Parents' Guide to Fancy Nancy: Poet Extraordinaire!

Book Jane O'Connor School 2010
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Common Sense Media Review

Darienne Stewart By Darienne Stewart , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 4+

Fabulous, fancy primer on poetry sure to get kids writing.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 4+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 6+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 5+

Based on 1 kid review

What's the Story?

Nancy’s class is learning about poetry, and the students are writing their own poems to read aloud at Family Day. Nancy has learned about all different types of poems and ways to write them, but when it comes to writing her own, she faces writer’s block. But a family outing helps inspire her poem.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 2 ):
Kids say ( 1 ):

This is a great addition to Fancy Nancy series, both a fun story about Nancy’s preparation for Family Day and a guide to enjoying and writing poetry. Nancy, who never does anything halfway, even has a Palace of Poetry where she and best friend Bree read and write together. She's curious and excited by what she's learning, and takes great interest in the work of her classmates and the poems shared by friends and neighbors in her poetry survey.

Nancy talks about everything from finding inspiration (such as music, cookies, and a glittery notebook) to compiling anthologies, giving readers plenty of creative ideas for exploring poetry. Kids will readily empathize with Nancy, who is eager to start writing but frustrated by the process. Be sure to have a notebook and plenty of markers nearby -- your child probably will be fired up to start writing!

Sweet, colorful illustrations share space with Nancy’s own artwork, including her very own poetry anthology.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about their favorite poems. What kind of poems do you enjoy? How do you feel when you read them? Conduct a poetry survey like Nancy's.

  • Point out and talk about poetry you run across -- song lyrics, cards, books, even advertising slogans. Write poems together as a family -- you could even make your own Poet Tree.

  • Of course, families can read poems together. Look up some of the poems Nancy refers to in the book and read them together.

Book Details

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