Review by Booklist Review
Most picture books don't come with a subtitle, but it so happens this subtitle neatly sums up the plot. Two unlikely underwater friends are torn apart when the minnow goes to school for the first time and finds out the truth about the shark. Nugget and Fang (you can guess which one is which) are introduced as perfectly compatible as they swim in deep ocean; one's grin is huge and toothy, and the other's is small but wide. But when the minnow keeps being told about the dangers of the shark, he begins to have doubts and swims far, far away. Slack's bright blue scenes are full of action, reaction, and witty details, but they also manage to capture the loneliness of the once-happy shark. (That fanged frown is huge.) Luckily for Fang, the author believes in happy endings and has the shark save the day for Nugget and nine fellow minnows, who all become Fang's friends. Ridiculous? Yep, but goofy good times anyway.--Nolan, Abby Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In Sauer's bighearted tale, two fine, finned friends discover that conventional wisdom isn't always to be trusted. Nugget the minnow and Fang the shark have palled around forever in the deep ocean. But when it's time for Nugget to go to school, Fang feels left out. Meanwhile, Nugget is shocked by what he learns in school: "Sharks are toothy. Sharks are scary. Sharks and minnows can't be friends," he explains to Fang. Just when things look bleakest, Fang finds a way to win back Nugget's friendship and shatter the scary shark stereotype. Sauer (Princess in Training) creates kindly characters and hits sweetly humorous notes throughout, avoiding a lesson-heavy tone. Packed with visual gags, Slack's (Pass It On) digital artwork features varied blues and zingy dashes of orange, magenta, and neon green that make the friends' undersea home feel like SpongeBob Square-Pants's Bikini Bottom by way of Mary Blair. Fang's comparative enormousness and toothy grin help him steal most of the scenes in this funny friendship tale. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Illustrator's agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Two undersea buddies spend all of their time together, until the tiny fish swims off to school and is taught that sharks and minnows can't be friends because sharks are known to devour smaller species. Shocked, and "apparently delicious," Nugget decides that the two should part ways. Though Fang attempts to win his pal back through several well-intentioned but poorly planned endeavors, including dressing up in a ridiculous mermaid outfit to prove he isn't scary, the small-fry remains resolute. Downcast and lonely, the shark is moping in deep waters when he notices that Nugget and the other minnows have been caught in a fishing net. The ever-faithful Fang comes up with a plan to utilize his "big sharp teeth" to save the day. Drenched in rich blues and vivid coral-reef hues, the exuberant illustrations depict a tiny bright-eyed fish and a likable shark with razor-sharp chompers and goofy charisma. The text's cadence is well-timed for sharing aloud, and both narrative and illustrations zing with humorous touches. An entertaining tale that sends a positive message about the power of friendship and the importance of individuality.-Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Besties Nugget (minnow) and Fang (shark) get along swimmingly, until Nugget's school lessons reveal that big, bad sharks eat minnows. Aquatic-hued digital illustrations depict Fang's touching, hilarious attempts (disguising himself as a mermaid, tattooing Nugget's name, serenading him, etc.) to get his pal back. When his toothy mouth saves the day, Fang gains the minnows' trust--and ten more best friends. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Nugget, aptly named, is a tiny minnow, and Fang (even more aptly named) is a shark. One can already begin to predict the conflict. In the beginning, however, Nugget and Fang are oblivious to societal norms. All they know is that they have fun together. What could be wrong with that? But when Nugget starts school, he learns the truth about sharksin every single lesson. Sauer slyly slips shark warnings into reading, science and even math class: "What if there were ten minnows and a shark came along and ate four of them? How many minnows are left?" Nugget is dumbfounded. Fang would never do that. Would he? It all comes down to the ultimate lesson: "Sharks are toothy. Sharks are scary. Sharks and minnows can't be friends." Fang--who normally has the biggest, goofiest grin on his face--slumps in dejection. He must, somehow, get his best buddy back. Slack's bright undersea world, teeming with a variety of creatures, is an ideal backdrop for these two googly-eyed swimmers. Not the first interspecies friendship tale (and likely not the last), but it's darn near impossible to resist such an earnest, toothy hero. (Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
