NUGGET & FANG

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 sharks…in 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.