Fancy Nancy: Spectacular Spectacles

Fancy Nancy

by Jane O'Connor, Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator)

This addition to the Fancy Nancy I Can Read series from New York Times bestselling team Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser is sure to delight young readers everywhere! Nancy thinks that Bree's new glasses are simply spectacular. After all, they are lavender. They are glittery. And best of all, they come in a silver case. So when Bree tells Nancy all about her trip to the eye doctor, Nancy can't help but wonder if her own eyesight is perhaps getting a little blurry too. . . . Fancy Spectacular Spetacles is a Level One I Can Read book, which means it's perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences. The back matter features a list of the rich vocabulary words that are used throughout the story along with their definition.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, School, 1st Grade

32 pages, Paperback

First published June 22, 2010

About the author

Since the publication of Fancy Nancy, Jane O'Connor's closet now boasts so many boas, tiaras, and sparkly ensembles that sometimes friends do not recognize her on the street. She still resides (that's a fancy word for lives) in New York City with her family and their canine companion, Arrow. --from the publisher's website

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, dear. Now I've discovered Fancy Nancy! I think I would've loved these books when I was little. The "fancy" language is definitely a plus; more challenging words are included in the text, given proper context, and also explained clearly with a glossary. I love it when children's books treat kids like intelligent readers.

In this story, Nancy's friend Bree gets glasses. Sparkly lavender glasses! This, of course, leads to some jealousy on Nancy's part. She doesn't need glasses, but she still wants to wear them so she can be spectacular like her friend. She and her mom eventually come up with a solution that makes everyone happy.

The illustrations are quite cute and colourful. Nancy and Bree are both definitely fancy, with flowers and butterflies in their hair and cute little outfits. Everyone in this book seems to have a sense of style; even the teacher has a shock of pink hair! I'm a little disappointed that the cover credits the original illustrator, who only did the cover. If you're going to illustrate the entire rest of the book, you should get more than just a mention on the inside.

Overall, this is a fun little story in what I hope is a fun new series for me. The library has lots of these (as well as the Nancy Clancy series, which appears to be a little more advanced), so I'll have to give some more of them a try.

Quotable moment:

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy is envious o Bree's new glasses. They glitter, they re lavender and their case is silver!
So Nancy decides she needs to see an eye doctor to get her own glasses.

Does she get them? Read the book to find out.

These books are so cute, the illustrations are so adorable and the vocabulary is a bonus for kids to learn in a fun way.

[Crystal Marcos · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter is 2 and is obsessed with glasses at the moment. She wants to wear them, hold them, see them. She has magnet faces and everyone new face she makes has to have a pair of glasses and she loves stickers of glasses too. She loves Fancy Nancy too. Naturally when I saw this book I had to get it for her. Not the best Fancy Nancy book in my opinion, but still a very enjoyable one. I like the story of how her best friend Bree needs glaces and now Fancy Nancy wants glasses too. I wish that the book would have included what the name for the fancy necklace was called, a lanyard.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fancy Nancy: Spectacular Spectacles by Jane O’Connor and illustrated by Robin Priess Glassner and Ted Enik tells the story of Nancy’s friend Bree who gets a fancy new pair of glasses and how Nancy wants a pair of her own. The ink and watercolor illustrations depict colorful drawings of the children and their environment. The story is intended for emergent readers and is a level one “I Can Read” book. The young characters and familiar story of getting glasses. The book includes a glossary of the “fancy words” that are used and explained throughout the story.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book about two friends and the reaction one has when the other one gets glasses. Girls who like lots of frills and sparkles will enjoy this book. It is very quick and easy to read for even poor readers, but yet interesting. It introduces some "fancy" words children will want to use in their own speech. It would be a good book to use when I am encouraging young students to find a more descriptive word.

[Luvy Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about a little girl, Nancy, who likes to use fancy words to describe things in her life. When her friend, Bree, receives new glasses Nancy thinks they are spectacular. Bree shares about her experience going to the eye doctor and how she picked her glasses. Once Nancy hears this she thinks she may need to go to the eye doctor. This story is cute and easy for an early elementary reader.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was cool that she was just like oh I just want those glasses but then her Mom told her she could go get fake glasses and they would still be cool. And it was really cool that they have the letter basket to go from her house to her friends house.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the fancy words and a story trying to make glasses cool but there is one line in the book that suggests that wearing glasses makes you unlucky which was a real put off. As someone who has had glasses his entire life I find that slightly problematic

[Haaley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to think glasses were super cool. I'm not sure why people ever get made fun of for their glasses, as if your eyesight has to do with popularity.

Still, a good suggestion is to appreciate your sight while it lasts.

Cute story. Nancy finds a way to make it work.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to pick zero stars. I don't have a review and I don't even want to do emojis. hope.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is one of the bratty books. I don't like that she fakes sight problems and is jealous of a friend who is obviously in pain.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nancy is jealous of her best friend's new fancy glasses- she pretends she needs glasses too, but her mom has a better idea.

[Kashe Jester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good.

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/22/20 Read with Julia #covidreader

[Ellie Gibbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute book about wearing glasses.

[K Morlando · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story for early readers!

[Natasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook version on Libby. Just okay. Nancy comes across sometimes as a bit whiny or a know-it-all.

[Bodea · Rating 4 out of 5]

My niece recommended that I read me some Fancy Nancy. She happens to be crazy about this series. I told her to tell me her top fives in the series and I'd read them. I've gotta say, I understand why she loves Nancy. She's inquisitive and very realistic in her actions.

First, I thought the illustrations were great. They really suit the series because the colors and scenes are so vibrant. Nancy really is fancy and so is her friend Bree.

The story was great. It made me remember when I got my first pair of glasses. I also thought Nancy's desire to have her own spectacles was funny and accurate. I swear, my nieces and nephews are convinced they need glasses simply because auntie wears them!

I liked how her mom explained to her why she didn't really need glasses and also came up with a really creative solution, and Nancy didn't feel left out. The thing I love most is that Nancy always gives readers a synonym for those fancy words and definitions for those appear at the end of the book. All in all, Fancy Nancy are easy readers that are fun enough for big readers to enjoy and they give little readers lots to think about!

[Margaret Chind · Rating 5 out of 5]

We always love Fancy Nancy, especially in Early Readers and this one is really great working on the theme of new glasses. Bree needs glasses and Nancy gets a little jealous and this little reader is a great way to walk through working it out for both of them. Bree is getting fancy new glasses and Nancy is thinking perhaps she needs some too. After all they are fancy. This one reminds me of the Fancy Nancy: Pajama Day book whiere readers can go through a story and see Nancy's whirlwind of emotions and come out in the end with a realistic, fun and absolutely fancy solution in the end. An appropriately fancy solution int he end. An appropriate read in the world where everyone is a bit different. Real issues little girls face and dealt with in a fabulous manner.

*Thanks to HarperCollins for providing a copy for review.*

[Lavonnia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Can Read…Fancy Nancy Spectacular Spectacles is contemporary realistic fiction. The book is intended for beginning readers. This would be the (P) Primary reading range, age 5 through 8 years old.

The book tells of two young girls who are friends in school. One of the girls’ needs reading glasses. The other becomes so intrigued with the idea of having glasses that she begins to think she needs glasses just like her friend.

I gave this book a rating of 3. The book shared some colorful illustrations. The theme played out in the book well. This book would be enjoyed by the child who is just beginning to read. I would use this book with children as a vocabulary builder and a reading tool to find out just where the children are in their reading range.

I read and reviewed this book in October 2013

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fancy Nancy is so very great. She is such a fun and spunky individual and I love getting to know her through the books. Fancy Nancy is another book that falls within the comedic genre. This book would be good to introduce tone. Nancy has her very own style of speaking because she speaks fancily. It would be good for students to compare the way that they speak with the way that Nancy speaks and determine a style of their own that they employ when speaking (or writing, if they are there yet). The sentences are quite short and use simple words. When the words are not quite so simple, Nancy gives a word that the fancy word is similar to. There is also a glossary in the back of the book for children to refer to once they finish reading the story. Young girls would love Fancy Nancy books and getting to see the ways that they are alike and unlike Nancy.

[Nayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The story was about Bree not coming to Fancy Nancy's home. She needed to go to the eye doctor. Then she needed to go there again, then her eyes didn't hurt again. She needed glasses, and the eye doctor gave her a handkerchief, it had purple spots on it. She came to her class again and her eyes didn't hurt, she showed her teacher her glasses, and then her teacher 'that is a fancy word.' After that she got out of school and Bree sent a note to Nancy, then Fancy Nancy gave the note back to Bree. Then Fancy Nancy wanted glasses. She told her mother that she wanted glasses and her mother said 'your eyes are fine,' then she got glasses. That was the end of the story." - dictation taken by Mom.

[Studio B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watch my review here! http://youtu.be/EqABh4n-z-8

Hi everyone! I have to confess that I LOVE the Fancy Nancy book series. I own almost the whole series. This series helped me become a better reader and makes learning vocabulary a lot of fun. The illustrations in this book are some of the best I have ever seen and think you will like reading this book even if it is below your level. I recommend this book for anyone ages 3-7. This is also a great book for advanced readers to read aloud to a younger sister or brother. Let me know if you like Fancy Nancy as much as I do!

Hugs!

Brooke :)

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

We love Fancy Nancy! I thought it was nice that rather than approaching Bree needing glasses from a disability approach that it's viewed through the eyes of Nancy with great envy because she thinks they look fabulous on Bree!

Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love these girls. Bree gets fancy glasses and can you guess who else wants fancy glasses? "Ooh la la!" I love the detail in these books down to the very last little curl on the girl's heads. I like how the books have a glossary at the end to learn bigger fancier words for ordinary items. Nancy is a charismatic (that fancy for charming) little girl. She's an absolute doll.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly typical story in the Fancy Nancy series by Jane O'Connor. In this story, Bree gets eyeglasses and Nancy gets jealous. It's a fun story to read aloud and as always, introduces a few advanced vocabulary words. Our girls love this series.

[Miri Gifford · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know; this one just didn't really click for me. Possibly because I was thinking that if a parent wanted to make their child feel better about having to get glasses, this book would not help, as the child's glasses will probably not be lavender and glittery and come in a shiny silver case with a purple and pink polka dot silk hankie for cleaning them. Just saying.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This I Can Read Fancy Nancy series is perfect for young students to practice their reading skills and boost their confidence by practicing many sight and easy to sound out words, while enjoying a fun story.

[Sandybear76]

The 1st and 2nd graders will be pleased with this newest Fancy Nancy book. Fancy Nancy's best friend can't see the writing their teacher puts on the board so she has to go to the eye doctor. Fancy Nancy has many new words for girls to learn in a fun way.

[Nancy Jo Lambert · Rating 3 out of 5]

So recently, my daughter has become extremely interested in Fancy Nancy. So, we have been reading some of the Fancy Nancy series. This series is lots of fun and all the heart warming moments are a nice touch to the rather flouncy, fancy moments.