King Smelly Feet by Hiawyn Oram
Once, there were no shoes and a King who wouldn't wash his feet. 'Ppppoofff' said the Queen, holding her nose. So the King has the Royal River prepared, and he does wash them, but as soon as he steps back onto land his feet get covered in dust. It's no good at all! The palace children call him Wifferfeet, Stinkitoes and Pongsoles, and when the Queen hears them, she insists the King tries again. He tries all sorts of ingenious ways of keeping his feet clean, but none of them work. And then he has a brainwave: he invents Shoes!