The Taco Magician
Diane Gonzales Bertrand

A great and fun way to present poetry and bilingualism to children. The Taco Magician / El mago de los tacos by Diane Gonzales Bertrand shares charming images of everyday objects that come to life such as toys, Abuela's kitchen table, a "blankie", books and much more. Throughout the pages we find a constant theme of love and family full of tender memories that will also warm the hearts of adults. The following is a poem beautifully exemplifies these loving family bonds.

Books Take Me Places

When my dad reads to me,
he gives the characters funny voices.

When my mom reads to me,
she adds hugs and kisses to every page.

When my sister reads to me,
she makes up new endings to the stories.

When my brother reads to me, 
he asks me questions to see what I remember.

When my aunt reads to me, 
she gives me paper to write my own stories.

When I read by myself, my books become friends.
Books take me places I want to go again.
​

The poems along with the illustrations by Carolyn Dee Flores show us how everyday events become more than just a bus ride, a walk to school, or dad's cooking. Dad becomes a magician and his cooking becomes a magic show with every ingredient.

​The entire collection includes a seamless translation by Rossy Evelin Lima who captures the essence and rhythm of each verse, making the book just as fun to read in English or Spanish. Translations such as this one also gives justice to the 41 million Spanish speakers in the U.S. whose children have learned to love in Spanish. 

Diane Gonzales Bertrand is the author of numerous books for children. They include The Story Circle / El círculo de cuentos (Piñata Books, 2016), A Bean and Cheese Taco Birthday / Un cumpleaños con tacos de frijoles con queso (2015), and Cecilia and Miguel Are Best Friends / Cecilia y Miguel son mejores amigos (2014). A lifelong resident of San Antonio, Bertrand teaches at St. Mary’s University, where she is also Writer-in-Residence.

Rossy Evelin Lima is the owner of Tower Translations. She is also an internationally published, award-winning poet. Her work has been published in numerous journals, magazines and anthologies in Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Venezuela, Chile, Colombia and Argentina. She received the Poet of the Year Award in 2018 at The Americas Poetry Festival of New York.

The Taco Magician is a publication by Piñata Books. Click here to purchase.
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Reviewed by
Gerald A. Padilla
​4/14/2020

Gerald A. Padilla (Los Angeles, CA) is founder and director of Latino Book Review, founder of Jade Publishing, founder of the Festival Internacional de Poesía Latinoamericana (FEIPOL), founder of Latin American Foundation for the Arts. He is co-author of the first children's book in Náhuatl in the U.S., Noyolkanyolkej. In 2017 and 2018, he participated as a juror for the National Scholastic Writing Awards.

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