Book Review: Fancy Nancy
Fancy Nancy is a 'must-read' for all aunts and their nieces!
Title: Fancy Nancy
Author: Jane O’Connor
Illustrator: Robin Preiss-Glasser
Date Published: 2005
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Format: Hardcover
If you are an auntie of a niece, then you absolutely must become familiar with Fancy Nancy. There are a multitude of wonderful children’s books, but only every so often does a book enjoy such wildly popular success that it leads to toy lines and sequels galore. Fancy Nancy is one of those books. It deserves a place on every little girl’s bookshelf. Even boys (perhaps secretly) enjoy this delightful story about a girl who appreciates the frilly things in life.
So what is it about Fancy Nancy that appeals to so many girls? Robin Preiss-Glasser’s illustrations, first and foremost, capture the whimsical imagination of a girl with a grand collection of tutus and tiaras. And the colorful accessories- flowing boas, frou-frou hats, golden bangles and snazzy shoes- are aplenty in the pictures that invite little girls to dress up and join Fancy Nancy in her quest for everything extravagant.
The story itself, written by Jane O’Connor, is equally adorable down to the fancy font. Fancy Nancy appreciates the finer ways, saying her favorite color (fuchsia is the new purple), and understands that presentation is everything by serving sandwiches with frilly toothpicks.
Fancy Nancy also has a talent for turning everyday occurrences into chi-chi events, and she decides that her family needs to follow suit. After giving them a lesson on elegance and providing wardrobe consultation akin to a Hollywood stylist, Fancy Nancy and her family head out to The Kings Crown (a local pizza joint) with unparalleled pretense. Nancy is pleased with their performance, from calling one another “darling” and ordering “parfaits.”
Then the unthinkable happens. Tripping on her fanciness, Nancy suffers an embarrassing fall and her glamorous evening is ruined. She returns home with her family and to their unadorned ways, comforted by the love and warmth all the frills in the world cannot provide.
If your niece does not already have a copy of Fancy Nancy, then be the first to give her this delicious book that embraces everything girl. You will enjoy reading this book and soaking up the pictures with her again and again!
Editor's Note: The Fancy Nancy series is one of our favorites. A great way to bring the series to life is to encourage all the children (even your nephews) to get dressed up in their the fancy clothes when you read the book series together. In fact, you might want to consider adding a few extra frills yourself, Fancy Auntie!