Me Gusta

I think the concept of this book is important and the illustrations and cover are both really nice. I also liked [b:I Love You, Baby Burrito,|52516002|I Love You, Baby Burrito|Angela Dominguez|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589256377l/52516002.SX50.jpg|78067465] which is by the same author.

I just struggled with the execution. It feels like a book about family and love—fun, food, traditions, making memories, telling stories. Then you turn a page and it's like, “You know what I don't care for, though? Bigotry.” It feels very much like that “knock it off” Cody Ko song, if anyone knows what I'm talking about.

I considered that maybe this was the point—that xenophobia and racist crop up suddenly, sometimes robbing us of joy in ordinary or even celebratory moments. I just think that it's introduced in a way that feels jarring in terms of the writing itself, not the underlying message. I expected and wanted to love this, but I think it could have gotten the same points across in a way that felt more impactful. Hopefully it lands with others more than it did me.