Review - Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy

Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy (Fancy Nancy)
by Jane O'Connor
illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
Date: 2007
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: hardcover
Source: library

When Nancy decides to get a dog, she is certain that with the right dog, she can be fancier than ever. After all, a small, delicate, fluffy dog is the ultimate accessory for a fancy girl. But her family has other ideas. They want a large, plain dog. How unglamorous!

But Nancy soon learns that there’s nothing fancier than the unconditional love of a canine companion.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

So this is the book where Nancy's family gets Frenchy! (That's the problem with reading the books out of order. You don't know when some of these pivotal moments happened.)

Nancy wants a dog, but not just any dog. She wants a fancy dog. Like a papillon. Mrs. DeVine has a fancy little dog, so Nancy offers to dog-sit and show her parents that a dog like that is perfect for their family. Things go well until JoJo scares the little dog and something very unfancy happens.

Nancy's parents eventually take their daughters to the animal shelter, and it's there that they find Frenchy, a dog of unknown breed (I always assumed she was a poodle mix of some sort, but I guess not). Poor Frenchy looks pretty rough sitting in that cage... but once she's with the Clancys, she becomes part of the fancy family. The facial expressions on the dog--everything from joyful exuberance to a knowing satisfaction--are kind of hilarious. Frenchy might have to put up with wearing tutus and ribbons for the rest of her life, but it's a small price to pay to be part of a family with two loving little girls.

I really enjoyed this Fancy Nancy book. Along with the first eponymous title and Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet, it's up there with my favourites.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.5 out of 5