Fancy Nancy Clancy

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Bonjour à tous!

You look glamorous my ladies!

And you, gentlemen, you are quite dapper today!

Even the most plainly dressed reader among us, will be searching the back of his or her wardrobe for a couple of accessories to glam up - after reading this little gem!

What is it about this little girl Fancy Nancy?

Why do children adore her stories?

Everything will be clearer when you get to know the larger than life quality of the main hero (Fancy) Nancy Clancy.
She is a not like any little girl.

Fancy Nancy is a little girl with a mission.

A mission to make her plain old family ... fancy.

And on the way, she proves the old adage that great things do come in small packages.


It's Hip To Be A Fancy-Pants

Isn't elegance forgetting what one is wearing?Yves Saint Laurent

This picture book is so much more than a story about being fashionable.

Fancy Nancy is a story about being true to oneself and one's aspirations.

Fancy Nancy is a girl that constantly challenges the status quo. She is an aspiring star with a doll named Marabelle.

Strike that. Her doll's full name is Marabelle Lavinia Chandelier.

Read Aloud Dad's challenge: try to read aloud the name of Nancy doll to your kids without a grin on your face.

But, beware.

Although Nancy wears lace-trimmed socks, make no mistake - she is a revolutionary.

And as you are probably aware of, all revolutionaries are doomed to face great opposition.

Nancy's greatest source of concern is her family, which is good-natured but they don't seem to understand the good things in life.

Like the fact that sandwiches definitely taste better when you stick in frilly toothpicks.

This is a picture book filled up with smiles and laughs that just keep rolling in.

Mais oui, Fancy Nancy is a book that will entrance your little ones.

So, put that fucshia beret on your head and get ready to enjoy while Nancy teaches her family how to become more elegant!

And to top it off, your young ones will learn many new words in the process.

You will simply adore the way that author Jane O'Connor introduces new, more complex words in the story.

The whole picture book - and whole Fancy Nancy book series as well - is a vocabulary extravaganza.

After we get introduced to the idea of "being fancy" - every new concept can be revealed under the "fancy" spotlight.

Even words.

Check out some examples from the book:

"Then I get an idea that is stupendous.
That's a fancy word for great"

"Ooo-la-la! My family is posh!
That's a fancy word for .. fancy".

"I like to write my name with a pen that has a plume.
That's a fancy way of saying feather."

This may seem like a small thing, but in fact Nancy's predilection (that's a fancy word for preference) for the occasional use of a complex word or a French expression is a life-saver for parents.

This book solved an enormous problem that we had in our read-aloud sessions.

After we came to know Nancy, when we read aloud any book and come across difficult words, we no longer have a problem.

For example, in the earlier days, if I had to explain the meaning of "complexion", I would usually start a long-winding explanation that my kids didn't appreciate.

Now, I can just say that complexion is a fancy word for skin color and appearance.

And my twins love it! They love learning fancy words instead of boring definitions.

One would say this is a small difference, but for kids it makes a world of difference.

Fancy word for this, fancy word for that...

It makes learning exciting and cool!

Fancy that!

They feel exquisite (that's a fancy word for perfect and delightful) learning new words - and that is a feeling that you cannot easily generate even among adults.

Fancy Nancy is a life saver.


The Difference Between Boys and Girls is So Petite

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only.
Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.Coco Chanel

Coco was on to something very important here.

And Fancy Nancy's author Jane O'Connor has taken that idea of "fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live" and made that the very heart of her fabulous character.

This book works on several levels, but if it were not for the magical illustrations of Robin Preiss Glasser - Fancy Nancy would probably not be such a charmer.

Let me make a revelation, Read Aloud Dad's home library already sparkles with five Fancy Nancy books.

And it all started with the first one - Fancy Nancy.

I must admit - the first book was a test to see whether other books from the series would deserve a chance. And Fancy Nancy passed with a flying fuschia color!

Namely, Fancy Nancy is so much more than a picture book.

It is a an empowering message for little girls and boys.

This book practically screams - "Be yourself!"

In fact, it screams - "Be yourself and you can also influence the people around you!"

A much bolder message.

Modern society usually limits its influence to convincing our kids that they need to be true to themselves.

Real power in life is all about being yourself AND inspiring people around you.

That is exactly what I love in great picture books. They transcend the genre.

In fact, great picture books are also very fashionable if you think about it.

Who wouldn't love to be caught in public with a Chris Van Allsburg picture book or with a Robert McCloskey under your arm at a party!

Imagine the conversations that these books would spark. Ooh-la-la!

You would become the center of attention, for sure. A great picture book is extra fancy!

But, it wasn't social mobility that I was thinking of when I ordered this little jewel. Oh no!

Fancy Nancy came into our life, as part of my attempt to make sure that we have some "gender appropriate" books for girls and boys in our home library. What ever that means.

Yes, The Two Cars for my little boy.

Fancy Nancy for my little girl.

I know, I may sound like a caveman. But, I was afraid that they wouldn't have books that interest them one day. Anyway, my boy does love cars - while my girl loves ... ponies and dogs.

Surprisingly for Mr Caveman here (moi), both my boy and girl adore Fancy Nancy.

Nancy's joy and rich vocabulary is infectious and the warm story ends with a nice twist.

So, I leave you with these two messages:

If you have a daughter don't let her miss out on Fancy Nancy!

and....

If you have a son don't let him miss out on Fancy Nancy!

I shamefully admit that I originally thought that Fancy Nancy was a book primarily for girls.

Wrong.

Don't make the same mistake.

Never underestimate Nancy Clancy.

Fancy Nancy is available from bookstores in the US:

Amazon

The Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)


and from other countries:

Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Amazon DE