"Fancy Nancy," the New York Times bestselling book series by Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser, has been optioned by Disney Junior for development of an original animated TV movie and series, as well as for related role-play items and other consumer products licensed by Disney Consumer Products. In addition, HarperCollins and Disney Publishing will collaborate on book editions based on the television series.
The stories, geared towards kids age 2-7, have an underlying theme of self-expression and love of family as they follow the adventures of a girl who likes to be fancy in everything from her creative, elaborate attire to her advanced vocabulary.
Nancy Kanter said, "Children have been captivated by Fancy Nancy's wit and irrepressible spirit for a decade, and we are very eager to give her an even bigger stage on which to perform."
O'Connor said, "This is definitely one of those 'pinch me' moments. When Robin and I met Nancy Kanter and her team, we knew instantly that Disney Junior was the plus-perfect home for Fancy Nancy."
Preiss Glasser said, "After the thrill of seeing my two-dimensional drawings of Nancy and her 'world' come alive in spin-off musicals and ballets, the opportunity to see her animated by Disney is a dream I never would have dared to dream!"
"Fancy Nancy" is now ten years old and over 60 titles, has sold more than 28 million books and has been translated into 20 languages. The series was named 2008's Book Character of the Year by Global License. The series has received two Toy Industry Association's Toy of the Year Award nominations, two LIMA International Licensing Excellence Award nominations and was named the Best Character Brand Program of the Year in 2009.
With Children's Book Week here, the 2013 Children's Choice Book Awards are as well. Jeff Kinney received the author of the year award, and John Green won the teen book of the year prize.
There are links to all the winners below. How many have you read? Here’s more from the release:
The Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader announced the winners of the sixth annual Children’s Choice Book Awards (CCBAs) at a charity gala benefitting Every Child a Reader in New York City last night.
The announcement is an annual highlight of Children’s Book Week (May 13-19, 2013) as the CCBAs is the only national book awards program where the winning titles are selected by kids and teens. Young readers across the country voted in record numbers for their favorite books, author, and illustrator at bookstores, school libraries, and at bookweekonline.com, casting more than 1,000,000 votes.
2013 Children’s Choice Book Awards:
KINDERGARTEN TO SECOND GRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR
Nighttime Ninja by Barbara DaCosta, illustrated by Ed Young (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
THIRD GRADE TO FOURTH GRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR
Bad Kitty for President by Nick Bruel (Roaring Brook/Macmillan)
FIFTH GRADE TO SIXTH GRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR
Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess by Rachel Renée Russell (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster)
TEEN BOOK OF THE YEAR
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Dutton/Penguin)
AUTHOR OF THE YEAR
Jeff Kinney for Diary of a Wimpy Kid 7: The Third Wheel (Amulet Books/Abrams)
ILLUSTRATOR OF THE YEAR
Robin Preiss Glasser for Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
Have a look at a winner or two. Think about getting a couple for the kids or grandkids. How about enriching a life today...
