The Children’s Book Review | April 12, 2017
When You Invite a Dragon to Dinner…
News alert! It has just been discovered that there are no more tacos left anywhere in the world!How will families everywhere whip up their favorite weekly meal on Taco Tuesdays if there are no tacos to be found? You’ll probably have to read DRAGONS LOVE TACOS 2: THE SEQUEL to find out how to bring them back. We can’t help but think this catastrophe has something to do with this sizzling hot success of a story …
Dragons Love Tacos
By Adam Rubin
Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Age Range: 3 – 5
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Dial Books (2012)
ISBN: 978-0803736801
What to expect: Dragons, Food, Humor
Publisher’s synopsis: Have you ever wondered how to host a party for dragons? Yes? Well … this satisfyingly ludicrous picture book is for you. Here’s your first (and most important) tip: dragons love tacos! But beware of the spicy kind.
In the pages of this very funny book you’ll find out just how to throw the ultimate dragon party. If you give a dragon a taco, you can be sure they will be incredibly happy. So if you want to make friends with dragons the best thing to do is host a taco party. Nobody knows why they love them so much, but beef, chicken, big and gigantic, tiny little baby tacos, and any other kind of delicious taco will do the trick. Just be sure not to serve the tacos with spicy salsa. Blah! Dragon’s just can’t stand it. Just one drop of hot sauce will cause their ears to smoke, sparks to fly, and (perhaps worst of all) tummy trouble. Oh no! But don’t fret, within the pages of this scrumptious picture book, you’ll find a checklist of ingredients and constant reminders to avoid that hot sauce. What could go wrong? The taco party is a huge success … that is until the not-so-mild, mild taco sauce is introduced to the storyline.
Author Adam Rubin cleverly talks directly to the reader and the young boy protagonist (the party host as shown in the illustrations). This direct writing style lends itself well to being read out loud—it’s also a very clever way of inviting the reader into the pages. Best of all, Rubin’s witty humor, in combination with Daniel Salmieri’s illustrations, packs as much punch as a ghost pepper—that’s powerful! The watercolor, gouache, and color pencil illustrations often provide answers to the narrator’s questions; such as this response to “Hey dragon, how do you feel about spicy taco toppings?”
Dragons Love Tacos is so sizzling hot that, at the time of this review, it has been on The New York Times Best Sellers list for 163 weeks. If you have a kiddo that enjoys funny books, dabbles in dragons, enjoys tacos of the non-spicy variety, and could benefit from the cautionary aspect of remembering to read fine print, this is the picture book you’ll want to serve up next. And, on the topic of what to serve next, the only way to top Dragons Love Tacos will be by serving up Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel (If you preorder Dragons Love Tacos 2 now you can enter for a chance to win the Ultimate Taco Party gift basket from Penguin Kids by clicking here.).
One last thing, please remember that when you invite a dragon to dinner you’ll need to be sure to keep the hot sauce locked inside the pantry.
Available Here:
How to Make Tacos That Dragons Love
About the Author
Adam Rubin is the New York Times best-selling author of a half dozen critically-acclaimed picture books including Secret Pizza Party and Robo-Sauce. He spent ten years working as a creative director in the advertising industry before leaving his day job to write full time. Adam has a keen interest in improv comedy, camping and magic tricks.
About the Illustrator
Daniel Salmieri has illustrated many fantastic picture books, including the New York Times bestseller Robo-Sauce. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, constantly drawing and painting images of ninja turtles, dinosaurs, and fighter jets (not in the same scene…), and graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win one (1) of five (5) Dragons Love Tacos Book and Toy Sets (ARV: $17.99 each).
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on April 3, 2017 and 12:00 AM on May 1, 2017. Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about May 5, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
Blog Tour Schedule
Week One:
April 3 – Pirates n’ Pixie Dust – Taco Scavenger Hunt
April 4 – Margie’s Must Reads – Review + Recipe
April 5 – A Story a Day – Review + Taco Craft
April 6 – The Book Shire – Review
April 7 – Swoony Boys Podcast – Recipe + Taco Craft
Week Two:
April 10 – Ali’s Book Nook – Review + Recipe
April 11 – Mundie Kids – Review + Taco Party Checklist
April 12 – The Children’s Book Review – When You Invite a Dragon to Dinner…
April 13 – Reading is Better with Cupcakes – A World Without Tacos?!
April 14 – My Bookbloom – Review + Taco Activity
Week Three:
April 17 – As They Grow Up – Review
April 18 – The Book Nut – Taco Soup Recipe
April 19 – YA Book Nerd – Missing Taco Hunt
April 20 – Inspiration Laboratories – Dragons Love Tacos Birthday Party
April 21 – In Wonderland – Review + Taco Salad Recipe
Week Four:
April 24 – A Homeschool Mom – Review + Chili Pepper Experiment
April 25 – The Plot Bunny – Review + Recipe
April 26 – No BS Book Reviews – Taco Craft
April 27 – My Little Poppies – Review
April 28 – Happily Ever Elephants – Review
Dragons Love Tacos, by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri, was reviewed by Bianca Schulze. Discover more books like Dragons Love Tacos by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Adam Rubin, Daniel Salmieri, Dragons, Food, and Humorous Books.
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44 Comments
How exciting that there will be a sequel to Dragon Loves Tacos. Funny books are always a hit with the students I teach!
I’m excited. The first one is a favorite in my library!
This sounds wonderful. Thank you for being part of the tour.
Carol L
This sounds so much fun and thanks for making me hungry! I love fresh tacos and it’s healthy (or can be) and fast as well as customizable to each person’s taste.
Given the success of the first book, the second is bound to be hugely popular. Congratulations to all concerned.
This sounds delightful and wonderful. tacos are great.
“Are you excited for DRAGONS LOVE TACOS 2? ” Yes! Mega-excited!
Sounds like a delightful read!
So excited!!! We love DRAGONS LOVE TACOS!
So cute. I love both dragons and tacos.
My granddaughter and I love Dragons Love Tacos. The Overdrive had it where it was read to her and moved. When we are in B & N she always points it out.
I am excited! It sounds and looks like such a great book and I know my dragon crazy grandson would love it.
I’m super excited. It looks cute
Grandson is in a dragon mode right now. Great giveaway.
Carol L
YES or i hope so anyway.
This book just makes my heart smile.
sounds like a super book
Sounds like a book my grandchildren will read over and over.
The kids love these kinds of books!
my grandkids love these books
Sounds like a super book for kids!
Such an awesome book!!!!
I love that it’s a series. Thank you for theses wonderful giveaway chances.
Carol L
I’m excited and my kids would love to read the book.
We’re so excited dragons are our favorite. We love stories about them.
we had tacos tonight, but they weren’t dragon sized.
We love Adam Rubin’s books! Very excited for book 2!
Cant believe this giveaway!!!!!!!!! This is Great!!!!!!
@ inspirationlaboratories (aka: apple blossom)
Sounds like an amazing read with my grandsons!!! They just love to be read to out loud!!!…And, this book sounds like a great read….
Yes, this book sounds adorable! My grandkids would love it!
This sounds like a cute book to share with our children.
My granddaughter is a new reader & it is something I am totally encouraging! This book looks like one she would really enjoy.
burritos are pretty good too. yum!
The students love funny stories! My friend read this in her after-school Book Cooks program and the students made taco’s. I am going to request this book for the library. Wouldn’t it be fun to win the second book. I am sure it is hysterical! No HOT SAUCE please!
My sweet little Chloe Pearl LOVES dragons AND tacos!
I have never heard of this book before and it sounds so cute and one my grandchildren would love reading.
The kids think these books are so funny!
Would love to read this to my granddaughter Arya. Ty for the chance
My family is looking forward to reading Dragons Love Tacos and thanks for the opportunity to win.
My lil man would love these books! Thanks for the chance!!
We are so excited for this book! My daughter LOVES to read and hopes to read this soon! Thanks for giving us the chance to win it!
I am excited! It sounds and looks like such a great book and I know my dragon crazy husband and granddaughter would love it.
believe it or not, zucchini is amazing in tacos