Friends Forever— or Snack Time?

nuggetandfangposter.indd 1 12/11/12 9:05 AM

 A Guide for Discussion and Classroom Use
Book  Summary   Teaching  Ideas Introduction  and  Teaching:  Tell  your  students  that  often,  writers  of  picture  books  
Nugget  the  minnow  and  Fang  the  shark  are  unlikely  pals,  but  they  don’t  let  that  get   % Reading/Writing:  Nugget  &  Fang  incorporates  snippets  of  dialogue  into  the   tell  more  of  the  story  by  writing  what  characters  say  to  one  another,  otherwise  
in  the  way  of  having  a  blast  together.  They  are  inseparable  friends  who  spend  every   •–‘”›Ǥ‘—‹‰Š–†‹•…—••Š‘™–Š‡†‹ƒŽ‘‰—‡Ȅ–Š‡…‘˜‡”•ƒ–‹‘•ƒ†‡š…Žƒƒ-­‐ known  as  dialogue.  You  might  explain  that  sometimes  writers  put  the  dialogue  right  
minute  enjoying  each  other’s  company  .  .  .  that  is,  until  Nugget  starts  school  with  the   –‹‘•Ȅƒ††•–‘–Š‡•–‘”›Ǥ‘—‹‰Š–ƒ••–—†‡–•–‘‰‘‘ƒŠ—––Š”‘—‰Š›‘—” in  with  the  other  words,  or  narrative,  but  sometimes  they  put  it  in  the  characters’  
other  minnows.  No  matter  the  subject,  Nugget  and  his  classmates  are  taught  to  be-­‐ …Žƒ••”‘‘Ž‹„”ƒ”›–‘•‡‡‹ˆ–Š‡›…ƒϐ‹†‘–Š‡”„‘‘•–Šƒ–™‘”–Š‹•™ƒ›ǡƒ† pictures,  or  speech  bubbles,  as  in  Nugget  &  Fang.  Looking  at  a  page  or  two  of  Nugget  &  
™ƒ”‡‘ˆ–Š‘•‡Š—‰‡ǡ–‘‘–Š›ǡ•…ƒ”›•Šƒ”•Ǥ–ϐ‹”•–—‰‰‡–‹••‡’–‹…ƒŽȄŠ‡‘™• ƒ‰ǡ study  the  ways  the  dialogue  and  the  story  line  work  together.  You  might  even   Fang  (using  the  document  camera  if  you  choose),  ask  students  to  discuss  the  dialogue  
and  Fang  isn’t  scary!  But  he  soon  begins  to  wonder  if  his  old  friend  may  indeed  be   have  students  write  and  draw  their  own  stories,  incorporating  bits  of  dia-­‐ the  author  has  added  in  speech  bubbles  and  how  it  tells  more  of  the  story.    Then  
the  ferocious  predator  his  teachers  and  new  friends  describe.  When  Nugget  explains   logue  in  the  form  of  speech  bubbles  (see  lesson  below). •Š‘™•–—†‡–•›‘—”•ƒ’Ž‡•–‘”›Ȅ‹–Š‡Ž’•‹ˆ‹–‹•ƒ„‘—–ƒ•Šƒ”‡†‡š’‡”‹‡…‡Ȅƒ†
to  Fang  that  minnows  and  sharks  aren’t  supposed  to  be  friends,  he  is  crestfallen.  He   % Reading/Writing:  In  Nugget  &  Fang,  the  pictures  speak  volumes.  You  might   ask  them  to  help  you  think  of  some  dialogue  that  you  could  add  in  speech  bubbles  
does  everything  he  can  to  show  Nugget  that  he’s  the  same  goofy,  friendly  guy  he’s   †‹•…—••Š‘™–Š‡‹ŽŽ—•–”ƒ–‘”—•‡•–Š‡’‹…–—”‡•Ȅ’ƒ”–‹…—Žƒ”Ž›–Š‡‡š’”‡••‹‘•‘ that  makes  your  story  stronger.    Ask  each  student  to  talk  to  one  other  student  to  gen-­‐
ƒŽ™ƒ›•„‡‡Ǥ—–—‰‰‡–ǯ•‡™ˆ”‹‡†•ƒ”‡•—•’‹…‹‘—•Ȅ•‘ ƒ‰‡†•—’ƒŽŽƒŽ‘‡Ǥ –Š‡…Šƒ”ƒ…–‡”•ǯˆƒ…‡•Ȅ–‘ƒ††–‘–Š‡•–‘”›ǤŠƒ–†‘™‡Ž‡ƒ”ƒ„‘—––Š‡‹-­‐ erate  ideas,  and  then  add  speech  bubbles  to  your  story  sample  using  students’  ideas.  
When  he  happens  to  witness  Nugget  and  his  classmates  swept  up  in  the  clutches  of   nows’  feelings  about  Fang  from  their  reactions  to  his  dinner  invitation?  When   Then  invite  students  to  try  it  out  in  their  own  stories.
ƒϐ‹•Š‹‰‡–ǡŠ‡‰‡–•Š‹•…Šƒ…‡ǤŠ‘•‡„‹‰–‡‡–Šƒ”‡Œ—•––Š‡–Š‹‰ȄŠ‡–‡ƒ”•–Š”‘—‰Š your  students  are  reading  (or  making)  picture  books,  you  might  encourage  
the  net,  freeing  Nugget  and  the  rest.  Nugget  and  the  others  realize  that  friends  come   them  to  think  about  how  pictures  can  reveal  a  lot  about  how  characters  are   Work  Time:  As  your  students  work,  circulate  among  them,  offering  help  and  sugges-­‐
in  all  shapes  and  sizes,  and  Fang  is  never  lonely  again! feeling. –‹‘•ƒ•‡…‡••ƒ”›Ǥ–—†‡–•‘ˆƒŽŽƒ‰‡•‰‡‡”ƒŽŽ›Šƒ˜‡ƒŽ‘–‘ˆ‡‡”‰›ˆ‘”–Š‹•™‘”Ȅ
% MathǣŠ‡”‡ƒ”‡ƒˆ‡™ƒ††‹–‹‘’”‘„Ž‡•™‘˜‡–Š”‘—‰Š–Š‡–‡š–Ȅˆ‘”‡š-­‐ it  is  very  motivating.    Adding  speech  bubbles  sometimes  provides  a  nice  entryway  
Note  to  Teachers ample,  10  minnows  +  1  shark  =  11  friends.  Using  the  pictures  in  the  book  as   into  adding  words  to  stories  for  students  who  struggle  or  are  less  interested  in  writ-­‐
Nugget  &  Fang  is  a  story  about  getting  along.  It’s  about  getting  to  know  and  appre-­‐ source  material,  invite  your  students  to  write  and  solve  sea-­‐life  story  prob-­‐ ‹‰Ǥ—–ƒŽŽ•–—†‡–•™‹ŽŽ„‡‡ϐ‹–ˆ”‘–Š‹•™‘”Ǥ‘—ƒ›ϐ‹†–Šƒ–•‘‡‡‡†”‡‹†-­‐
ciate  all  different  kinds  of  people.  It’s  about  being  kind  to  your  friends  even  when   lems.  Simple  addition  and  subtraction  problems  work  best. ers  to  keep  their  dialogue  tied  in  to  the  rest  of  the  story,  to  make  sure  that  it  is  mean-­‐
‘–Š‡”•ƒ”‡‘–„‡‹‰‹†Ǥ–ǯ•ƒ„‘—––‘Ž‡”ƒ…‡ǤŠ‹•„‘‘ϐ‹–•’‡”ˆ‡…–Ž›‹–‘ƒ›ƒ–‹Ǧ % Science:  ‹‘™•…Š‘‘Žǡ–Š‡Ž‹––Ž‡ϐ‹•Š•–—†›–Š‡ƒ”‹‡ˆ‘‘†…Šƒ‹ǤŽ-­‐ ingful.  It  can  be  helpful  to  carry  a  copy  of  Nugget  &  Fang  with  you  as  you  circulate,  so  
bullying  curriculum,  or  as  part  of  a  series  of  read-­‐aloud  books  focused  on  teaching   though  Nugget  and  Fang  are  unlikely  friends  (because  they  are  on  the  oppo-­‐ that  you  have  it  on  hand  as  an  example  for  students  who  get  stuck.
–‘Ž‡”ƒ…‡ƒ†…‘—‹–›„—‹Ž†‹‰Ǥ–ǯ•ƒŽ•‘‰”‡ƒ––‘Šƒ˜‡‘Šƒ†ƒ••’‡…‹ϐ‹…•‹–—ƒ-­‐ site  ends  of  the  food  chain),  the  book  can  provide  a  nice  addition  to  a  study  of  
tions  come  up  in  your  classroom,  to  remind  children  that  when  everyone  is  included   the  marine  food  chain.  Perhaps  studying  the  real  food  chain  will  help  young-­‐ Share:  Gather  your  students  together  in  the  class  meeting  place  with  their  writing,  
ƒ†…‡Ž‡„”ƒ–‡†ǡ‡˜‡”›‘‡„‡‡ϐ‹–•Ǥ sters  empathize  with  the  minnows’  initial  mistrust  of  Fang! and  invite  them  to  share  it  with  a  neighbor  or  a  small  group  of  classmates.    You  may  
% Social  Studies/Community  Building:  It  is  often  the  case  that  people,  unlike   decide  to  ask  a  student  or  two  who  felt  particularly  successful  with  adding  speech  
Discussion  Questions  for  Read-­‐Aloud Nugget  and  Fang,  gravitate  toward  those  who  are  most  like  themselves.  How-­‐ bubbles  to  share  their  writing  with  the  class.  You  might  invite  students  to  discuss  
% ƒ‰ƒ†—‰‰‡–ƒ”‡‘–—…ŠƒŽ‹‡‘–Š‡‘—–•‹†‡Ȅ„—––Š‡›ƒ”‡•–‹ŽŽ–Š‡„‡•– ever,  sometimes  all  it  takes  to  broaden  our  horizons  is  an  invitation.  Invite   how  the  added  dialogue  enhanced  the  story.
of  friends.  Why  do  you  think  they  get  along  so  well? your  students  to  sit  next  to  someone  in  the  class  they  don’t  usually  talk  to,  and  
% Do  you  have  friends  who  are  very  different  from  you?  What  about  being  dif-­‐ to  learn  one  new  thing  about  that  person.  Afterward,  have  students  introduce  
ferent  makes  your  friendship  special? each  other  and  share  the  new  facts  they’ve  learned  about  their  classmates. Guide  written  by  Zoe  Ryder  White
% Nugget  doesn’t  even  question  having  Fang  as  a  friend  until  Fang  goes  to  
school  and  begins  to  learn  how  “scary”  sharks  are.  Do  you  think  Nugget   A  Writing  Lesson:  Incorporating  Meaningful  Dialogue  as  Speech  Bubbles  in  
™‘—Ž†Šƒ˜‡„‡…‘‡•…ƒ”‡†‘ˆ ƒ‰‹ˆ–Š‡‘–Š‡”ϐ‹•ŠŠƒ†ǯ–„‡‡•…ƒ”‡†‘ˆ Picture  Books  (K–2)
sharks?  Why  or  why  not?
% How  could  Nugget  have  behaved  differently?  Did  he  have  to  listen  to  the  other   Materials  Needed:  A  copy  of  Nugget  &  Fang;  writing  and  drawing  materials  for  stu-­‐
ϐ‹•ŠǫŠ›†‹†ǯ–Š‡•–ƒ†—’ˆ‘”Š‹•ˆ”‹‡†ǫƒ˜‡›‘—‡˜‡”ˆ‡Ž–Ž‹‡–Šƒ–ǫ dents.  Access  to  a  document  camera  so  that  you  can  project  the  pages  of  the  book  is  
% Š‡Ž‹––Ž‡ϐ‹•Šƒ”‡•…ƒ”‡†‘ˆ ƒ‰„‡…ƒ—•‡Š‡‹•†‹ˆˆ‡”‡–Ǥƒ˜‡›‘—‡š’‡”‹‡…‡† helpful  but  not  necessary.  You  may  wish  to  write  your  own  story  and  use  a  page  from  
anything  like  this  in  your  life?  Why  do  you  think  people  are  sometimes  scared   it  in  this  exercise  as  an  example.  Your  story  should  match  the  level  of  your  students’  
of  one  another’s  differences? writing  in  terms  of  amount  and  complexity  of  text.  
% What  does  Fang  do  to  try  to  show  Nugget  that  he’s  friendly?  Why  don’t  those  
things  work? Background  Knowledge:  It  will  be  helpful  if  your  students  are  already  familiar  with  
% Fang  is  really  creative  when  coming  up  with  ideas  of  nice  things  to  do  for   the  book  Nugget  &  Fang.  You  will  want  to  have  read  it  to  them  and  discussed  it  on  
hmhbooks.com/nuggetandfang
Nugget.  What  kinds  of  things  do  you  do  when  you  are  trying  to  show  someone   several  occasions.  This  lesson  works  well  within  the  context  of  a  unit  of  study  focus-­‐
you  care  about  him  or  her? ‹‰‘™”‹–‹‰ƒ””ƒ–‹˜‡•Ȅ‡‹–Š‡”’‡”•‘ƒŽƒ””ƒ–‹˜‡•‘”ϐ‹…–‹‘ƒŽƒ””ƒ–‹˜‡•Ȅ‹
% What  changes  the  minnows’  minds  about  Fang?   which  students  are  supporting  their  writing  with  drawings,  and  vice  versa.  However,  
% What  do  you  think  the  minnows  will  do  if  they  ever  meet  another  shark,  now   you  may  choose  to  do  it  anytime  you  wish  to  introduce  your  students  to  the  concept  
that  they  are  friends  with  Fang?   of  dialogue  and  invite  them  to  try  it  out  in  their  own  writing.

nuggetandfangposter.indd 2 12/11/12 9:05 AM