Additional information
by Veronica Benavides (Author), Andrés Acosta (Author), Addy Sonda (Illustrator)
A cute story about family, friends, and Latine cultural identity--told in Spanish and English!
Antonio loves cooking family recipes with Abuela Mari. Each recipe comes with a memory from home. But some recipes and memories are too special to replicate. When Abuela Mari says tacos de nopal will never taste quite as good as they do back home in Mexico, Antonio isn't convinced. He feels at home in the United States and in Mexico. If he can exist in both places, why can't tacos de nopal? With his amigues at his side, he sets out to find the main ingredients for the old family recipe. Tracking down the ingredients at the local market isn't easy, but the amigues get creative, devising a new recipe with what they can find. The tacos might not be exactly as Abuela remembers, but she tells him, "They taste like home because you made them."
Antonio's New Tacos / Los nuevos tacos de Antonio:
- Is told in both Spanish and English using gender-inclusive language
- Depicts a realistic, deeply supportive friend group that offers children a powerful sense of belonging
- Features strong multi-generational relationships and authentic representation of characters from four Latin American backgrounds
This warm, bilingual picture book celebrates culture, family, and the joy of creating new memories while honoring where we come from.
The Amigues! Bilingual Picture Book Series is a joyful series of English-Spanish bilingual picture books that model gender inclusive language in both languages. The books follow a group of friends from four different Latin American backgrounds. They loyally come to each other's aid in difficult moments, for a series of fun and tender stories that children will love to read again and again.
Author Biography
Dr. Veronica Benavides is the CEO of Bilingual Generation, an organization reimagining how bilingualism is nurtured in homes and schools, and the creator of Bili, an award-winning bilingual learning app for young children and their families. Growing up in Texas, Dr. Benavides didn't speak Spanish, the only language that her grandparents spoke. Later, she realized that the Spanish language was not the only thing missing from her childhood educational experience--she'd never seen herself reflected in the curriculum, period. She has dedicated her career to closing that gap, creating linguistically and culturally affirming learning spaces and resources to support the reclamation and flourishing of heritage languages across global contexts.
Dr. Benavides is also a Fulbright Scholar who received her doctorate in education leadership from Harvard University. She has worked and consulted for organizations like The LEGO Group, NYC Department of Education, Gates Foundation, The Leadership Academy, and Bank Street College of Education. She is a published author in several peer-reviewed journals and outlets, including Young Children and Harvard Education Publishing Group. A skilled educator and storyteller, Dr. Benavides is a sought-after presenter at conferences and events across the globe. From intimate settings to audiences in the thousands, she has presented at SXSWEDU, Courageous Conversations About Race Summit, CASEL National Conference, Rockwool Fonden, and Harvard Kennedy School Black Policy Conference.
Andrés Acosta is a non-binary creator, entertainer, and educator. As a first-generation immigrant and third-generation educator, they love to explore the impact of language on pop culture and society. Andrés has used their platform to explore social issues and teach Spanish through comedy and current events. Raised by a Puerto Rican mother and a Honduran father, Andrés brings a uniquely multicultural background, which is strengthened by their time spent immersed in the diverse Latine communities of New Orleans, Miami, Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. Andrés has worked on Amazon Prime Video's digital production team promoting a Spanish language streaming series. They have also been sponsored by Meta, TikTok, and GIPHY to create exclusive content focused on the Latine community. Andrés currently lives in Los Angeles.
Addy Rivera Sonda is the illustrator of Strong Mama, Bobby and the Big Valentine, and more. She lives in a little micro-sanctuary with her partner, a rescued sheep, a chicken, and seven cats! She knows imagining the world we want to live in is the first step in creating it. Addy lives in southern Mexico.
