Nugget and Fang Go to School

by Tammi Sauer, Michael Slack (Illustrator)

Overview

Can a shark really fit in at Mini Minnows Elementary, or will he be a fish out of water? The popular undersea pals Nugget, a minnow, and Fang, a shark, are back in this first-day-of-school story that's full of heart and humor. 

When Fang the shark is invited by his friends to attend Mini Minnows Elementary, he thinks it's a great idea! But then his first day of school arrives . . . and suddenly, he's not so sure. He's not very good at reading or math. He doesn't exactly fit in with his classmates. And the teacher looks crabby! Can Fang's best friend, Nugget, and the other minnows turn things around and prove to him that school really is fang-tastic?

This reassuring first-day-of-school and friendship story is full of heart and humor, showing that everyone feels like a fish out of water sometimes, and that it's important to be a good friend.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781328548269
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/25/2019
Series:	Nugget and Fang Series
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,047,893
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Tammi Sauer, a former teacher and library media specialist, is the full-time author of many popular picture books, including Quiet Wyatt, illustrated by Arthur Howard, and Nugget and Fang and Nugget and Fang Go to School, both illustrated by Michael Slack. Getting kids excited about reading and writing is her passion. Her other passion is tropical tea. Tammi and her family live in Edmond, Oklahoma, with one dog, two geckos, and a tank full of random fish. www.tammisauer.com Twitter: @SauerTammi.

Michael Slack is the illustrator of many books for young readers, including Nugget and Fang by Tammi Sauer and Edgar Allan Poe's Pie by J. Patrick Lewis, as well as several picture books that he also wrote. He lives with his family in the San Francisco Bay area, California. Visit him online at slackart.com, on Twitter @michaelslackart, and on Instagram @michael_slackart.

Editorial Reviews

Sauer and Slack keep up the laughs, and the reassurance.

The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo

"Sauer and Slack keep up the laughs, and the reassurance."—The New York Times Book Review "[B]right and colorful. Slack deftly portrays Fang's every emotion....Readers will no doubt feel empathetic."—Kirkus Praise for Nugget and Fang "Incorporate this into fish- or shark-themed storytimes or share with "Finding Nemo" fans—either way, kids are likely to snap it up hook, line, and sinker."—BCCB "It's darn near impossible to resist such an earnest, toothy hero."—Kirkus "Sauer creates kindly characters and hits sweetly humorous notes throughout. . . . [a] funny friendship tale."—PW "Sends a positive message about the power of friendship and the importance of individuality."—School Library Journal —

From the Publisher

2019-05-08
A shark attends Mini Minnows Elementary with his best bud, a minnow, but his day is not a smooth one in this return for Nugget & Fang (2013).

Nugget and Fang are best friends, a relationship facilitated by the shark's vegetarian diet. Though most other sea creatures panic and flee the extremely toothy Fang, the mini minnows are an exception; in their previous outing, Fang saved them from being a menu item. To thank him, they invite Fang to school. The shark is excited, but anxiety hits on the first day, and the giant shark is plagued by questions and what-ifs that his tiny friend just takes in stride. Nugget's mantra is "You'll be fine." But Fang is decidedly not fine: He struggles in every subject and suffers through many mishaps. The final straw lands at the end of the day, when all the fish are expected to share something with the class. After flailing and flopping his way through the school day, Fang doesn't want to present. When it's finally his turn, his anxiety has his fins and his tongue tied in knots. But then he spies Nugget, his best friend, and he has no doubt about what is most important for everyone to know. The Photoshop illustrations are bright and colorful. Slack deftly portrays Fang's every emotion, his toothy frowns and worried eyebrows complementing his slumped body and dorsal fin. Readers will no doubt feel empathetic.

Yes, Fang, you'll be fine with your fishy friend by your side. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews