After a few stories about children’s books geared to young girls appeared in the news, this Grandma became curious. Have the old favorites stood the test of time or have they been replaced by the new books geared to girls? This Grandma did research by contacting the long (we never say old) friend with the most granddaughters. Fortunately, she was caring for two granddaughters when I called, so I got immediate feedback.
The New York Times had a “BACK STORY,” on Pippi Longstocking, about a prize given by the Swedish government, the annual Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, the richest honor in children’s books and the third most lucrative of any literary award, to honor one of the world’s favorite children’s authors, the creator of Pippi Longstocking, after her death in 2002.
The article was very enlightening:
“Ms. Lindgren wrote her first Pippi Longstocking story in 1945 and her last in 2000. The impish character with the red pigtails came to life in a get-well tale she told her sick 9-year-old daughter. While Pippi is widely adored by children, some conservatives disapprove of her bad manners and attitude toward adult supervision. Still, Ms. Lindgren’s stories have sold more than 144 million copies and have been translated into more than 60 languages.”
The last book was published in 2002, and this friend’s seven year old granddaughter had never heard of Pippi Longstocking. It may not be a loss considering the ‘bad” qualities Pippi apparently possessed.
Next, this Grandma asked about Madeline, and if the granddaughter was familiar with the Madeline books. This Grandma always purchased Madeline books. I love the illustrations. The granddaughter knows the Madeline books and loves them. Madeline won the coveted Caldecott Award for children’s literature, and according to Amazon, “Ludwig Bemelmans (1898-1962) (www.madeline.com), a painter, illustrator, and writer for both children and adults, originally published Madeline in 1939. It lives on today, along with Caldecott Medal winner Madeline’s Rescue, as a seminal picture book in children’s literature. Ludwig Bemelmans’ grandson, John Bemelmans Marciano, carries on his grandfather’s legacy and has written and illustrated four books about Madeline of his own, including Madeline and the Old House in Paris and Madeline at the White House.” Amazon sells the original book and a rag-doll-Madeline.
We must fast forward nearly a century, it seems, to get to Pinkalicious and Fancy Nancy. A Pinkalicious book, “Aqualicious,” by Victoria Kann, for ages 4-8 has been on the N.Y. Times best seller list for picture books for about five weeks. Aqualicious is about Pinkalicious and her brother helping a mermaid get home. According to Amazon, “the author, Victoria Kann is the award-winning illustrator and author of the picture book series featuring the whimsical and effervescent character Pinkalicious. Victoria coauthored and illustrated the first two books, Pinkalicious and Purplicious, and cowrote the play Pinkalicious: The Musical. She wrote and illustrated the New York Times number-one bestsellers Goldilicious, Silverlicious, and Emeraldalicious, as well as Aqualicious. Currently she is working on several more books about the adventures and antics of Pinkalicious. Readers can follow Pinkalicious on Facebook and Twitter.” Buy it at Amazon.
Yes, Pinkalicious is definitely for the 21st Century and uses social media well. The Pinkalicious website has games, toys and products and tips for parents and teachers.
The granddaughter knew about Pinkalicious books and thought they were good, but did not seem overly enthralled.
Then, there is Fancy Nancy, who it seems is about to explode on Disney Junior. Disney is going to make an animated television movie and weekly show from the best-selling “Fancy Nancy” book series.
In “Fancy Nancy Lands a TV Deal With Disney, “ N.Y. Times, March 27, 2015, the author, Brooks Barnes says that Fancy Nancy was supposed to be a big screen movie, but instead a deal has been struck with Disney Junior, the preschool division of Disney Channels Worldwide, and the deal includes licensing “a line of related consumer products, and Disney and HarperCollins aim to publish books based on the on-screen storytelling.”
“The “Fancy Nancy” books, written by Jane O’Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, have sold more than 28 million copies since their introduction in 2005. Disney Junior is a daily programming block on Disney Channel; Disney also operates 34 standalone Disney Junior cable networks around the world.”
“Fancy Nancy,” about a young girl with a showy wardrobe and vocabulary to match, comes to Disney after a bit of hard luck in Hollywood. For years 20th Century Fox controlled the movie rights, at one point exploring a live-action film produced by Shawn Levy and Tina Fey. But Fox recently decided to move on.”
Did the granddaughter get excited about Fancy Nancy? Absolutely, yes. She loves Fancy Nancy books. Fancy Nancy also has a website and games, etc., and even has apps and printables at https://www.fancynancyworld.com/
Fancy Nancy is geared to that age 4-8 group but has mixed editorial reviews on Amazon:
“From School Library Journa: PreSchool-K-Young Nancy, like her literary predecessors Eloise and Olivia, is a glamour queen dropped into a boring world-Nobody in my family is fancy at all. They never even ask for sprinkles. She determines to rescue her relatives from their humdrum existence by giving them lessons and accessorizing their mundane wardrobes. A situation that is charming when observed by adults in real life doesnt translate into a successful picture book. Children pretending to be fabulous creatures is appealing when it is innocent and unforced. This book, despite Glassers wonderfully energetic artwork, is ultimately a story told by adults for adults.-Kathleen Whalin, York Public Library, ME “
“From Booklist: PreS-Gr. 2. For Nancy, there’s no such thing as too, too much; she loves her frilly bedroom, her lace-trimmed socks, and her pen with a plume. Nancy teaches her family how to be fancy, too. Then following Nancy’s lead, the fancied-up family heads for a festive night out (at the local pizzeria). ^B A messy food mishap puts a damper on Nancy’s joy, but her supportive family and the^B “I love you” at bedtime smoothes everything out. O’Connor, the author of the Nina, Nina Ballerina stories, delivers a delightful story of dress-up and cozy family love, with a charming protagonist who enjoys, and enjoys sharing, glamour. Nancy’s perky narrative, in short, simple sentences, incorporates some “fancy” vocabulary for kids to absorb (stupendous, posh), along with a sense of the rewards of a family doing things together. The cheerfully colored art is aptly exuberant, a riotous blending of color and pattern and action. A book sure to appeal to girls’ inner princesses–and inspire new ensembles and decor. Shelle Rosenfeld.”
This Grandma has purchased all four girly books for my granddaughter who is distinctly not girly. She allows me to read Madeline to her. The other books have remained on her book shelf. What about the favorite of my long friend’s seven year old granddaughter?
She thought for a while and then said, ‘Madeline!”
Sometimes long is better than new.
Joy,
Mema
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