July 15, 2026
Storybook Guide - Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor

Date

July 15, 2026

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Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor

Length: 32 pages

Target Audience: Pre-K - 2nd grade

Fancy Nancy is one of my go-to books for individualized speech therapy sessions! This is a great resource for targeting ("fancy") vocabulary, articulation, describing, answering WH questions, identifying story elements, sequencing, and even pragmatic language. To take it a step further, I will bring tiaras, boas, bows, hats, gloves, and jewelry (top hats, canes, crowns, bow ties, for boys!) However, there is one rule: students must answer a speech/language question before putting on any accessories. This encourages great engagement and participation. By the end of the session, my students aren't just dressed fancy, they're using fancy language too!

Vocabulary

  1. Use "fancy" words for everyday words
  2. beautiful - pretty
  3. fuchsia - purple
  4. stupendous - great
  5. plume - feather
  6. companion - friend
  7. dressing gown - bathrobe
  8. posh - fancy
  9. chauffeur - driver

Describing

  1. Tell me three things about this item (shoes, dress, purse, etc,)
  2. color
  3. size
  4. shape
  5. function
  6. category

Articulation

  1. Target
  2. /f/: fancy, family, feather
  3. /s/: sprinkles, stupendous, accessories
  4. /l/: purple, lace, frilly
  5. /r/: tiara, mirror, stars

WH Questions

  1. Who is supposed to keep a tiara on?
  2. What is your favorite fancy item in the story?
  3. What did Nancy wear to play soccer?
  4. Where did the family have dinner?
  5. When do they have their pinkies up?
  6. Why does Nancy not feel fancy anymore?

Story Elements

  1. Characters
  2. Nancy
  3. Mom
  4. Sister
  5. Dad
  6. Setting
  7. Nancy's house
  8. Problem
  9. Nancy doesn't believe her family is fancy enough
  10. Solution
  11. The family enjoys adding their own kind of fancy! Nancy realizes that there isn't a fancy or better way of saying "I love you".

Sequencing

  1. First: Nancy explains what fancy means
  2. Next: She dresses everyone up
  3. Then: The family enjoys being fancy together
  4. Last: Nancy realizes everyone can be fancy in their own way

Pragmatic Language

  1. Discuss the following:
  2. different interests
  3. giving compliments
  4. being yourself

O'Connor, J. (2005). Fancy Nancy. Illustrated by R. Preiss Glasser. HarperCollins.

Macy Ross, M.S., CCC-SLP

July 15, 2026
Storybook Guide - Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor

Date

July 15, 2026

Share

Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor

Length: 32 pages

Target Audience: Pre-K - 2nd grade

Fancy Nancy is one of my go-to books for individualized speech therapy sessions! This is a great resource for targeting ("fancy") vocabulary, articulation, describing, answering WH questions, identifying story elements, sequencing, and even pragmatic language. To take it a step further, I will bring tiaras, boas, bows, hats, gloves, and jewelry (top hats, canes, crowns, bow ties, for boys!) However, there is one rule: students must answer a speech/language question before putting on any accessories. This encourages great engagement and participation. By the end of the session, my students aren't just dressed fancy, they're using fancy language too!

Vocabulary

  1. Use "fancy" words for everyday words
  2. beautiful - pretty
  3. fuchsia - purple
  4. stupendous - great
  5. plume - feather
  6. companion - friend
  7. dressing gown - bathrobe
  8. posh - fancy
  9. chauffeur - driver

Describing

  1. Tell me three things about this item (shoes, dress, purse, etc,)
  2. color
  3. size
  4. shape
  5. function
  6. category

Articulation

  1. Target
  2. /f/: fancy, family, feather
  3. /s/: sprinkles, stupendous, accessories
  4. /l/: purple, lace, frilly
  5. /r/: tiara, mirror, stars

WH Questions

  1. Who is supposed to keep a tiara on?
  2. What is your favorite fancy item in the story?
  3. What did Nancy wear to play soccer?
  4. Where did the family have dinner?
  5. When do they have their pinkies up?
  6. Why does Nancy not feel fancy anymore?

Story Elements

  1. Characters
  2. Nancy
  3. Mom
  4. Sister
  5. Dad
  6. Setting
  7. Nancy's house
  8. Problem
  9. Nancy doesn't believe her family is fancy enough
  10. Solution
  11. The family enjoys adding their own kind of fancy! Nancy realizes that there isn't a fancy or better way of saying "I love you".

Sequencing

  1. First: Nancy explains what fancy means
  2. Next: She dresses everyone up
  3. Then: The family enjoys being fancy together
  4. Last: Nancy realizes everyone can be fancy in their own way

Pragmatic Language

  1. Discuss the following:
  2. different interests
  3. giving compliments
  4. being yourself

O'Connor, J. (2005). Fancy Nancy. Illustrated by R. Preiss Glasser. HarperCollins.

Macy Ross, M.S., CCC-SLP