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Fancy Nancy
Fancy Nancy: Poison Ivy Expert
When Nancy picks flowers for Ms. Glass's surprise party, she is overjoyed--until she discovers an unpleasant surprise of her own! How could Nancy, practically a poison ivy expert, come down with something so unfancy?
In this hilarious new addition to the Fancy Nancy I Can Read series, Nancy realizes that even experts can always learn something new. With her boundless spirit and dynamic flair, Nancy is sure to leave young readers itching for more!
In this hilarious new addition to the Fancy Nancy I Can Read series, Nancy realizes that even experts can always learn something new. With her boundless spirit and dynamic flair, Nancy is sure to leave young readers itching for more!
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First published December 30, 2008
12 people are currently reading
351 people want to read
About the author
Jane O'Connor
281 books354 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 83 reviews
July 6, 2012
A very happy moment when my daughter attempted to read out loud, on her own, for the first time and surprised me reading at least half the book.
March 13, 2013
I have really enjoyed the Fancy Nancy books I’ve read, and thanks to Maggie I discovered this one. I found it delightful. I loved how Nancy makes a mistake, realizes she wasn’t an expert, checks to make sure something nice she did didn’t have dire consequences, and then became an expert via reading a book. I even learned a little bit about poison ivy. I practically chortled when I read about the upcoming picture day.
As usual, there is a glossary of “fancy words” in the book. As usual, the illustrations were great fun.
This book seemed a little less detailed than some other Fancy Nancy books, though I’m not certain of that. The book is a smaller size than many other hardcover picture books, including the other Fancy Nancy books I remember reading.
There is no poison ivy near where I live, but this story reminded me of the time I got poison oak on a sixth grade camping trip. It was a badge of honor at the time, but very itchy and ugly.
3 ½ stars
As usual, there is a glossary of “fancy words” in the book. As usual, the illustrations were great fun.
This book seemed a little less detailed than some other Fancy Nancy books, though I’m not certain of that. The book is a smaller size than many other hardcover picture books, including the other Fancy Nancy books I remember reading.
There is no poison ivy near where I live, but this story reminded me of the time I got poison oak on a sixth grade camping trip. It was a badge of honor at the time, but very itchy and ugly.
3 ½ stars
February 15, 2013
This story is when Nancy, well lets say Fancy Nancy, touches some poison ivy when she was picking some wildflowers in a bouquet. And she goes to school and she finds red dots all over her. Her dad took her to the doctor and then she had to stay home from school for a couple of days. Her friend Bree said, "its picture day, can you come?". Well that's some of it, you have to read it sometime, it's good. Thank-you for reading this review.
November 25, 2022
sooooo riveting, full of twists and turns, great illustrations. summer vibes. learned so much from this book
April 19, 2025
thank you children’s theatre for helping me add to my reading goal 🫡
July 16, 2015
I give Fancy Nancy: Poison Ivy Expert 100 stars.
My favorite part of the book is when Nancy got her remedy (that's a fancy word for medicine), so she wouldn't itch anymore. I didn't like it when Nancy got poison ivy.
My friends should read Fancy Nancy: Poison Ivy Expert.
My favorite part of the book is when Nancy got her remedy (that's a fancy word for medicine), so she wouldn't itch anymore. I didn't like it when Nancy got poison ivy.
My friends should read Fancy Nancy: Poison Ivy Expert.
December 10, 2023
Curly-haired Fancy Nancy (level 1 reader) thinks she's a poison ivy expert until she breaks out in an itchy rash and has to go home and miss the party for her teacher. Saddened by this, Nancy must stay home until her rash heels.
The early reader Fancy Nancy use a unique formula of introducing new vocabulary words, through the character of Nancy who describes each new word "that's a fancy way of saying." These words are included in a glossary in the back as well.
HarperCollins' opening page gives instructions to parents and teachers show the key for leveled books: 1.) beginning reader, 2.) reading with help, 3.) reading alone, 4.) advanced reading.
The early reader Fancy Nancy use a unique formula of introducing new vocabulary words, through the character of Nancy who describes each new word "that's a fancy way of saying." These words are included in a glossary in the back as well.
HarperCollins' opening page gives instructions to parents and teachers show the key for leveled books: 1.) beginning reader, 2.) reading with help, 3.) reading alone, 4.) advanced reading.
January 2, 2024
I've read Fancy Nancy: Poison Ivy Expert by Jane O Connor. It's about a young girl Nancy who is overjoy when she prepare flowers for her teacher Mrs Glass at a surprise party. Suddenly she dicovers that she also had a surprise of her own. Could Nancy able to be a poison Ivy Expert. I enjoyed these types of books because it is interesting to read with parents and friends. I recommend the book to an a eight year old children those who also like to read interesting books.
By- shaalini
Gogineni
By- shaalini
Gogineni
July 20, 2018
Nancy considers herself a poison ivy expert and has no qualms about picking a bouquet of wildflowers for her teacher's surprise party. On party day, Nancy begins itching with red bumps everywhere on her body! Nancy realizes she has much to learn about poison ivy. Familiar words, short sentences and simple concepts make this book ideal for new readers. The plot will leave the reader itching for more Nancy books.
June 23, 2017
Miss 2 loves the Fancy Nancy books. I like the vocabulary building and Nancy is fabulous. In this one Nancy catches a nasty case of poison ivy and is horribly disappointed that she will have to miss school. Nice to see her turn it into a learning opportunity to research poison ivy.
November 6, 2017
I loved this book because it is has some fancy words that I never knew about and the other reason why I like it is because it is fancy.I would recommend this book for 5th who like short easy books and fancy words and funny sometimes.If you like fancy books you will like this book because you sometimes learn about words that you never knew about and she sometimes say it in fancy ways like oo lala witch means she likes it very much.so at the end she throws a party for her teacher cause it was her birthday that day.
July 21, 2022
The writing was pretty good. Like the little attention to sounds on certain pages was pretty much poetic and I found it extremely enjoyable because of that. But I also like poetry.
Guess I also learned a bit about poison ivy which is nice.
Guess I also learned a bit about poison ivy which is nice.
September 13, 2017
Fancy Nancy did it again! What fun!
December 30, 2017
I like this book because the illustrations are wonderful and because it has very good details.
February 21, 2018
Sassy and sparkly little girl + peril in the woods (poison ivy) = the perfect book for my four year old.
April 22, 2018
one of the better books because she isn't super bratty. it's kind of got a magic school bud twist where there's good scientific information.
October 9, 2019
This is yet another Fancy Nancy book that I enjoyed. It taught me that in the Fall poison ivy is red. I had no idea! I always thought it was green. Nancy truly became a poison ivy expert.
October 8, 2020
We love all things Fancy Nancy
December 13, 2020
A good story for early readers!
May 28, 2022
Simple but teaches a few words and a little about poison Ivy.
Poison Ivy turns red in the fall
Poison Ivy turns red in the fall
September 11, 2023
This cracked me up because once I tripped and rolled down a hill while running with the Hash House Harriers in Korea at Mudfest and went though a patch of poison ivy.
September 20, 2023
Again, its for the fun of it. Its great, its colorfull AND its educational. Buy it.
October 1, 2023
beautiful illustrations just like the rest of the ones in the series
April 22, 2024
Fancy Nancy and her classmates plan a surprise birthday party for their teacher. Nancy needs to bring a bouquet, so she picks wildflowers.
May 31, 2024
Iconic wonderful amazing never been done before never been done again-
April 8, 2025
childhood classic for me
April 28, 2025
Nancy learns about poison ivy the hard way, but with her usual good spirits. Entertaining and informative.
November 6, 2021
“Leaves of three, leave them be.”
Great advice!
Great advice!
August 31, 2009
I read the original Fancy Nancy book to my nieces, and, at the time, thought that the effect of Nancy stopping every other word to explain that "That's a fancy word for so-and-so" was a little annoying. Having now read several of the early readers, I can honestly say that it is MUCH less annoying when you're not the one reading the book aloud!
My niece (who is six and entering the first grade in a week!) found this book easy enough to read with only a little help from me. Help largely consisted of asking her to sound out a word a second time, asking her if the sentence "makes sense" the way she read it, or asking if she's SURE she saw a d (or b, or w) in that word. There were a few words I had to read *for* her, but not more than I'd expect from this style of book. However, it should be noted that she was one of the better readers in her kindergarten class.
The "fancy words" in this book range from the useful - fascinating, miserable - to the more unusual - bouquet, merci, conceal.
It is true, as anothe reviewer stated, that these early readers are less "fancy" than the hardcovers. However, I don't see this as a problem for two reason: First, it's really hard to keep drawing plots out of the conflict between fancy and not fancy, and second because it's nice to read about a girl who likes being fancy but who is otherwise just a kid! If all she did was sit around and be fancy, I wouldn't buy any of these books, no matter HOW educational they are.
I will also note that there are an awful lot of sentences on each page. This is a good book for kids in the later stage of "beginning readers", I think, not in the very early stage.
My niece (who is six and entering the first grade in a week!) found this book easy enough to read with only a little help from me. Help largely consisted of asking her to sound out a word a second time, asking her if the sentence "makes sense" the way she read it, or asking if she's SURE she saw a d (or b, or w) in that word. There were a few words I had to read *for* her, but not more than I'd expect from this style of book. However, it should be noted that she was one of the better readers in her kindergarten class.
The "fancy words" in this book range from the useful - fascinating, miserable - to the more unusual - bouquet, merci, conceal.
It is true, as anothe reviewer stated, that these early readers are less "fancy" than the hardcovers. However, I don't see this as a problem for two reason: First, it's really hard to keep drawing plots out of the conflict between fancy and not fancy, and second because it's nice to read about a girl who likes being fancy but who is otherwise just a kid! If all she did was sit around and be fancy, I wouldn't buy any of these books, no matter HOW educational they are.
I will also note that there are an awful lot of sentences on each page. This is a good book for kids in the later stage of "beginning readers", I think, not in the very early stage.
March 18, 2013
Fancy Nancy Poison Ivy Expert is a realistic fiction book about a young innocent girl who likes to pick flowers. She knows what poison ivy looks like “leaves of three, let it be.” Although she knows what it looks like she finds out that she does not know as much as she thought she did. The illustrations portray the innocence of the young girl, and help guide the reader throughout the text.
One thing that really caught my eye with this book was the vocabulary. Throughout the book they use words that I would consider vocabulary words that I would have the students look up, or try to figure out through context. In this book whenever they used words that were out of the children’s vocabulary they would also explain what that word meant. I thought this was interesting because then instead of the kids pretending like they know what they word means they actually get to read it and find out for themselves.
This book could be used for literature circles with young children. It is short enough to where they can read it in class, and with an instructor they can discuss what they read. Also, this book could be used for when they are having a lesson on plants. This would be a good book to tell them the basics about poison ivy. Also, after reading this book we could have them do a poster to show what it is that they learned, and have them draw a picture of what poison ivy looks like.
This book has a lexile rating of 320L and would be a good read aloud for kindergarten to about second grade. Children should be reading this book independently by the beginning of second grade.
One thing that really caught my eye with this book was the vocabulary. Throughout the book they use words that I would consider vocabulary words that I would have the students look up, or try to figure out through context. In this book whenever they used words that were out of the children’s vocabulary they would also explain what that word meant. I thought this was interesting because then instead of the kids pretending like they know what they word means they actually get to read it and find out for themselves.
This book could be used for literature circles with young children. It is short enough to where they can read it in class, and with an instructor they can discuss what they read. Also, this book could be used for when they are having a lesson on plants. This would be a good book to tell them the basics about poison ivy. Also, after reading this book we could have them do a poster to show what it is that they learned, and have them draw a picture of what poison ivy looks like.
This book has a lexile rating of 320L and would be a good read aloud for kindergarten to about second grade. Children should be reading this book independently by the beginning of second grade.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews