Fancy Nancy The Dazzling Book Report, by Jane O'Connor

Fancy Nancy The Dazzling Book Report by Jane O'Connor
(Grades 1 - 3)

Fancy Nancy, our favorite bedecked and sparkling heroine, first appeared in an eye-catching picture book by the same name. Devoted fans can now find her in a new series of readers for the early elementary set. Nancy is as lovely as ever and brings her own sense of style to school complete with field trips, book reports, new students and more. Though the reading level for this series is listed as Beginning Reading/Level 1, I would definitely recommend it for Level 2 readers or as a read-aloud because of the length and more advanced vocabulary (i.e. explorers, crestfallen). Each book in the series even has a 'Fancy Nancy's Fancy Words' glossary at the back.

Fancy Nancy The Dazzling Book Report is a fun introduction to library day at school. Nancy's class chooses books and begins their first book reports. Nancy chooses a Sacajawea biography and proceeds to create a dazzling, intricate cover featuring her new heroine. Using yarn, beads, fringe and glue, Nancy spends all evening on her cover, leaving little time to actually write the report itself. With a feather pen (or 'plume' as Nancy notes), she sleepily manages only two short sentences before her report is due. The series is funny and colorful, if not quite as charming as the original picture books. Newly independent readers will love them.

To find this book and other Fancy Nancy titles in our library, visit www.newberglibrary.org.

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff