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Dragons Love Tacos #1
Dragons Love Tacos
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Picture Books (2012)This scrumptious New York Times bestseller has a whole lot of kick!
Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa . . . oh, boy. You're in red-hot trouble.
The award-winning team behind Those Darn Squirrels! has created an unforgettable, laugh-until-salsa-comes-out-of-your-nose tale of new friends and the perfect snack.
Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa . . . oh, boy. You're in red-hot trouble.
The award-winning team behind Those Darn Squirrels! has created an unforgettable, laugh-until-salsa-comes-out-of-your-nose tale of new friends and the perfect snack.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published June 14, 2012
About the author
Adam Rubin
30 books362 followersAdam Rubin is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of ten critically-acclaimed picture books, including the Those Darn Squirrels trilogy, Dragons Love Tacos, Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel, Secret Pizza Party, Robo-Sauce and El Chupacabras (winner of the 2020 Texas Blue Bonnet award). In between writing projects, he designs and collects optical illusions, puzzles and games. His favorite color is blue, his favorite food is fried chicken, and his favorite animal is the otter. Adam currently lives in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,267 reviews
February 22, 2019
In this book we have dragons, which is nice, but what is even better is that we also have tacos. Many tacos. So many tacos. Who doesn't like tacos?
I "read" this through Hoopla. The only versions available to me were the Read-Along and the Hoopla Movie. They're both pretty much the same thing: a narrated version of the picture book with some animated effects added to the illustrations. In some cases the screen zoomed in and out and around on the illustration to create movement, in other cases certain details were animated (much like a Kindle-in-Motion dealio). The Read-Along version only differed in that it had the actual text on the screen with each word highlighted as the narrator said it.
I think I would have preferred to have just plain old read this. The narrator was not as snarky as the voice in my head, and the page movement didn't do a lot for me. I'm sure many kids will like this, though, and it would provide an excellent respite for parents who need something to occupy a young child for a few minutes.
4 stars for this. Because tacos.
I "read" this through Hoopla. The only versions available to me were the Read-Along and the Hoopla Movie. They're both pretty much the same thing: a narrated version of the picture book with some animated effects added to the illustrations. In some cases the screen zoomed in and out and around on the illustration to create movement, in other cases certain details were animated (much like a Kindle-in-Motion dealio). The Read-Along version only differed in that it had the actual text on the screen with each word highlighted as the narrator said it.
I think I would have preferred to have just plain old read this. The narrator was not as snarky as the voice in my head, and the page movement didn't do a lot for me. I'm sure many kids will like this, though, and it would provide an excellent respite for parents who need something to occupy a young child for a few minutes.
4 stars for this. Because tacos.
July 7, 2018
If you can get past the mildly racist presumption in the title, this is a diverting educational primer on the dietary habits of lizardus massivus flameus breathus. Best when read aloud with tinier humans.
April 12, 2020
This is it people, I may as well just quit reading. We've hit the pinnacle of what literature can be: Dragons Love Tacos.
Yes, yes they certainly do. You know why? Because everyone loves tacos. Especially dragons though.
The plot of this book follows a young boy, who wants to hold a taco party for dragons. The narrator informs him how to invite the dragons, what sort of things dragons like, and a warning on the dangers of spicy salsa.
This really is one of the single most amusing children's books I've ever read. There's no real moral, it's just a ridiculous tale about dragons, tacos and parties. It aims for nothing more and it is extremely good at what it does.
My daughter (2, almost 3 years old) laughs every time we read this one and I'm guaranteed to get at least one "Can we read it again?" after the tale is told. Unlike many of her stories, I have zero issues reading this one again. Why? Because everyone loves tacos.
5/5 stars
January 20, 2014
It's a truth universally acknowledged, that a single dragon in possession of a large appetite, must be in want of hundreds of tacos. And this humorous book has more than one dragon in it, meaning many, many tacos. This light-hearted, slightly absurd dragon story makes you want to read it aloud to a bunch of children making up all sorts of weird voices for each character. If you love tacos too, this book is most definitely for you.
April 3, 2023
It’s me, I’m dragons! 🌮
This book is dumb fun, I think I have it memorized at this point.
This book is dumb fun, I think I have it memorized at this point.
August 2, 2017
True story: my 3-year old nephew and my (32 year old) self both got this book for Christmas last December. We were equally excited, but I confess to being a tad jealous of the fact that Malcolm got the deluxe version that came with a plushie and I only got the book.
I have always loved dragons and I especially love when they are not represented as mean menacing beasts. This book is full of adorable dragons who are friendly, like to party and eat tacos. You just have to be careful what kind of salsa you give them, cuz they can get messy! But they are kind enough to clean up after themselves.
Malcolm and I both give it 5 stars!
I have always loved dragons and I especially love when they are not represented as mean menacing beasts. This book is full of adorable dragons who are friendly, like to party and eat tacos. You just have to be careful what kind of salsa you give them, cuz they can get messy! But they are kind enough to clean up after themselves.
Malcolm and I both give it 5 stars!
January 7, 2013
I wouldn't say this is the best book in the world, but it is probably the best book on dragons loving tacos.
The illustrations are adorable. And the premise is cute -- dragons love tacos! And taco parties! We never actually find out WHY dragons love tacos, despite the question being asked. I guess the awesomeness of tacos is so obvious that the question doesn't need an answer.
But, whatever you do, don't feed them spicy salsa! The spicy salsa thing is actually what makes me hesitant to say that this is a truly great children's picture book. Because, you see, dragons "hate" spicy salsa. It creates a cute lead-in to the ending, but I'm left wondering why we have to introduce the world "hate" into a child's vocabulary. Couldn't the writers have found a better way to explain it? Am I being too uptight? After all, it's not as if children memorize books and repeat things they learn from them.
Oh wait.
All in all, this was a completely adorable book with completely adorable illustrations. Great for dragon enthusiasts and taco lovers alike.
The illustrations are adorable. And the premise is cute -- dragons love tacos! And taco parties! We never actually find out WHY dragons love tacos, despite the question being asked. I guess the awesomeness of tacos is so obvious that the question doesn't need an answer.
But, whatever you do, don't feed them spicy salsa! The spicy salsa thing is actually what makes me hesitant to say that this is a truly great children's picture book. Because, you see, dragons "hate" spicy salsa. It creates a cute lead-in to the ending, but I'm left wondering why we have to introduce the world "hate" into a child's vocabulary. Couldn't the writers have found a better way to explain it? Am I being too uptight? After all, it's not as if children memorize books and repeat things they learn from them.
Oh wait.
All in all, this was a completely adorable book with completely adorable illustrations. Great for dragon enthusiasts and taco lovers alike.
June 21, 2019
"Magnificent!! Hilarious!! Also... Informative! ; ) "
^^^ The comments above were insisted upon by my son, when I read this to him at the library a few days ago. Granted, he is 16... but he was having a rough day, and on a whim, we decided to read children's books together, sitting in the rocking chairs, in the children's section of the library. This was the result.
The humor in this picture book is pure stress relief, for us, at least. This is the tale of a boy who adores dragons, and of the dragons themselves, who adore tacos. This boy really wants to have a taco party, in order to have dragon houseguests, and so begins the fun.
There's a great deal of tongue-in-cheek humor, as the author gives us quasi-serious 'information' about why dragons love tacos so much, and how to host a taco party for them. The writing is simple and whimsical, a bit repetitive - but repetition in this case is a technique that will keep younger listeners (pre-readers) hooked. There's a very basic problem/solution plot-line, easily comprehended by kiddos.
The illustrations are what originally caught my eye: my artist child says they were most likely done with watercolors, and the result is a combination of fun, funny, and attractive. The dragons are hilarious: many different shapes and colors, quirky facial expressions and poses, different personalities indicated by their actions. The larger portion of the story is told through the illustrations, so be sure to take time to savor them. We especially liked the banana-shaped dragons in flight!
Recommended for children ages 4 to 10, and for the adults who love to read to them, or with them.
ALSO recommended for grumpy teenagers who secretly wish that they were still young enough to fit on Mommy's lap, in the rocking chair...
^^^ The comments above were insisted upon by my son, when I read this to him at the library a few days ago. Granted, he is 16... but he was having a rough day, and on a whim, we decided to read children's books together, sitting in the rocking chairs, in the children's section of the library. This was the result.
The humor in this picture book is pure stress relief, for us, at least. This is the tale of a boy who adores dragons, and of the dragons themselves, who adore tacos. This boy really wants to have a taco party, in order to have dragon houseguests, and so begins the fun.
There's a great deal of tongue-in-cheek humor, as the author gives us quasi-serious 'information' about why dragons love tacos so much, and how to host a taco party for them. The writing is simple and whimsical, a bit repetitive - but repetition in this case is a technique that will keep younger listeners (pre-readers) hooked. There's a very basic problem/solution plot-line, easily comprehended by kiddos.
The illustrations are what originally caught my eye: my artist child says they were most likely done with watercolors, and the result is a combination of fun, funny, and attractive. The dragons are hilarious: many different shapes and colors, quirky facial expressions and poses, different personalities indicated by their actions. The larger portion of the story is told through the illustrations, so be sure to take time to savor them. We especially liked the banana-shaped dragons in flight!
Recommended for children ages 4 to 10, and for the adults who love to read to them, or with them.
ALSO recommended for grumpy teenagers who secretly wish that they were still young enough to fit on Mommy's lap, in the rocking chair...
January 19, 2016
Do you love tacos? Well dragons love them too and this book gives you all the reasons why!
Book cover: This book cover is so adorable and hilarious - I can't get over all the tiny tacos!!
Thoughts: I know what you're thinking: what are you doing reading a picture book when you have a TBR pile of immeasurable size full of actual books to get to?
Well, although a grown up I may be, I have a weakness for adorable and witty picture books. And Dragons Love Tacos is a book that can be enjoyed by adults and children alike, with amazing and funny illustrations woven throughout the book.
Apart from the illustrations, the book actually has quite an imaginative plot too.
**For the original review + a sneak peek at the book's illustrations click here**
Book cover: This book cover is so adorable and hilarious - I can't get over all the tiny tacos!!
Thoughts: I know what you're thinking: what are you doing reading a picture book when you have a TBR pile of immeasurable size full of actual books to get to?
Well, although a grown up I may be, I have a weakness for adorable and witty picture books. And Dragons Love Tacos is a book that can be enjoyed by adults and children alike, with amazing and funny illustrations woven throughout the book.
Apart from the illustrations, the book actually has quite an imaginative plot too.
**For the original review + a sneak peek at the book's illustrations click here**
March 12, 2022
[1. Dragons--Fiction. 2. Tacos--Fiction. 3. Food habits--Fiction. 4. Humorous stories.]
Summary: Explores the love dragons have for tacos, and the dangers of feeding them anything with spicy salsa.
Boy, does it ever. Bright, cheerful illustrations of dragons and tacos. Tacos are just comedy gold, folks, and pair them with dragons who like costume parties and play charades and eat at Taco Cave and you've got a winner.
It will probably also really make you want a taco.
Summary: Explores the love dragons have for tacos, and the dangers of feeding them anything with spicy salsa.
Boy, does it ever. Bright, cheerful illustrations of dragons and tacos. Tacos are just comedy gold, folks, and pair them with dragons who like costume parties and play charades and eat at Taco Cave and you've got a winner.
It will probably also really make you want a taco.
April 6, 2019
I like Dragons. I like tacos.
Combine them together...
I LOVVVVVVVED IT!!!!!
Now I want tacos...and my own Dragon BFF.
Combine them together...
I LOVVVVVVVED IT!!!!!
Now I want tacos...and my own Dragon BFF.
August 18, 2015
Too cute!
March 1, 2016
Even my older kids ask me to get this book periodically because they find this and Adam Rubin's other books hysterical.
June 27, 2016
I liked this book. A good mix of fantasy and practicality. Illustrations were awesome and although he has no lines the dog adds a lot to the story.
May 3, 2020
"If you want to make friends with dragons, tacos are key."
So ridiculous yet so much fun. Seeing hot salsa turn the dragons into fire breathers is hilarious, and keeps young readers interested because it's so stinking silly.
So ridiculous yet so much fun. Seeing hot salsa turn the dragons into fire breathers is hilarious, and keeps young readers interested because it's so stinking silly.
June 18, 2012
Clever, and I like both dragons and tacos, but the set-up for the surprise took too long.
August 18, 2018
Awwww!! This was such a sweet, little picture book that I would highly recommend reading to little kids. They would love it!! Because come on who doesn’t love dragons and tacos?? 😂
July 30, 2022
Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa . . . oh, boy. You're in red-hot trouble.
September 27, 2021
They should write this into a song that you can sing as you read it!
I love tacos... and so do dragons! They even like them with lettuce, me too! They don't like salsa, I DO!
I love the color and the seriously cute pictures.
5 stars
Happy Reading!
I love tacos... and so do dragons! They even like them with lettuce, me too! They don't like salsa, I DO!
I love the color and the seriously cute pictures.
5 stars
Happy Reading!
December 23, 2023
Subtly trying to convince my nephew that dragons are better than dinosaurs. 😏
Simple. Cute. Especially if they love tacos.
Simple. Cute. Especially if they love tacos.
July 14, 2022
yeah, i know. some people say adding picture books to your goodreads challenge is sus, or even bordering on morally wrong, but this is my account so i do what i want.
🌮
this book is just fantastic on multiple levels-the illustrations, the mildly absurd plotline, the fact that dragons hate spicy salsa just like me.
🌮
i love this book and now i really, really, REALLY want a taco...which is unfortunate because i'm on a diet and tacos are not permitted.
ahhh, well. at least i can look at pictures of cute dragons and yummy (spicy salsa-less) tacos and that helps.
🌮
🌮
this book is just fantastic on multiple levels-the illustrations, the mildly absurd plotline, the fact that dragons hate spicy salsa just like me.
🌮
i love this book and now i really, really, REALLY want a taco...which is unfortunate because i'm on a diet and tacos are not permitted.
ahhh, well. at least i can look at pictures of cute dragons and yummy (spicy salsa-less) tacos and that helps.
🌮
December 6, 2012
I remember seeing this earlier this year but I didn't even put it on Goodreads, that's how much of an impression it made. So when the NYTimes puts it on its Notable list, I put it on hold to look at it again. Guess what? Still not impressed. One joke stretched thin, and the illustrations and design are not adding much.
December 23, 2015
I read this at the Young Readers Center when I was supposed to be shelving. It was amazing. Read it if you like tacos, dragons, being bossy, ruining nice things, and being a human with a pulse.
December 24, 2018
Great book. I mean.... WHO DOESN'T LOVE TACOS??
Also I love the illistrations.
Also I love the illistrations.
December 23, 2022
Dragons + tacos, learn why dragons love tacos in this fun and humorous picture book.
February 24, 2020
A young boy prepares a taco party for a group of dragons in this humorous picture-book, as the narrator informs him (and the reader) of the draconic love for all things taco, but hatred for all things spicy. Apparently, spicy salsa will strengthen a dragon's natural tendency toward fire, leading to sparks and smoke, if ingested. This leads to some dire consequences, when the boy overlooks the newest ingredient of the 'mild' salsa he buys. Fortunately, when his guests accidentally burn down his house, they are there to help him rebuild...
A great favorite at work, both with colleagues and patrons, Dragons Love Tacos is a book I have been meaning to pick up, especially since I enjoyed this author/illustrator team's Robo-Sauce . I imagine that younger children will find this one quite amusing - I know I did! - and will identify with the dragons' love of tacos. The artwork is colorful and appealing, adding greatly to the sense of fun. Recommended to children who love dragons and/or Tex-Mex food, or who enjoy stories with a somewhat silly sense of humor.
A great favorite at work, both with colleagues and patrons, Dragons Love Tacos is a book I have been meaning to pick up, especially since I enjoyed this author/illustrator team's Robo-Sauce . I imagine that younger children will find this one quite amusing - I know I did! - and will identify with the dragons' love of tacos. The artwork is colorful and appealing, adding greatly to the sense of fun. Recommended to children who love dragons and/or Tex-Mex food, or who enjoy stories with a somewhat silly sense of humor.
July 14, 2021
Matt picked this up during our latest trip to Barnes & Noble, since, of course, he loves both dragons and tacos. He really embodies the illustration on the cover. It was a fun book, but it seemed to drag on longer than necessary, repeating some things a few times when once was sufficient. It explained how dragons love tacos, and the toppings they like, but they don't like hot spicy salsa - only mild salsa will do (the latter of which was repeated three times. I get it.) Then a little boy throws the dragons a taco party and accidentally serves salsa with jalapenos and the dragons all breathe flames and burn down his house - oops! And then since the dragons are good Samaritans (do kids read picture books know what that means??), but mostly because the dragons wanted the taco breaks, they rebuilt his house.
November 27, 2017
Today's audience was a group of second graders. This book combines two things kids love, dragons and tacos. Although you will want to throw a dragon taco party just make sure you don't accidentally give them spicy salsa or the results will be disastrous!
I found this book to be mildly amusing while the kids loved it. They enjoyed the story and took a lot of interest in the illustrations, especially the ones of the dragon party. I don't know if this is a book that I would want to read over and over but the kids liked it a lot and they hadn't heard the story before. It nicely filled a hole in the sub plans and I would consider adding it to my sub bag of tricks for the early elementary school set.
I found this book to be mildly amusing while the kids loved it. They enjoyed the story and took a lot of interest in the illustrations, especially the ones of the dragon party. I don't know if this is a book that I would want to read over and over but the kids liked it a lot and they hadn't heard the story before. It nicely filled a hole in the sub plans and I would consider adding it to my sub bag of tricks for the early elementary school set.
October 14, 2017
I can see why Dragons Love Tacos has become so popular! The book is very cute, explaining a Dragon's fire as what happens when they eat tacos with spicy salsa or peppers on them. Dragons love tacos so they eat them all the time, but if they happen to get a spicy one...you might not want to be around.
There are a couple times in the book where the narrator asks the dragons what they think about something and they mime silly responses which brings more humor to the story. And of course this is a kind of humor that can come across easily to children, getting their attention and engaging them in reading for enjoyment.
There are a couple times in the book where the narrator asks the dragons what they think about something and they mime silly responses which brings more humor to the story. And of course this is a kind of humor that can come across easily to children, getting their attention and engaging them in reading for enjoyment.
March 4, 2020
Used this today at preschool story time.
As our state has one of the main coronavirus outbreaks, I had to "drop back and punt" at story time, nothing touchy, feely allowed at programs. So I chose all dragon books for my program. Before I read this I inquired of the adult caregivers in the audience if they were going to have any great lunches, then I proceeded to read this story. It was well received by both children and adults.
Just remember "As much as dragons love tacos, they hate spicy salsa even more.", so don't serve spicy salsa to dragons ---- and this is what will happen if you do...….
As our state has one of the main coronavirus outbreaks, I had to "drop back and punt" at story time, nothing touchy, feely allowed at programs. So I chose all dragon books for my program. Before I read this I inquired of the adult caregivers in the audience if they were going to have any great lunches, then I proceeded to read this story. It was well received by both children and adults.
Just remember "As much as dragons love tacos, they hate spicy salsa even more.", so don't serve spicy salsa to dragons ---- and this is what will happen if you do...….
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,267 reviews