Editorial Reviews

Review

⭐ "A riotous celebration of family culture, adventurous eating, and bicultural fusion cooking. Highly recommended.” —“Starred” review, School Library Journal

" With equally delectable art and prose, this celebrates the adventure of being open to every bite." —Publishers Weekly

"An engaging story of Korean culture, food literacy, and the importance of trying new things." —Booklist

"An inclusively toothsome invitation celebrating cultures, flavors, and family.” —Kirkus

“Frank, funny, fresh! Snap-happy art, irresistible sounds, and scrumptious cross-cultural flavors – what more could you want in a picture book?!” —Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist and New York Times-Bestselling Author 

⭐ "Taco night gets the star treatment in this punchy tale of a family dinner. The cover art bursts with color, blending retro 1970s aesthetics with manga-inspired energy that signals readers are in for something delicious. Inside, a busy family bustles around the kitchen preparing for the best night of the week. Every member of the family has a job, as depicted in the energetic cooking scenes; protagonist Ren presses masa into tortillas while a younger, diapered sibling covers himself in avocado. When Grandma arrives speaking Korean and serves up homemade kimchi, the story shifts into a relatable exploration of trying something new. The smell alone has Ren’s knees wobbling, but watching the family enjoy kimchi with a hearty “OO-WAAA” piques interest; a standout moment is a hilarious stare-down between the child and the kimchi itself, both eyeing each other suspiciously before Ren finally takes the plunge. It’s delicious, and the imaginative illustrations capture the elation as he experiences a spicy, flavor-filled adventure. Grandma and Ren embrace, and Grandma’s pride and the family’s enthusiasm reinforce an atmosphere of love and belonging—at least on the top of “Spicy Mountain” where the family has gathered for one final “AA-WOOO.” Strong back matter, including information about Korean meals, discussion prompts, a recipe, and creator notes are included.

VERDICT: A riotous celebration of family culture, adventurous eating, and bicultural fusion cooking. Highly recommended." — “Starred” review, School Library Journal

"A child contemplates a spicy gustatory mash-up in this cross-cultural culinary romp from collaborators Lee and Briggs Martin (Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix), teaming up with illustrator Choi (Bread Lab!). On young Ren’s calendar, Friday is marked with a starburst and the words “Taco Time.” The story starts with the event’s preparation: beans bubble on the stove, Mama chops vegetables, Papa grills outside, baby Agi smooshes avocado, and Ren presses and cooks masa rounds. But when Grandma, who grew up in Korea, arrives toting her “ong-gi tasting pot with some new yum to try,” and Ren peeks inside, the “LOUD and FUNKY” smell and “SPICY red” color result in a solid “no way.” Though Papa suggests that there is “NO wrong way to taco,” the child, who doesn’t care for spice, sees “taco troubles ahead.” Bold graphic digital illustrations vividly convey Ren’s perspective of the kimchi—curved lightning bolts shoot out of the tasting pot, and the child’s legs go visually wobbly—until a cautious taste yields a positive outcome. With equally delectable art and prose, this celebrates the adventure of being open to every bite. Back matter includes more about Korean cuisine, creators’ notes, and recipes. Ages 4–10." — Publishers Weekly

From the Back Cover

“Frank, funny, fresh! Snap-happy art, irresistible sounds, and scrumptious cross-cultural flavors – what more could you want in a picture book?!” – Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist and New York Times-Bestselling Author 

Blip, blop, blop.

Slice, dice, chop.

Sizzle, sizzle, snap.

It’s Friday! Taco Time! Ren loves family taco night… until Grandma shows up with her spicy kimchi. Papa says there’s no wrong way to taco, but Ren is not so sure. What to do? One brave bite. One unforgettable OO-WAAAAA! 

About the Author

June Jo Lee is the co-author of the award-winning picture books Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix and Sandor Katz and the Tiny Wild, both written with Jacqueline Briggs Martin. She is also a food ethnographer who studies how America eats, and a co-founder of READERS to EATERS, a publisher dedicated to promoting food literacy through stories about our diverse food cultures. She lives in San Francisco, California.

Jacqueline Briggs Martin is the author of many children’s books, including Snowflake Bentley, winner of the 1999 Caldecott Medal. She is also the author of the “Food Heroes” series from READERS to EATERS, which includes Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table, Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious, and Farmer Eva’s Green Garden Life. She co-wrote Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix and Sandor Katz and the Tiny Wild with June Jo Lee. She lives in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

Hayelin Choi is the illustrator of Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious and Bread Lab!. She is also the author and author-illustrator of numerous children’s books published in China and her native South Korea. Her work is guided by a strong belief in design as a teaching tool, a way to celebrate diverse cultures, and a means of contributing to local communities. She is a faculty member at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland, where she lives.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

It’s FRIDAY!

Beans bubble on the stove,

blip, blop, blop.

Mama’s hands are fast,

slice, chop chop.

Papa grills outside,

sizzle, sizzle, snap.

Agi smooshes avocado,

squish, squash, squoosh!

I press masa rounds

and slide them on the pan.

All for our 

Friday taco time!