Dragons Love Tacos Read online

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  Text copyright © 2012 by Adam Rubin

  Illustrations copyright © 2012 by Daniel Salmieri

  All rights reserved

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any

  responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  Designed by Jennifer Kelly

  Text set in Zemke Hand ITC Std

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Rubin, Adam, date.

  Dragons love tacos / by Adam Rubin ; illustrated by Daniel Salmieri. p. cm.

  Summary: Explores the love dragons have for tacos, and the dangers of feeding them them anything with spicy salsa.

  eISBN 978-0-698-14378-4

  [1. Dragons—Fiction. 2. Tacos—Fiction. 3. Food habits—Fiction. 4. Humorous stories.]

  I. Salmieri, Daniel, date, ill. II. Title.

  PZ7.R83116Dr 2012 [E]—dc23 2011035699

  The artwork was created with watercolor, gouache, and color pencil.

  To my loving sister Bruce:

  smart, beautiful, and full of laughter.

  –AR

  For Aaron, a wonderful friend.

  Thank you for everything.

  –DS

  Hey, kid!

  Did you know that dragons love tacos?

  They love beef tacos and chicken tacos.

  They love really big gigantic tacos and tiny

  little baby tacos as well.

  Why do dragons love tacos?

  Maybe it’s the smell from the sizzling pan.

  Maybe it’s the crunch of the crispy tortillas.

  Maybe it’s a secret.

  Either way, if you want to make friends with dragons, tacos are key.

  Hey dragon, why do you guys love tacos so much?

  But wait!

  As much as dragons love tacos, they hate spicy salsa even more.

  They hate spicy green salsa and spicy red salsa.

  They hate spicy chunky salsa and spicy smooth salsa.

  If the salsa is spicy at all, dragons can’t stand it.

  Why do dragons hate spicy salsa?

  Well, just one drop of hot sauce

  makes a dragon’s ears smoke.

  Just one single speck of hot pepper makes a dragon snort sparks.

  Spicy salsa gives dragons the tummy troubles,

  and when dragons get the tummy troubles—

  oh boy . . .

  If you want to make tacos for dragons, keep the toppings mild.

  Tomatoes,

  lettuce,

  cheese,

  these are all good toppings

  for tacos for dragons.

  Hey dragon, how do you feel about spicy taco toppings?

  Dragons love parties. They like costume parties

  and pool parties.

  They like big gigantic parties with accordions

  and tiny little parties with charades.

  Why do dragons love parties? Maybe it’s the conversation. Maybe it’s the dancing.

  Maybe it’s the comforting sound of a good friend’s laughter.

  The only thing dragons love more than parties or tacos, is taco parties

  (taco parties are parties with lots of tacos).

  If you want to have some dragons over for a taco party, you’ll need

  buckets of tacos. Pantloads of tacos. The best way to judge is to get a

  boat and fill the boat with tacos. That’s about how many tacos dragons

  need for a taco party. After all, dragons love tacos.

  Hey dragon, are you excited for the big taco party?

  Just remember: Dragons hate spicy salsa.

  Before you host your taco party with dragons,

  get rid of all the spicy salsa. In fact, bury the spicy

  salsa in the backyard so the dragons can’t find it.

  These dragons love your taco party! They love the music.

  They love the decorations. They especially love the tacos.

  Congratulations!

  It’s a good thing you got rid of all that spicy . . .

  Wait a second—

  what are those little green things in the salsa?

  You didn’t read the fine print?!

  Dragons, listen to me: Do not eat those tacos.

  Those little green specs in the salsa? Those are jalapeño peppers—

  they are super-spicy! I know you love tacos, dragons, but you are

  not gonna love those tacos.

  DO NOT LET THOSE DRAGONS

  EAT THOSE TACOS!!!

  Crunch,

  crunch,

  crunch . . .

  Too late . . .

  Why would dragons help you rebuild your house?

  Maybe they’re good Samaritans.

  Maybe they feel bad for wrecking it.

  Maybe they’re just in it for the taco breaks.

  After all, dragons love tacos.

 

 

  Adam Rubin, Dragons Love Tacos

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