Taco Tuesdays: A Wish Novel

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

Nacho average foodie WISH book! Monica Mancillas explores themes of family, food, and identity wrapped up in a sweet, commercial title.Dulce doesn’t want to spend the summer helping at her family’s restaurant, but with the business needing all the help it can get, she doesn’t have a choice.Julian doesn’t want to be in California. But his food vloger parents have relocated the family as part of an attempt to keep their marriage going, so he doesn’t have a choice, either.When the two literally crash into each other, it’s so not the beginning of a beautiful friendship. But as they’re both forced to enroll in a cooking class together and slowly get to know each other, things get heated—and not just the tacos! Julian and Dulce each have something to learn from the other about friendship, family, community, and food.

About the Author

Monica Mancillas is a musician and educator who authors picture books and Middle Grade fiction and nonfiction. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley. Her upcoming releases include MARIANA AND HER FAMILIA (Balzer + Bray, October 4, 2022), THE WORRY BALLOON (Roaring Brook Press, 2023), HOW TO SPEAK IN SPANGLISH (Penguin Workshop, 2023), and LEYENDAS/LEGENDS (Chronicle, 2025).