Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet
By Jane O'Connor
The Story
A glamour-loving ballerina dreams of playing the mermaid in her dance school's big show, but gets cast as a tree instead — can she find a way to shine anyway?
Why It's Special
For the kid who turns every disappointment into a chance to sparkle, Nancy's story is a reminder that fancy is a mindset, not a costume.
- Big idea: Being fancy isn't about the role you get — it's about the flair you bring to it.
- Vibes: Frilly, dramatic, and warm, with plenty of ballet sparkle and real feelings underneath.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy stories about ballet and dress-up
- are working on handling disappointment gracefully
- like to use fancy vocabulary and French phrases
- respond well to stories about friendship and jealousy
Ask Your Little Reader
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Nancy felt when Bree got a better role than she did?
- Story & problem-solving: What do you think Nancy could do to make her tree role feel more fancy?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever felt jealous of a friend? What happened?
- Imagination: If you got to be a mermaid in a ballet, what would your costume look like?
- Friendship: What makes Nancy and Bree such good best friends?
