Tacos

by Frank Asch, Frank Asch (Illustrator)

Overview

Baby Bear tries tacos for the first time in this “warm, comfortable” (Booklist) picture book by celebrated and award-winning author-illustrator Frank Asch.

When Baby Bear goes on a business trip with Papa Bear, he worries about being far away from home—from Mama, from his comfy bed, from his yummy food. When Papa suggests trying tacos for the first time, Baby Bear isn’t sure he’ll like them. Will he be brave enough to try something new?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481480666
Publisher:	Aladdin
Publication date:	09/19/2023
Series:	Frank Asch Bear Book Series
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Frank Asch (1946–2022) was a graduate of Cooper Union, and wrote and illustrated more than eighty children’s books, among them the bestselling classics featuring Moonbear and Baby Bear, Russian National Bestseller Award recipient Here Comes the Cat!, and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Golden Award winner Like a Windy Day. Mr. Asch lived in Hawaii with his family.

Frank Asch (1946–2022) was a graduate of Cooper Union, and wrote and illustrated more than eighty children’s books, among them the bestselling classics featuring Moonbear and Baby Bear, Russian National Bestseller Award recipient Here Comes the Cat!, and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Golden Award winner Like a Windy Day. Mr. Asch lived in Hawaii with his family.

Editorial Reviews

08/01/2023

PreS-K—Papa Bear finds out he is being sent to Arizona for a work trip and brings Baby Bear along with him. At first, Baby Bear is unsure about being so far from home, especially without Mama. But once they arrive, he finds that traveling and experiencing new things is much more fun than he expected. They swim in the hotel pool and explore the bustling town together. For dinner, Papa and Baby Bear go to a Mexican restaurant. Baby Bear has never eaten Mexican food before and wants to order pizza. Papa encourages him to try something new and orders tacos for them both. Baby Bear loves the tacos and orders them at every restaurant for the rest of the trip. Once they arrive back home, Baby Bear is thrilled to learn that he can have tacos at home, too! Asch's vibrant illustrations are easily recognizable and engaging, and this tale will be relatable to young readers and parents who are struggling with picky eaters. Papa Bear acknowledges Baby Bear's anxiety while also encouraging him to branch out and have new experiences. VERDICT Although tacos are an extremely familiar menu item today, this is still a great story hour read from a longtime favorite and a good way to explore the topic of traveling and trying new foods.—Jillian Girardeau

School Library Journal

2023-06-21
Baby Bear travels to Arizona with Papa Bear and discovers…tacos.

Papa Bear tells his family they can come on his business trip, but Mama Bear can’t go because she’s busy with a library book sale. Baby Bear worries about myriad things she usually manages, but Papa Bear assures him he’ll take care of everything. Readers may raise an eyebrow at Baby Bear’s perception of his father’s ineptitude, but all goes well—mercifully without hackneyed Mr. Mom mishaps. The duo enjoy their flight, swim in the hotel pool, explore “the colorful streets,” and order tacos at a restaurant, but while the bright cartoon illustrations will feel familiar to those who know Asch’s work, they do little to expand on the staid text. The fact that these are Baby Bear’s first tacos may also leave readers wondering how the anthropomorphic cub hasn’t encountered such a ubiquitous food. Indeed, the depiction of Arizona makes it seem like a strange and unfamiliar locale, belying the diversity of the United States and the Latine presence throughout the country. Also potentially confusing is the lack of attention to Papa Bear’s business on this trip and what Baby Bear does during Papa’s work time. The pair’s return home is happy once Papa Bear assures Baby Bear that they can make and eat tacos there, too. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Rather bland, especially given the titular food’s customary spice. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews