equivalent: 4.3
     Lexile Measure: Not yet rated

5 Keywords/Phrases to Describe the Book:
Fun, fairytale, encouraging, acceptance, "don't judge a book by its cover."

Suggested Delivery: read aloud, preferably with each student having their own copy of the book to see how the poetry is written with visual effects

Summary: Once, long ago, in a faraway land, there existed many kingdoms that had their own kings who had their own rules that everyone in the kingdom had to follow. The Kingdom of Spiff was the most luxurious kingdom, with all its inhabitants dressed to the nines, except for the King's daughter, Frannie. On the other hand, the Kingdom of Spud was more relaxed, and the King let his people wear whatever they wanted. When the King of Spud resigns and leaves the kingdom to open a barber shop, the Kingdom of Spud is left kingless, and must find someone quick. Puggly was chosen to be the next King, but he preferred prince instead, so he became Prince Puggly of Spud. Throughout this beautifully crafted poetry novel, readers discover that Frannie and Puggly may have more in common than they think, despite their completely opposite kingdoms. Readers will love this story and may learn a moral or two along the way.

Vocabulary:
1) Gilt (page 2)
2) Sumptuous (page 5)
3) Uncouth (page 8)
4) Shaman (page 18)
5) Capricious (page 25)
6) Sojourn (page 42)
7) Vociferously (page 75)
8) Hors d'oeuvres (page 86)
9) Cynical (page 102)
10) à la mode (page 115)
11) Obsolete (page 121)
12) "Go on the lam" (page 134)
13) Abyss (page 135)
14) Abdicate (page 158)
15) Relinquished (page 160)
16) Beguiled (page 166)
17) Coif (page 198)

Electronic Resources:
Robert Paul Weston - This is the author, Robert Paul Weston's, official website. I find it to be very impressive in the way it is set up both structurally and visually. His website would appeal to both adults and students alike. Viewers can go to this site to discover other books by this author, read his blog, research presentation he gives about his books, and find out how to contact him. Viewers can also look at pictures, videos, and listen to audio recordings by the author.

Zorgamazoo - Zorgamazoo is another novel written by Robert Paul Weston that students may also like if they liked Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff. This website is dedicated to that novel, and is an interactive way to learn about the story and the characters. Students can refer to this website before reading Zorgamazoo to determine whether or not it is a book they are interested in.

Comprehension Strategies:
Before: In groups, have students write down what they know about poems in verse. Have students research poems written in verse and take note of when this type of poetry is typically used and the "rules" regarding poetry written in verse. Additionally, have students write what impact they think using creative formatting and different typefaces throughout the novel has on the reader's ability to read and understand the novel.

During: In their writing journals, have students create a venn diagram of the Kingdom of Spud vs. the Kingdom of Spiff. The items listed in their venn diagrams should include what the kingdoms are like, what the inhabitants are like, and the different rulers/characters mentioned from each kingdom. As always, the center of the venn diagram should contain what the two kingdoms have in common.

After: Have a class discussion centered around the following questions: "Who sent the invitation to Prince Puggly? Who is determined to be the writer of the novel? How do you know this? What evidence can you use from the novel to support this? What is the moral or message of the story?"

Writing: Students will write a poem in verse with creative formatting and different typefaces to emphasize emotions and ideas, such as Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff does. The places where students use the creative formatting and different type faces should be strategically placed to convey meaning.

Citation:
Weston, R. P., & Rivas, V. (2013). Prince Puggly of Spud: and the
           Kingdom of Spiff. New York: Razorbill.