Just Plain Fancy

This is a great book for children to read to learn something about the Amish. The author is a wonderful artist as well.

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.

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.

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.

Patricia Polacco has written many books, one more engaging than the next. My two girls, now ages 9 and 12, discovered the magic of her storytelling ability many years ago and, even today, a new Polacco book is cause for celebration. But of all of Polacco's books, Just Plain Fancy, has delighted them most of all. The simple story line combines with wonderful illustrations to create a book that is warm and amusing. It's a perfect bedtime story antidote to the frenzied pace that even our children must keep.