Fancy Nancy: Poison Ivy Expert (I Can Read Series Level 1) »

Jane O'Connor is the author of more than thirty books for children, including the Nina, Nina Ballerina stories, illustrated by DyAnne DiSalvo, and the Fancy Nancy picture book series. Ms. O'Connor lives with her family in ever-posh New York City.

Nancy thinks she knows all about poison ivy. After all, she knows the verse "leaves of three, let it be." But when she starts to itch and itch, Nancy realizes that there's more to learn!

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2

Fancy Nancy thinks she knows all there is to know about poison ivy. However, when she picks a beautiful big bouquet of wildflowers for her teacher's birthday, she ends up itching all over. While convalescing at home, Nancy decides to research poison ivy to become a real expert. Her neighbor brings her some cream that she has made from jewelweed, which helps Nancy's skin begin to heal. She visits her friend Bree, who has planned a surprise party for her, with dancing to the rock-and-roll song "Poison Ivy." Nancy is a spirited character, and her personality makes this beginning reader both fun and funny. She has a whimsical flair for living her life with style and animation. Nancy relishes big words (all parenthetically defined) with an occasional French phrase thrown in just for spark. The text has short sentences and easily decoded words. Illustrations are charmingly rendered in ink and watercolor, with lots of comical detail.-Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME