Casting Call: Fancy Nancy: Spring Fashion Fling by Jane O'Connor

OOH-LA-LA! SPRING IS IN THE AIR.

BREE AND I FINISH DECORATING OUR EASTER EGGS. WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO THAT WOULD BE EXTRA SPRING-Y?

Fancy Nancy Clancy is always up for hostessing a shingdig, and a spring-themed shindig quickly presents itself. How about a fashion show, starring their favorite dolls as models--Mirabelle, Chiffon, and Sarinda! Nancy pulls out her boxes of doo-dads--feathers, ribbons, fabrics, bows, buttons, and beads--and the young designers, with Nancy's little sister JoJo right in the middle of it all. The three designers get to work on making their models' ensembles (that's fancy for outfits, you know) totally unique (fancy for one-of-a-kind.)  Then, to give their fashion show a unique ambiance, Bree comes up with a brainstorm:

WE DECIDE TO USE REAL FLOWERS IN OUR DESIGNS!

With costume design done, Nancy throws her imagination into designing blossom-themed handmade invitations, which, of course, must be hand delivered while they are as fresh as a daisy. Dad and Bree's brother Freddy are recruited to play paparazzi and record the entrance of the celebrities. Elegant refreshments and a lovely tea table designed by Mom provides just the aura for a spring fashion show, and daisy chains, phlox, and tulips complete the decor for the salon.

THEN SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS.

IT'S A FASHION FAUX-PAS!

Nancy herself trips over some of the trailing table decor, and the tea table crashes to the floor. There are broken Easter eggs, smooshed delicacies, and crushed flowers all over. Is the spring bash a bust?

But with Nancy Clancy in charge, the show always goes on, in Jane O'Connor's latest Clancy clan venture, Fancy Nancy: Spring Fashion Fling (HarperFestival, 2015). With flowers, fashions, dolls, and Frenchy the poodle decked in pastels, it's an festive event to make everyone forget the sooty snows of winter. Inexpensive and definitely vocabulary building, this one even includes plenty of stickers to adorn those invitations that young readers will likely be creating for their own spring flings.