Just Plain Fancy (Dell Picture Yearling) (Paperback)

by Patricia Polacco (Author) "Kaleb and his two daughters hurried along Lancaster County Road in their buggy..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Naomi and Ruth are sisters who live on a farm in Pennyslvania's Amish country, where people take pride in their uncomplicated lives. But Naomi complains that everything in her life--from her clothes to her chickens--is plain. The girl longs for "something fancy." When she and Ruth find an unusual egg by the side of the road, they place it in their hen's nest, hoping it will hatch. It does, and the bird that emerges is obviously not a garden-variety chick. The sisters name it "Fancy," and keep its existence a secret from the grownups, who they fear will shun it. On the day the elders of the community have gathered for a working bee, Fancy breaks out of the henhouse and spreads its feathers in front of the group. By this time perceptive young readers will have gathered that Fancy is a peacock--and Polacco's pictures reveal it to be a magnificent one at that. Naomi is praised for raising such a beautiful bird, and learns that some kinds of "fancy" are acceptable. Polacco's warm story and sensitive illustrations offer a fresh, balanced perspective on Amish life. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-- Polacco's clear, lively, watercolor/pastel crayon illustrations play with varying perspectives in a way calculated to draw children into a world of order and simplicity: the Amish country of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Readers are introduced to Naomi and Ruth, Amish sisters, aged about ten and four. One day, while searching for mislaid eggs, Naomi tells Ruth that she longs for something "fancy" in her otherwise "plain" life. Her wish is fulfilled when the girls discover an unusual egg. When it is hatched, a very special chick emerges, appropriately named Fancy. Fearing that he will be considered an outcast because he is too fancy to be Amish, the girls keep their pet a secret for nearly a year. Finally, at a summer working bee, the bird can be contained no longer. He spreads his glorious plumage across two whole pages, and readers and the elders discover that he is a very handsome peacock. One of the elders calms Naomi's fears, telling her that a peacock is God's handiwork and that there can be no shame in their pet's being what he was meant to be. Brimming with details of Amish farm life, the illustrations are bound to inform as they entertain. The characters' expressive faces, the energy of the drawings, and the appropriateness of composition to mood and content of the story all unite to make this a picture book that's sure to tickle readers' fancy. --Carey Ayres, Port Washington Public Library, NY
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dragonfly Books (March 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440409373
• ISBN-13: 978-0440409373
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #124,461 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amish Peacock, December 26, 1999

By	J. P. OConnell (Palos Verdes, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a delight for young and old readers alike, especially for those who love peacocks, as we do. The two little Amish sisters in the story find an exotic egg and place it with their hens for safekeeping. The little bird that hatches grows into a beautiful creature, but is much fancier than their plain chickens. The girls worry that his fanciness could lead to trouble in their community, where plain is a way of life. The bird makes an unannounced arrival at a large gathering of the community, much to the despair of the girls, who have secreted him and his beautiful feathers away for fear he will be shunned. One of the elders of the Amish community comforts the girls by explaining that the beauty of God's handiwork can never be shunned and that some things are JUST PLAIN FANCY!

As always, Patricia Polacco's artwork makes the story come alive. Her charming prose makes you smile as the girls decide what to do with this fancy creature while still being true to their upbringing. A wonderful book, especially for the animal lovers in the family.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wondeful Book, April 3, 2009

By	Michelle Mills "reading teacher" (Fort Worth, TX, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Just Plain Fancy (Dell Picture Yearling) (School & Library Binding)

I teach inner city second graders who rarely leave their neighborhood. They loved learning about Amish children and were astounded to know that the Amish community is another community in their country. Patricia Palacco has a way of writing about other cultures, children, and situations that my students really enjoy. Her books help them become better readers because after I read the book to them, they will pick it up to read on their own.

5.0 out of 5 stars a book greatly reccomended for children and babies, May 5, 2006

A Kid's Review

This book is great. it is greatly reccomended from ages 0 to 100! A must read realistic fiction book that is enjoyed by all ages.