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Fancy Nancy
Fancy Nancy: Hair Dos and Hair Don'ts
Join Nancy in this comical and endearing addition to the Fancy Nancy I Can Read series, from the beloved New York Times bestselling author-illustrator team Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser. Picture Day is just about the most important day of the year, and Nancy has her outfit all figured out. That leaves only one thing—picking a hairstyle! Nancy considers the options. Pigtails? A bun? Long and loose? Then Nancy gets a brain wave, and she reaches for the scissors. . . . Fancy Hair Dos and Hair Don’ts is a Level One I Can Read book, which means it's perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences. The back matter features a list of the rich vocabulary words that are used throughout the story along with their definition.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published October 11, 2011
16 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Jane O'Connor
286 books356 followersSince the publication of Fancy Nancy, Jane O'Connor's closet now boasts so many boas, tiaras, and sparkly ensembles that sometimes friends do not recognize her on the street. She still resides (that's a fancy word for lives) in New York City with her family and their canine companion, Arrow. --from the publisher's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
September 20, 2022
Read for my toddler's bedtime. Fancy Nancy is pretty with her ruffle clothes. She cared about her hair for school picture day.
December 21, 2018
4 stars
I was pretty nervous reading this to my little girl, since Nancy decides she wants to cut her own hair... But then it turned into a teachable moment. Every kid at some point decides they want to explore with scissors, Im just hoping we covered that experience by reading this book and learning from it :P
I was pretty nervous reading this to my little girl, since Nancy decides she wants to cut her own hair... But then it turned into a teachable moment. Every kid at some point decides they want to explore with scissors, Im just hoping we covered that experience by reading this book and learning from it :P
February 24, 2019
It's Picture Day! Nancy wants to find the perfect hairstyle for her curly red tresses so she looks extra fancy. She just so happens to be reading a book about Amelia Earheart at the time, and she thinks that a bob might be just the way to go. So she takes a little off the top and a little off the sides and a little off the front. But the haircut doesn't go according to plan, and Nancy declares that she couldn't possibly go to school. (Her mother quickly puts an end to that notion!)
I thought the story was cute, but readers should be aware of something that could be viewed as cultural appropriation. Before Nancy decides to cut her hair, she wants her hair braided in cornrows. In this case, I doubt she has any inkling of the implications of doing that as a white girl; she's just a six-year-old who wants her hair to be like her friend Bree's (Bree is black). I'm not sure how one would even explain this issue to a child that age, and I'm not even certain how much of a problem it is; Nancy's not about to Instagram her hair and claim she came up with the style. In any case, her dad turns out to be a terrible braider, so the cornrows don't happen.
I also had a little bit of an issue with one of the fancy words. I wouldn't say "complicated" is the "opposite of easy". That's "difficult". I think I'd probably define it as the "opposite of simple". (If books are going to be defining words for kids, I'd like those definitions to be fairly accurate.)
Overall, though, this is a cute story, and one that I'm sure has played out all over. Overzealous kids + scissors = a problem. But Nancy's teacher has a surprise that helps take a bit of the sting out of that bad haircut, and Nancy ends the book with the hope that she has fast-growing hair... which is really about all she can do. Patience, Nancy. It'll grow back.
Quotable moment:
I thought the story was cute, but readers should be aware of something that could be viewed as cultural appropriation. Before Nancy decides to cut her hair, she wants her hair braided in cornrows. In this case, I doubt she has any inkling of the implications of doing that as a white girl; she's just a six-year-old who wants her hair to be like her friend Bree's (Bree is black). I'm not sure how one would even explain this issue to a child that age, and I'm not even certain how much of a problem it is; Nancy's not about to Instagram her hair and claim she came up with the style. In any case, her dad turns out to be a terrible braider, so the cornrows don't happen.
I also had a little bit of an issue with one of the fancy words. I wouldn't say "complicated" is the "opposite of easy". That's "difficult". I think I'd probably define it as the "opposite of simple". (If books are going to be defining words for kids, I'd like those definitions to be fairly accurate.)
Overall, though, this is a cute story, and one that I'm sure has played out all over. Overzealous kids + scissors = a problem. But Nancy's teacher has a surprise that helps take a bit of the sting out of that bad haircut, and Nancy ends the book with the hope that she has fast-growing hair... which is really about all she can do. Patience, Nancy. It'll grow back.
Quotable moment:
December 12, 2016
This was our book to read today. I shuddered reading it because Fancy Nancy cuts her hair....I hope Abbi does not have ideas now about cutting her hair! Ha! Fancy Nancy is getting ready for school pictures in this one and cuts her hair to match Amelia Earhart's. Abbi loved this one and she loves learning the new "fancy" words.
November 14, 2012
Every kid cuts her/his hair at some point, and does it badly. Fancy Nancy is no different - though her new hairdo is just in time for picture day! Oh no!
December 19, 2022
Fancy Nancy: Hair Dos and Hair Don'ts by Jane O'Connor
Released October 11, 2011
<3 <3 <3
Picture Day is just about the most important day of the year, and Nancy has her outfit all figured out. That leaves only one thing—picking a hairstyle! Nancy considers the options. Pigtails? A bun? Long and loose? Then Nancy gets a brain wave, and she reaches for the scissors. . . .
Fancy Nancy: Hair Dos and Hair Don'ts is a Level One I Can Read book, which means it's perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences, and features a list of the rich vocabulary words that are used throughout the story along with their definition.
Released October 11, 2011
<3 <3 <3
Picture Day is just about the most important day of the year, and Nancy has her outfit all figured out. That leaves only one thing—picking a hairstyle! Nancy considers the options. Pigtails? A bun? Long and loose? Then Nancy gets a brain wave, and she reaches for the scissors. . . .
Fancy Nancy: Hair Dos and Hair Don'ts is a Level One I Can Read book, which means it's perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences, and features a list of the rich vocabulary words that are used throughout the story along with their definition.
May 13, 2018
I've hesitated to pick up a Fancy Nancy book in the past but was pleasantly surprised to discover that for an early reader book, it includes a bit harder words than most early readers AND includes definitions after each word as well as at the conclusion of the book. Now, I just hope my daughter doesn't get any ideas when it comes to hair and scissors!
January 14, 2019
I found this book really empowering to young girls and also an example of diversity within friendships. I appreciated that Nancy’s friend was of a different ethnicity than her and it showed her in corn rows and that’s how Nancy wanted to wear her hair! Also, I enjoyed that Nancy was reading a book about Amelia Earhart a woman who is a great example for young girls!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2022
My second grade daughter read this to me. It was a good one for her reading level. It gave us the chance to talk about how her older sister cut off all her curls when she was a baby and broke my heart. In fact, she had her hair cut by her sister at least five times. So the book was pretty relatable and gave us some laughs!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2018
The Fancy Nancy series is nice because it makes a point to use more a little bit harder words than are in most early readers, and it states right after what the word means. These books can be an aid in vocabulary building for young readers.
November 2, 2019
I love the way Fancy Nancy books introduce "fancy" vocabulary words! This is a fun one because what kids hasn't decided to cut their hair and then immediately regret it haha. I know I did! Maybe Fancy Nancy can stop another kid from making that same mistake!
December 29, 2018
My daughter loves the Fancy Nancy books.
March 18, 2019
Mimi read it to A 3/18/19.
April 1, 2019
Fancy Nancy tries to cut a new hairstyle for picture day! What a disaster! Until Ms. Glass has the perfect surprise for the class.
April 3, 2019
I read this to the kids I baby sit age 5, 4, and 3. Even the boys didn't mind that it was girly, and I liked the lesson about cutting hair.
January 1, 2022
This was just such a cute book!
February 5, 2023
i always love a fancy nancy book
September 30, 2025
Cute story!! Only fear is inspiration of cutting your own hair 😬
April 3, 2019
Grade: Preschool-2
Contemporary Realistic
This is a delightful book that people will be able to relate to and it has great definitions for words.
Contemporary Realistic
This is a delightful book that people will be able to relate to and it has great definitions for words.
July 25, 2012
Our girls really love the Fancy Nancy series of books. They adore the fancy illustrations and I like that the stories help build their vocabulary, but in a fun way. I also like how the books discuss common issues for children, like jealousy, making friends, honesty, etc.
Nancy is often very precocious in these books, so I was happy to see her make an age-appropriate mistake in this story. It's something I did at her age and our girls did it, too. So we could all relate to her very independent decision and the consequences she had to face after making that decision. Overall, it was a very entertaining story. I love that a book about Amelia Earhart was woven into the story; we don't learn much about her life, but I'm happy to see a female role model featured. We really enjoyed reading this story together.
Nancy is often very precocious in these books, so I was happy to see her make an age-appropriate mistake in this story. It's something I did at her age and our girls did it, too. So we could all relate to her very independent decision and the consequences she had to face after making that decision. Overall, it was a very entertaining story. I love that a book about Amelia Earhart was woven into the story; we don't learn much about her life, but I'm happy to see a female role model featured. We really enjoyed reading this story together.
July 20, 2014
This is a "Beginning 1 Reader" meaning simple sentences for eager new readers. Compared to other Level 1 books, this one seemed a bit more advanced. It has a lot more words per page than most level 1 books plus the words aren't small and easy words.
Excerpt from the book:
"I snip a little here. I snip a little there. I snip in the back. And I snip in the front for bangs. My bangs are crooked. So I snip some more. Trimming hair is very complicated! (Complicated is the opposite of easy.) I am still snipping when Mom comes into my room."
Excerpt from the book:
"I snip a little here. I snip a little there. I snip in the back. And I snip in the front for bangs. My bangs are crooked. So I snip some more. Trimming hair is very complicated! (Complicated is the opposite of easy.) I am still snipping when Mom comes into my room."
April 12, 2014
O'Connor, J. "Fancy nancy: hair dos and hair don'ts". (2011). New York: Harper Collins.
This book is an easy reader, about a character named Fancy Nancy. Picture day is coming up at school and Fancy Nancy tries all different hair stlyes, to see which is most flattering. She ends up cutting her own hair and is ashamed at the outcome. But no worries...Nancy's teacher surprises all the students with matching caps to wear in the picture, hiding her bad hair day. I especially liked this story because I'm a hairstylist.
This book is an easy reader, about a character named Fancy Nancy. Picture day is coming up at school and Fancy Nancy tries all different hair stlyes, to see which is most flattering. She ends up cutting her own hair and is ashamed at the outcome. But no worries...Nancy's teacher surprises all the students with matching caps to wear in the picture, hiding her bad hair day. I especially liked this story because I'm a hairstylist.
March 11, 2014
This story is one that just about all parents and children can relate to. Fancy Nancy is excited for picture day, but she decides to cut her own hair. It doesn't go very well as it never does and she looks really funny. The Fancy Nancy series as a whole does an incredible job of introducing more sophisticated vocabulary words to beginning readers. The I Can Read series of books are appropriate for beginning readers or kids who need a little bit of assistance when reading.
December 16, 2015
Diva loved this one, we got a big kick out of discussing what classified as a "hair don't." I asked her how she would feel if I came over the following day with a small shoe woven into my hair do. She fell off the couch laughing at that mental image. Then she ran to her room and came back with a crazily decorated and bedazzled hair accessory and said, "Look! I have an entire hair doesn't hair band!!!"
July 1, 2016
Pinkness, sparkles, and frills aside, Nancy is actually a character I would feel fine reading to a little girl. She reads library books (for fun, apparently); she has curly hair and likes it; she likes learning interesting words; and she tries to style her own hair to look like Amelia Earhart. I really like her.
November 11, 2011
I wish books would not put ideas into my kids' heads... especially not BAD ideas like cutting their own hair. And Nancy's mom doesn't react how I would... to be sure. That being said--it was still a cute book and it all worked out for Nancy in the end.
January 7, 2013
So recently, my daughter has become extremely interested in Fancy Nancy. So, we have been reading some of the Fancy Nancy series. This series is lots of fun and all the heart warming moments are a nice touch to the rather flouncy, fancy moments.
February 1, 2013
Nancy cuts her hair own hair too short. She then goes to school with a scarf on her head, dreading Picture Day. Fancy words in this book are: comfort, complicated, describe, elegant, flattering, moment, odd, outfit, and remind.
December 10, 2011
Cute as always
July 12, 2012
Fun bedtime read. My kids loved it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews