FISH AND CLAM

A case of mistaken identity leads to friendship.

Fish—whom readers may recall from Ruzzier’s Fish and Sun (2021) and Fish and Worm (2023)—wants to expand his pebble collection beyond its single-entry catalogue, so he searches the sea. He mistakenly takes home what appears to be the perfect specimen…until it pipes up: “I am a clam!” A back-and-forth dialogue ensues as Clam helps Fish identify several different underwater objects: coral, a fishing hook, a pearl. Fish remains inquisitive even after Clam’s frequent corrections, and he apologizes for assuming Clam was a pebble. Beyond material gains, the real treasure turns out to be the friendship they make along the way. Like many titles in the series, this one includes a page at the beginning that demonstrates the fundamentals of reading comics, including the order in which panels should be read and the differences between various types of word balloons. Each spread consists of a single panel, with thoughtful separation between the left and right sides. Curious, adaptive Fish will endear himself to young readers still learning about all the world’s discoveries and what they are called. Repeat reads will be rewarded as little ones notice the coral, pearl, and hook, all of which Clam later points out. With their round, smiling faces, Fish and Clam make inviting protagonists, and the paper texture lends the artwork a crafty effect.

Ruzzier leaves no stone (or pebble!) unturned in his search for the perfect friendship tale.