It's Raining Tacos!

May 1, 2021

PreS-Gr 1-A birthday party with cake, pizza, and a bouncy house, what's not to love? Young readers will delight in the familiarity and joy of a child's birthday celebration with all of their favorite activities and foods. And what's a birthday celebration without some hijinks? Imagine getting a dog as a present and then your dog destroying your special birthday table and eating your pizza. Thanks to the lyrics of the titular song, the universe changes course with a most unusual gift: tacos raining from the sky. And who doesn't love tacos? Many readers will find the rhyming text, robust color palette, and imagery of tacos pouring from the sky a real treat. Yet, the story and imagery rely heavily on familiarity with the song, over-the-top celebrations, or tolerance for repetition. It requires readers and listeners alike to lean into the unbelievable, and to make two events-party ruined, party fixed-into a story. There is carefully crafted racial diversity throughout. VERDICT There are stronger books that celebrate the the simplicity and enjoyment of parties; there are songs with more of a story arc for picture-book adaptation.-Maegen Rose, Rye Country Day Sch., NY

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2021
A birthday disaster becomes a taco bonanza! "It's my birthday! / It's going to be great! / Birthday, with pizza and cake. / All my friends will come celebrate." And there's a new pet, a fluffy dog. What could be better? Unfortunately, while everyone is out in the backyard playing in the bouncy house, that new dog has a pizza feast! (Even the pepperoni!) But wait! There's the cake and the birthday wish. Blow out the candles, and what's that sound? "It's raining tacos, from out of the sky. / Tacos, no need to ask why. / Just open your mouth and close your eyes. / It's raining tacos!" The party guests dance in the torrential taco rain with upturned umbrellas. They catch shells, meat, lettuce, and cheese (lots of cheese). What a great way to celebrate: new dog, cake, friends, and a taco rainstorm. Gripp fashions his song (of YouTube fame) into a picture-book celebration of a favorite Tex-Mex treat by setting it at a youngster's birthday party. The song's lyrics form the bulk of the text, and they wend their way across the illustrations of racially diverse guests snagging tacos from out of the sky. Illustrator and animator Emmerich's bright and spritely cartoons are a perfect match for this exuberant salute to crunchy, cheesy yums. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Fine fare for fans of the song (or tacos). (Picture book. 3-7)

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