Fancy Nancy reviewed
Fancy Nancy is a beloved series of children’s books that was also turned into a TV series. The book series has more than 80 titles and has won numerous awards.
Here, we’ll discuss the series in more detail.
About the author Jane O’Connor
Jane O’Connor was born in New York in 1947. She attended Smith College in Massachusetts and got her BA in 1969. Two years after graduation, O’Connor got her first job in publishing and worked in the editorial department of Hastings House Publishing.
From 1977 to 1983, O’Connor worked as an editor at Scholastic, Inc. Then, she transferred to Random House and became editor-in-chief for children’s books. In 1989, O’Connor went on to work at Grosset & Dunlap (now Penguin USA).
Ten years later, O’Connor became editor-in-large for Penguin USA Books for Young Readers, New York, and she still holds this position.
Besides editing, Jane O’Connor enjoys writing children’s books. She published her first book, Yours Till Niagara Falls, Abby, in 1979. Since it was a success, O’Connor decided to turn writing into a second occupation. Sometimes, her husband and older son, Robert, help her write.
Over the course of her very fruitful career, O’Connor has published dozens of children’s books. However, many agree her most popular work is the Fancy Nancy series.
The first book Fancy Nancy spent more than 100 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. This success resulted in the launch of an entire series of picture books, chapter books (Nancy Clancy), storybooks, activity books, and collections.
The entire series was illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. In 2005, Glasser and O’Connor were paired together, and the character of Fancy Nancy was created. The books from the series have spent over 330 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list.
In 2013, the Children’s Book Council named Glasser Illustrator of the Year for Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet. More than one million young people voted for her.
The series published by HarperCollins was so popular that in 2015, Disney Junior got the rights to turn it into a TV series. The first season premiered in 2018, with the second season being released in 2019.
Krista Tucker, the developer of the TV series, confirmed that the third season would be the last one. It premiered in November 2021, and the finale premiered in February 2022.
A review of Fancy Nancy
The Fancy Nancy series focuses on Nancy, a six-year-old girl who adores all things fancy and posh. Nancy loves tutus, fairy wings, glitter, tiaras, fuzzy slippers, and the color pink. Nancy also loves using fancy words, dressing extravagantly, and ensuring her room is always fancy.
Her doll is named Marabelle Lavinia Chandelier, and her favorite color is fuchsia (a fancy word for purple).
Throughout the series, we meet other characters like Nancy’s parents, JoJo, Bree James, Grace White, Lionel, and Frenchy (Nancy’s dog). Some of them have more prominent roles, while others are background characters. Still, the focus is always on Fancy Nancy.
Nancy considers her family ordinary, so she decides to give them classes in the art of fanciness. From tea parties and sleepovers to Halloween adventures, the Fancy Nancy series will add a little fancy to every child’s life.
At first glance, the Fancy Nancy series is the perfect representation of a girly girl. Many parents may think that these books are mundane and don’t offer anything except convincing little girls they need to be pretty, fluffy, and pink.
However, the series is much more than that. First, the books teach children vocabulary. Not many children’s books in English feature words like “bonjour,” “ooh la la,” “posh,” “fuchsia,” “lagoon,” and many complex phrases. Since Nancy “translates” the fancy words she uses, young readers can expand their vocabulary without even realizing it.
Another reason these books are exceptional is that they teach children how to deal with disappointment. As you’ll see, things rarely go as planned for Nancy.
She often feels disappointed, angry, and even jealous, but she always copes with her emotions, changes, and friendship difficulties. This helps young readers understand how to handle their hard feelings with grace.
Perhaps the most important reason every child should enjoy this series is that it encourages individuality. Nancy isn’t fancy because society is forcing it on her, but because she enjoys it.
The message of this series isn’t that every child should be fancy like Nancy; it’s that children should always be themselves.
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FAQ
Is Fancy Nancy discontinued?
The TV series had three seasons on Disney Junior and ended in February 2022.
What grade level is Fancy Nancy?
Fancy Nancy is intended for preschool children. The grade level is three.
Is Sean on Fancy Nancy autistic?
Yes, Sean is autistic.