about the book
It is common knowledge that the only thing a dragon likes more than tacos and parties—is taco parties. They eagerly visit their favorite restaurant, Taco Cave, and many have taco-themed calendars on which they circle the dates of their next taco parties.
If you want dragons to come to your party, you better have tacos! Maybe a boatload of tacos is enough? No one is really sure—just that it has to be A LOT of tacos.
But NO SPICY SALSA!
Please, please, please, please remember: no spicy salsa. Please no! No jalapenos either.
Or your party might become, shall we say, more on fire than you want to be?
about the author
Adam Rubin never intended to become a children’s book author. It just kind of happened. His main job is being an advertising designer, where he loves working with creative and talented people to design eye-catching and often funny advertisements.
So the accident happened like this—a friend introduced him to an illustrator named Daniel Salmieri. One time they spoke over the phone, and then Adam sent Daniel a brief story he had written. Daniel made a few sketches, lucked his way into a meeting with an editor, and voila! Both Adam and Daniel had contracts! Adam described it as “ludicrously easy,” and today he and Daniel have won several awards!
How could a single, childless guy make stories that are loved so much by children? Adam has always loved cartoons—“Ren and Stimpy,” “Looney Tunes,” and “The Simpsons”—as well as comic strips like “The Far Side” and “Calvin and Hobbes.” These must have had something to do with it.
As long as Adam can find time, he will continue to write children’s stories!
Sources:
Author interview: Digiday
Book trailer: Dragons Love Tacos
Also by Adam Rubin:
Dragons Love Tacos 2 : The Sequel. Dial. May 2017.
Robo-Sauce. Dial. 2015.
Big Bad Bubble. Clarion. 2014.
Secret Pizza Party. Dial. 2013.
Those Darn Squirrels Fly South Clarion. 2012.
Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door Clarion. 2011.
Those Darn Squirrels! Clarion. 2008.
about the illustrator
Daniel Salmieri grew up in New York, where as a kid and teenager he would draw pictures of fighter jets, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and even the basketball stars of the 1990s New York Knicks.
In 2006 he graduated from the University of the Arts with a BFA in Illustration. Shortly after graduating, a friend introduced him to Adam Rubin. One time the two spoke over the phone, and then Adam sent Daniel a brief story he had written. He made a few sketches, somehow lucked his way into a meeting with an editor, and voila! Both Daniel and Adam had contracts! Adam once described it as “ludicrously easy,” and today Daniel, with Adam, has won several awards!
Aside from children’s books, Daniel also creates theater posters, art for music albums, and portraits of peoples’ dogs.
He still lives in Brooklyn to this day.
Source:
Illustrator interview : Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Also illustrated by Daniel Salmieri:
Dragons Love Tacos 2 : The Sequel by Adam Rubin. Dial. May 2017.
Robo-Sauce by Adam Rubin. Dial. 2015.
Meet the Dullards. Balzer + Bray. 2015.
Big Bad Bubble by Adam Rubin. Clarion. 2014.
Secret Pizza Party by Adam Rubin. Dial. 2013.
Those Darn Squirrels Fly South by Adam Rubin. Clarion. 2012.
Around the World on Eighty Legs : Animal Poems by Amy Gibson. Scholastic. 2011.
Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door by Adam Rubin Clarion. 2011.
Those Darn Squirrels! by Adam Rubin. Clarion. 2008.
read more!
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