Book Review: Fancy Nancy, by Jane O'connor

Fancy Nancy has a passion for pink! Fancy Nancy loves to wear fancy outfits! Fancy Nancy wears lace-trimmed socks, sparkling tiaras, and pink shoes! She has a room decorated with Christmas lights and paper flowers! She loves putting decorative, frilly toothpicks in her sandwich! Marabelle Lavinia Chandelier is her fancy doll! Fancy Nancy is a wannabe princess who adores glitter on her favorite ice-cream! Fancy Nancy uses unusual words!

All these are the main interests of Jane O'Connor's "Fancy Nancy", one of the most adorable books for children. Teaching the familial love and the importance of supportive family, "Fancy Nancy" tells the story of a little girl, who hates being ordinary and loves to be fancy.

One night, Fancy Nancy decides to take her un-fancy family out and make them fancy too. Feeling that she is a glamour queen surrounded by boring, ordinary people, Fancy Nancy is determined to rescue her family from their dull existence by accessorizing their humdrum wardrobes.

Although her family tries to understand her tastes, and are even willing to share them to a certain extent, Nancy feels that she has to offer them "Learn to be fancy" lessons with quick notes on the fridge. Nancy helps them being dressed in ornaments and extravagant scarves. And then Nancy cries in enjoyment "Ooo-la-la! My family is classy! That's a fancy word for fancy."

The message of the book is pretty straightforward. Fanciness is achievable to anyone with a can-do spirit. Fancy Nancy's over-the-top elegant vocabulary pays off with the message of love conveyed after the disastrous dinner at the local pizzeria. Although the family experiences a messy situation and Fancy Nancy is embarrassed, the book ends with simple declarations of love. "All I say back is, "I love you", because there isn't a fancy way of saying that." Eventually, Fancy Nancy discovers that her family is supportive, even covered up in ice-cream parfait! Fancy Nancy learns that much more important than glitter is to be loved and that there is no fancy word to express love, except to say "I love you."

O'Connor delivers a lovely story of family love with a charismatic character who enjoys glamour and who likes sharing it. The short, perky sentences reflect a fancy vocabulary that helps children to introduce themselves to a whole new vocabulary in a very clever way. As Nancy explains that her lace-trimmed socks make her play soccer better, young readers are taught unusual words. Also, the happily colored illustrations of Robin Preiss-Glasser are mingling color and action. Children love the pictures as the story develops and parents find a way to share with them the unusual vocabulary.

Full of girly objects of obsession, the book has a huge appeal on young girls, who love to be fancy-schmancy like Nancy. Children love to pretend they are extraordinary creatures and Nancy's fanciness help her be who she truly is, uninfluenced from her family and friends. Young readers see themselves in the fancy diva. However, all this happens in a balanced, innocent and unforced way. So, definitely thumbs up for "Fancy Nancy"! It is highly recommended!

http://www.amazon.com/Fancy-Nancy-Jane-Oconnor/dp/0060542098
http://booksprouting.blogspot.com/2007/07/booksprouting-review-fancy-nancy-by.html