What do Three Billy Goats Gruff and Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet have in common?
Believe it or not; an important lesson in parenting.
Allow me to explain.
A few months ago, my daughter’s second grade class decided to put on a play.
Yup. Three Billy Goats Gruff.
Tryouts were held and my seven-year-old did her best to score the part she had her heart set on: Baby Goat.
Fortunately, I had enough time to emotionally prepare her in case she didn’t get the coveted role.
“That’s okay, Mommy,” she reasoned “if I don’t get to be the Baby Goat, I’m happy being the Wolf or the Duck.”
She ended up being the Mouse.
Cue the tears.
Fancy Nancy’s mom can totally relate.
Her little dancing diva is thrilled about an upcoming ballet recital. Nothing would make Nancy’s life fancier than being chosen to star as the lead mermaid. After all, mermaids are gloriously glamorous and endlessly enchanting.
In Nancy’s mind the prestigious part is the perfect fit for her.
In reality, Nancy’s teacher thinks she’d be better as a tree.
A brown tree.
Cue the tears.
Oh wait. That’s my kid.
Nancy digs deep, resists melting down in public, and instead, contemplates her fate slumped in the back of her closet.
“There is no way to look fancy in brown,” the dejected dancer laments.
Or is there?
Turns out Nancy gets to be a beautiful green weeping willow while her best friend Bree lands the role of a sparkling oyster.
And they all lived happily ever after.
Not so much.
Just when young readers think the story is over author Jane O’Connor injects a surprise plot twist.
An unexpected foot injury to the lead mermaid prompts Fancy Nancy’s dance teacher to give Bree the prize role, while the limping ballerina gets to sit pretty at the recital in an oyster shell.
So now Nancy is not only forced to deal with the initial disappointment of not getting her shot in the spotlight as an underwater nymph, she also has to standby and watch as her BFF shines as lead mermaid.
What’s a parent to do?
Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet offers sage advice to moms, dads and their offspring on how to deal with heartbreaking setbacks, hurt feelings, and shattered dreams.
The gorgeously illustrated page turner sparkles with glittery embellishments and mesmerizing pastel colors. It’s also peppered with humor and noteworthy vocabulary lessons for grade schoolers.
Noticeably missing: Unecessary girl drama, drama, drama.
If that doesn’t entice you and your kids to spend a summer evening with Fancy Nancy, I don’t know what will.
You can preview Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet at HarperCollins.com or purchase it at discount retailers nationwide.
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