Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor, ill. Robin Preiss Glasser
Going into this episode I had a lot on my mind. Fancy Nancy is one of those rare 21st century characters with a legitimate shot at picture book classicdom. That said, would Kate find her bratty? I can never predict which literary children show up on Kate’s brat-o-meter (Madeline? Really really?), so this was going to be a real question. And if you want to know the answer… yeah. You’re going to have to listen to the episode. But don’t worry, along the way you’ll also hear us talking about the fact that Nancy turns 20 this year, how this is the first time we’ve done a book with spot glitter on the cover, Sublime references, and font hate.
Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, PlayerFM, Audible, Amazon Music, or your preferred method of podcast selection.
Show Notes:
Just in case you were as caught unawares as myself, the ALA Youth Media Awards will be announced live and in person in… Chicago!!! I couldn’t be more thrilled. Details here.
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If you would like to read the recent Publishers Weekly interview with both Jane and Robin about this book, you can find it here.
You can see Fancy Nancy the television show here, if you must. Looks like it came out around 7 years ago (so, circa 2018):
My personal belief is that this family hires a housekeeper who solely cleans Nancy’s room.
I also believe that these two people must be based on real people in some way. I have a lot of beliefs.
I’ve never seen this before. Robin Preiss Glasser put an actual bookstore into this book. Hence the real phone number, I guess.
Extra points to Glasser for figuring out that the only way Dad would be able to find a top hat and cane around the house is from a magic kit. And look! In the next shot, when he tips that hat, you can see the bunny inside. Love those teeny tiny details, we do.
I always thought that this explanation of how Nancy gets tangled up in her own shoes was woefully realistic.
The Horn Book article mentioned in this episode was Design Matters by Jon Sciezka. Read it in good health.
Kate Recommends: Things in Rings the game
Betsy Recommends: My three TV shows I’m following simultaneously, Severance Season 2, White Lotus Season 2, and The Studio Season 1.
Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate
About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Kirkus, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on BlueSky at: @fuse8.bsky.social
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Indeed, one of the first things they tell kids when they go en pointe is that you’re not allowed to do that with the laces. One very simple knot at the ankle with no bow or trailing ends at all.
So, in a way, this book is a bit of a cautionary tale. Never thought of it in that light before!
In discussing Fancy Nancy’s age, Kate (inadvertently, I assume) referenced my middle schooler’s current favorite meme. He was sitting on the couch and listening to music on the other side of the house, but the moment Kate asked if you thought her age was “six, seven?”, my son called out, “Did she say six seven?!”
Heh heh. As the mother of a middle schooler and a high schooler, I should have caught that myself.