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 …
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.