Vitamina T for Tacos
Mando Rayo, Suzanne García-Mateus & Martha Samaniego Calderón
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Who doesn't love tacos? A rhetorical question, of course. Tacos are ubiquitous; you can find them in all restaurants, from fast food to upscale restaurants to the iconic food truck. From humble Mexican working-class beginnings, tacos are embedded in American culture as “mom, apple pie, and baseball.” We find a fantastic work titled Vitamina T for Tacos in this context. Vitamina T for Tacos takes the reader on a tour of the diverse array of combinations, options, and choices one can make when indulging in their favorite food. As a Mexican cultural and gastronomic icon, the taco is worthy of study, admiration, and celebration. The authors Suzanne Garcia-Mateus and Mando Rayo and the illustrator Martha Samaniego Calderon have created a book that, although designed and intended for children, everyone, regardless of age, can find joy in learning about the beautiful variety of tacos. The creators took a beautifully simple approach to highlight Mexican culture through food in an alphabet book. From A-Z, Suzanne, Mando, and Martha have skillfully connected each letter of the alphabet to a different taco variation or ingredient. Although tacos are beloved by all, the only agreed-upon ingredient is the requisite corn tortilla, the only necessary component to constructing a taco. Beyond that, cultural mashups and regional specialties take precedence. Whether it's the traditional carne asada taco, represented by the letter “C,” or the cultural hybrid “Korean” taco, represented by the letter “K,” the only limitation for creating the perfect taco is imagination. |
It would be easy to simply classify Vitamina T for Tacos as a children's alphabet book, but it is more. By creating a work that expresses artistic and cultural connection, this book adopts a bilingual language frame, signaling to Chicanx and Latinx children that their cultural traditions and daily familial practices are valued and worthy of publication. The insider perspective the creators bring to this book, from Spanglish to the cultural glossary, displays a cultural familiarity, expertise, and passion lacking in this literary genre.
The value of culturally relevant children's books cannot be overstated as more than half of K–12 public school students are children of color. However, books with Latino characters comprised just 6.2 percent of all children's books. While white middle-class narratives dominate children's literature, the authors’ contribution to changing this situation is significant.
There isn't a more cherished cultural food that is more universally beloved on both sides of the border. The taco is not only the center of the Mexican culinary world but of Mexican culture as well. Vitamina T contributes a work that all children can use to appreciate and learn more about Mexican culture while providing Chicanx and Latinx children the opportunity to celebrate their language, culture, and history. Reading this book reminds us we can all use a little - or a lot - more Vitamina T in our lives. The humble taco reigns supreme.
The value of culturally relevant children's books cannot be overstated as more than half of K–12 public school students are children of color. However, books with Latino characters comprised just 6.2 percent of all children's books. While white middle-class narratives dominate children's literature, the authors’ contribution to changing this situation is significant.
There isn't a more cherished cultural food that is more universally beloved on both sides of the border. The taco is not only the center of the Mexican culinary world but of Mexican culture as well. Vitamina T contributes a work that all children can use to appreciate and learn more about Mexican culture while providing Chicanx and Latinx children the opportunity to celebrate their language, culture, and history. Reading this book reminds us we can all use a little - or a lot - more Vitamina T in our lives. The humble taco reigns supreme.
Vitamina T for Tacos is a publication by Jade Publishing.
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