Customer Reviews
Great Book 
2007-09-12
I am a speech therapist and have used this book with Spanish speaking parents and siblings. Everyone loves this book. I am going to buy the other book in this series. I also recommend Atravesando las Puertas de Autismo by Temple Grandin.
Theraputic Siblings 2007-08-21
It's great to see a story about a sibling wanting to play with his brother, especially when his brother has a special need. This is such a good lesson in understanding autism and special needs, and on how to create theraputic fun. What a great way to teach families ways they can interact with children in situations like this. The writing is fantastic and the illustrations are beautiful and very friendly. Well done!
A book about adapting to alternative communication and play styles 2007-06-29
Author Marvie Ellis, pediatric speech-language pathologist, founded Speech Kids Texas Press in 2005 for to publish children's storybooks on communication needs. Tacos Anyone? is the second book in her series of bilingual storybooks in which English and Spanish text appear simultaneously on the same page. This technique reinforces to children and adults alike the multicultural nature of the modern world we live in, and seeing other languages on the same page may encourage children to explore secondary languages. I think this technique is superior to the alternative of publishing two separate translations. Children's brains easily learn multiple languages, so why not give them as much exposure as possible?
The plot in this well-illustrated children's book focuses on Thomas's difficulties playing with his younger brother Michael, who has autism. 4-year-old Michael is prone to fits and doesn't relate in the ways his brother expects him to. A therapist teaches Thomas to looks for clues in Michael's response to activities and to adapt his playing style (Michael dislikes wet paint on his hands, for example, but he likes playing with puzzles). In the end, Thomas learns to play with Michael using his favorite tactile sensations, and the faces of the brothers radiate off the pages of the book.
Every library should invest in a copy of this book, and every child should read it at least once, because you don't have to have an autistic sibling to know that you should look for clues and adapt to the play styles of your friends.
A beautiful, inspirational book designed to help children relate to their autistic peers 2007-05-03
Maybe you're looking at this book and wondering what tacos could possibly have to do with autism. A taco's a taco, right? And what do you do with a taco? You eat it. It couldn't be simpler. You don't even have to think about it. It turns out, however, that you've got it all wrong; no one can eat the kind of tacos referred to in this book. I haven't even gotten to the story yet, but this little exercise alone does a great job of showing you what this book is all about. Tacos Anyone? is all about describing some of the characteristics of the autistic child and helping his/her loved ones (especially young siblings) relate to his/her special needs. And to understand the autistic child, you have to step back and change your way of thinking (just like your conception of tacos will change as you get into this story), and it takes a conscious effort to do that each and every time.
Young Thomas already knows that his little brother Michael has autism. He doesn't know what that means exactly, but he does know that he isn't very successful when he tries to get Michael to play with him. He's also bothered by some of the things Michael does for no apparent reason. That's when Michael's therapist comes into the story. First, we see some of the exercises and activities she does with Michael, but then we see her bring Thomas in as well and show him how to better communicate with his little brother. This kind of family involvement is vital in the life of the autistic child, and author Marvie Ellis really succeeds at showing how therapy is for the family as well as the autistic child. An autistic child can have the greatest therapist in the world, but he/she will never reach his/her true potential without the love, support, and assistance of loved ones.
Just like Keisha's Doors, this second book in the Autism Story Book series communicates a wonderful, heart-warming message and would surely benefit anyone who deals directly or indirectly with an autistic child. It is especially good at helping the brothers and sisters of autistic children understand and better relate to their special siblings. The book's dual language format (English and Spanish), along with the wonderfully expressive illustrations of Jenny Loehr, give it a broad, intercultural appeal. Tacos Anyone? truly conveys a most inspirational message and spirit.
Delightful children's book with a purpose 2007-04-17
There are many difficulties with having an autistic child (and many joys, by the way). Perhaps one of the difficulties that is sometimes overlooked by those without firsthand experience is the effect of an autistic child on siblings.
Marvie Ellis's "Tacos Anyone?" is a children's book that subtlety addresses this problem. It is delightfully written by Ellis and charmingly illustrated by Jenny Loehr, as though by a child in crayon. In coming up with the "taco" motif and illustration, perhaps Ellis took a cue from Temple Grandin who was the autistic subject of Oliver Sacks' An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales (1995).
To explain: Temple Grandin is famous for being a professor of animal studies at Colorado State University who has completely integrated herself into mainstream society yet remains autistic. One of the things she has tried to do is to show that autistic people may like things that seem to others a bit strange. For example Grandin reported that she loved to be snugly enclosed in some enveloping substance, a bit like we neurotypicals might like to snuggle inside a sleeping bag. So the "taco" in the title of Ellis's children's story is Michael becoming a play taco as he is delightfully nestled in the middle of some sofa pillows, provided by his older brother Thomas.
The point of Ellis's didactic tale is to help the non-autistic brother understand and appreciate his brother's differences and to help parents explain why the autistic child has different needs, and why the child seems to get special attention (which may make the neurotypical child jealous), and why the autistic child sometimes screams or strikes out in frustration at the world.
The text is in both English and Spanish and the book is the recipient of the Barbara Jordan Media Award.
By the way, Ellis has another award-winning children's book called "Keisha's Doors" that looks at this type of family situation from the point of view of two sisters.
QUITE A REMARKABLE WORK ON SEVERAL LEVELS 2007-04-06
Summary: Michael is a four year old boy with autism. His older brother, Thomas, doesn't understand why Michael behaves the way he does. The therapist teaches Thomas how to play with Michael, making sibling time fun again. This fully color illustrated, bilingual (English and Spanish) children's book is written for young readers, parents, siblings, family members, and professionals who work with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Recipient of the 2005 Barbara Jordan Media Award.
Also great for an older brother or sister of child with autism 2007-02-11
This is my child. This book is wonderfully written.
It's Time For Tacos! 2006-03-20
I just love this book and feel it does an invaluable service.
Thomas is nonplussed as to what makes his younger brother Michael tick. Michael has autism and Thomas makes many good faith efforts to interact with him.
I love the way the brothers and other charactes are protrayed; this book gives a realistic presentation of how autism affects ALL members of a family, especially siblings. I like the way autism is explained and I think this book, along with Ellis' other masterpiece KEISHA's DOORS are masterpieces. This book, along with KEISHA's DOORS deserves a place of honor along with LOOKING AFTER LOUIS.
It's time for tacos and it is time for this book. Be sure to add this one to your autism library and share it with somebody. This is an excellent teaching tool for all ages and it is a good reminder that we all really are our brother's keeper.
Tacos Anyone? 2005-11-18
Siblings of children with autism often struggle with understanding what autism is and why they don't have the same sibling relationship that their friends have with their brothers or sisters. Tacos Anyone and Marvie Ellis' Keisha's Doors both offer a glimpse into the autistic child's world that a sibling can understand. I also like that Ellis used a therapist character in her books to illustrate how a sibling might try and interact with their autistic brother or sister.
A very compassionate look at Autism within a family 2005-09-21
I had the great good fortune to meet Dr. Ellis at an autism convention recently and be introduced to her books. Her insight into what it must be like to be the "normal" sibling of an autistic child is delightful and heartrending for those of us with children "on the spectrum." My first reading had me in tears at the end. My son, who is has the diagnosis of very high functioning PDD-NOS, was eager to "make tacos" after reading it. If you have an autistic child, or you wish to teach your children compassion for those who are different, you could not make a better choice than this book.
