Fancy Nancy: Budding Ballerina: A Fun Picture Book About Nancy's Ballet Class Becoming a Family Dance Party for Children (Ages 4-8)

Granddaughter loved it

Fancy Nancy: Budding Ballerina is such a sweet, timeless book—definitely an oldie but a goodie! We gave it as a gift for a toddler’s dance recital, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. The story is playful and full of the classic Fancy Nancy charm, with just the right mix of fancy words, fun illustrations, and positive messages about trying your best. Even though it’s been around for a while, it still feels fresh and relevant, especially for little ones who love all things pink, sparkly, and ballet-related. The illustrations are adorable, and the story encourages confidence and creativity in a way that really resonates with young readers. This book made a wonderful keepsake and added a special touch to a big day. Highly recommend for any budding ballerina in your life!

“Fancy Nancy: Budding Ballerina,” written by Jane O’Connor, cover illustration by Robin Preiss Glasser, and interior illustrations by Carolyn Bracken, is the latest entry in O’Connor’s “Fancy Nancy” series. (Other series titles include “Fancy Nancy” and “Fancy Nancy: Tea Parties.”) Nancy is enamored with ballet and goes to class every week with her best friend Bree at “Madame Lucille’s Academie of the Dance.” She is eager to begin en pointe lessons but looks forward to her beginners classes nevertheless. Her father picks her up from dance class one day and Nancy explains to him that she has just learned to do an arabesque. He is very proud of her! Once at home, she pirouettes into the house and explains that her dog, Frenchy, wags her tail to tell Nancy how graceful she is. At Nancy’s suggestion, her father tries his best to pirouette but doesn’t succeed. Nancy encourages him to have a positive attitude and to start with less difficult steps. To assist him, she decides to make a sign with her glitter pens informing the family that Nancy’s Dance Academy will offer ballet classes. When her mother returns home, Nancy encourages Mom and her little sister JoJo to join the class. She attempts to teach the entire family to ballet, but Dad falls down. Nancy consoles him by saying he’s making progress. When Bree comes to the house, Nancy decides to put on a recital with her for her family. The girls plié, jeté, and pirouette and the family cheers. Later that evening, Nancy retrieves her glitter pens again and makes a special award for her father. It says “Most improved Dad” and her father is very grateful for his daughter’s encouragement and support. This is an endearing story of a nuclear family’s love and support for one another, written for budding ballerinas age three to five years old. The laudable messages, however, resonate across fields of interest beyond ballet. It teaches the importance of perseverance, self-confidence, eagerness to succeed at tasks, the inspirational power of praise, sensitivity to the needs of others, and the value of humor. Of special note is the fact that new words introduced to young readers are explained and that pronunciations are embedded in the text. On the first page of the book, for example, Nancy remarks that the ballet maneuver called “en pointe” is pronounced as “ahn pwant.” Similar pronunciations are interspersed throughout the story. When Nancy’s father picks her up from Madame Lucille’s dance studio, she demonstrates what she learned that day in class and explains that “demonstrate” is a “fancy word for show.” Similar definitions are likewise interspersed throughout the book. These educational lessons enhance both the story and the value of the book and are bound to appeal to parents as well as children. The book’s reinforced library binding will withstand repeated reading and the price point is most reasonable. My only criticisms are that the somewhat unusual font and the relatively small type size may be somewhat difficult for youngsters to initially read. Multiple readings, however, lessen these complaints. Above all, these very minor criticisms do not detract from this very highly recommended book.

Great book for 4 year old grand daughter.

Great book for toddlers that are interested in fancy dress-ups and/orballerinas. Cute story that teaches a few lessons.

Great book. Loved the illustrations and it is a nice paperback material.

This is a cute book that I bought for my daughter. I do wish the pages weren’t so thin since my daughter is only 2.5. Still a fun little story for her!

Nice illustrations and fun for my 4 year old