It’s always very exciting when there’s a new Beatrice Alemagna book. The Italian author–illustrator is one of the great picture-book creators of our time. Her newest book is about a girl named Yuki, who throws her keys into a manhole, climbs down to retrieve them and finds herself in an underworld where she meets the Mud Princess. This blobby, muddy diva – with hair like a prickly hedge and tree-root hands – leads Yuki on a tour.

They visit places like the Wicked Woods and Lake Youbegone, where people who behave badly can hide. In the Grumporium, a general store packed with weird products, Yuki drinks a delicious juice, freshly squeezed from an argument. A crowd of funny little baby blobs named ‘boogers’ are said to be mean to everyone, even themselves, but readers will find them hilarious and extremely cute.

Alemagna is self-taught and her art style is unique. Her characters are brilliantly expressive and there is never space lacking in detail, texture or pattern. The Mud Princess is a great book that acknowledges the joy and comfort that can be found in a bit of wallowing, while hinting that sooner or later we should probably resurface. All hail The Mud Princess! For ages 3+.