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Mistaco: A Tale of Tragedy y Tortillas
A chaotically funny debut picture book about a girl who's had a terrible day full of mistakes and finds that making mistacos could be a delicious solution.
After an awful day at school (including a tragic but plausibly deniable mishap with a pudding cup), Izzy wants to be left alone. But it's Friday, and that means making tortillas with Lito.
As the mistakes pile up, they come tumbling out of Izzy—and Lito surprises her by saying everyone makes mistakes, and if she makes a tortilla out of her mistakes, he will EAT it.
"Mmmm. . .spicy! And boogery! With a hint of courage. My favorite taco EVER!"
Suddenly, the whole family is confessing and getting mistakes off their chests with a feast of mistacos! A delightfully silly picture book for fans of Dragons Love Tacos and The Book of Mistakes. Includes instructions on how to make and enjoy your own mistacos!
After an awful day at school (including a tragic but plausibly deniable mishap with a pudding cup), Izzy wants to be left alone. But it's Friday, and that means making tortillas with Lito.
As the mistakes pile up, they come tumbling out of Izzy—and Lito surprises her by saying everyone makes mistakes, and if she makes a tortilla out of her mistakes, he will EAT it.
"Mmmm. . .spicy! And boogery! With a hint of courage. My favorite taco EVER!"
Suddenly, the whole family is confessing and getting mistakes off their chests with a feast of mistacos! A delightfully silly picture book for fans of Dragons Love Tacos and The Book of Mistakes. Includes instructions on how to make and enjoy your own mistacos!
40 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 15, 2026
Teaching children to learn from their mistakes and that it's okay to make them is hard when they can be singleminded about them. However, Eliza Kinks does her darned best to showcase this in a kooky and delicious way: why not just eat the mistakes we make??? Loved the sketchy art style and noted that she said the art was a mix of formats plus concha crumbs. Yummy!
I was sent a finished copy by the publisher, thanks PRH!
I was sent a finished copy by the publisher, thanks PRH!
May 7, 2025
A book full of silliness and heart!
July 13, 2025
Izzy tries to multitask, which causes her to make an overabundance of mistakes. This was cute, but I felt the girl didn't learn anything from her mistakes. Also, a little too much potty humor. But it was really nice that the family cared so much about her.
April 14, 2025
Absolutely adorable and funny!
June 15, 2025
The bright and shining tortilla, I mean book, in an otherwise endless sea of mediocre, sometimes brilliant picture books that I read every day, 24/7, 365 days/year. (I'm a kid's librarian, it's my job & also my passion!)
I just might be a bit like Izzy in this book: picky and bothered, self conscious and unwilling to let things go, like stepping in dog poo, falling on my face (which I did just last week, in a crowded parking lot wearing my favorite black patent leather Mary Janes), etc.
Read this book and fall in love, not only with freshly baked tortillas (which I already adore), but with Spanglish and the Tejana artist & author, dear, brilliant, and hilarious Eliza Kinkz.
PS: Confession...I actually took a picture of the Izzy illustration on the page where she gets her hair dried by the grownups after she's swarmed by bees; she's wearing the grumpiest face of all time. I hearted it on my cel to return to when I'm feeling grumpy too, to remember that life goes on, and if it's THAT bad, I can always eat a warm, cheesy, bean filled tortilla, tell it all my many (endless really) mistakes, and remember Izzy and this sweet, heart warming story.
Themes: tortillas, MISTAKES, humor, school shenanigans, SPANGLISH (all caps intended, because, well just read the book), realizing Everything is Going to Be OK (just toast up a tortilla, tell it all your mistakes and feel better)
Ages: all ages, especially 1-5th grade elementary school kids
Pub year: 2025
Favorite quotes:
"Izzy just wanted to hide.
Because hiding from your mistakes ALWAYS works."
~~ and ~~
"He (Lito) rolled out a tortilla and whispered,
"Share all your big mistakes again,
and I will make a taco out of them and EAT IT!"
"I don't want to share," huffed Izzy.
"But, mamita, I'm starving for mistakes!" whines Lito.
The tortilla puffed up like it agreed.
..."My favoritest taco EVER! GRACIAS for sharing your mistakes, mamita."
I just might be a bit like Izzy in this book: picky and bothered, self conscious and unwilling to let things go, like stepping in dog poo, falling on my face (which I did just last week, in a crowded parking lot wearing my favorite black patent leather Mary Janes), etc.
Read this book and fall in love, not only with freshly baked tortillas (which I already adore), but with Spanglish and the Tejana artist & author, dear, brilliant, and hilarious Eliza Kinkz.
PS: Confession...I actually took a picture of the Izzy illustration on the page where she gets her hair dried by the grownups after she's swarmed by bees; she's wearing the grumpiest face of all time. I hearted it on my cel to return to when I'm feeling grumpy too, to remember that life goes on, and if it's THAT bad, I can always eat a warm, cheesy, bean filled tortilla, tell it all my many (endless really) mistakes, and remember Izzy and this sweet, heart warming story.
Themes: tortillas, MISTAKES, humor, school shenanigans, SPANGLISH (all caps intended, because, well just read the book), realizing Everything is Going to Be OK (just toast up a tortilla, tell it all your mistakes and feel better)
Ages: all ages, especially 1-5th grade elementary school kids
Pub year: 2025
Favorite quotes:
"Izzy just wanted to hide.
Because hiding from your mistakes ALWAYS works."
~~ and ~~
"He (Lito) rolled out a tortilla and whispered,
"Share all your big mistakes again,
and I will make a taco out of them and EAT IT!"
"I don't want to share," huffed Izzy.
"But, mamita, I'm starving for mistakes!" whines Lito.
The tortilla puffed up like it agreed.
..."My favoritest taco EVER! GRACIAS for sharing your mistakes, mamita."
February 5, 2026
A Spanglish blend, Mistaco is a clever twist on the term “eating your mistakes, ” which Izzy quite literally does under her Lito’s guidance. If feels like Izzy’s life is stuck between a Burt Toast Theory & Murphy’s Law continuum! She claims, albeit frustratedly, that she is the president of mistakes & today she made more than she’d like to admit.
Having dough land on her face while making tortillas with Lita es la gota que derrama el vaso though, and Izzy finally breaks down & explains why she is so flustered. Her confession has her extended family holding back laughter. As a bilingual family, we have already adopted the term mistaco, especially for mistakes that make us feel a bit embarrased. Kinkz’s book reminds us that maybe our tiny every day mistakes are an inconvenience, but we also have the emotional capacity & intelligence to move past them & show mercy to ourselves.
Having dough land on her face while making tortillas with Lita es la gota que derrama el vaso though, and Izzy finally breaks down & explains why she is so flustered. Her confession has her extended family holding back laughter. As a bilingual family, we have already adopted the term mistaco, especially for mistakes that make us feel a bit embarrased. Kinkz’s book reminds us that maybe our tiny every day mistakes are an inconvenience, but we also have the emotional capacity & intelligence to move past them & show mercy to ourselves.
September 16, 2025
This is so cute! There is a lot going on in the illustrations, so take some time to really look at them. They add to the text and give more insight into what's happening.
I always love books that blend English and Spanish words. I live in Texas, and many people here speak at least some Spanish. It's important that young students start learning some basics.
This is a great read-aloud for Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep 15-Oct 15). Topics of discussion can include Latinx cuisine, large extended families, and speaking Spanglish. There is also an extended metaphor of "eating your mistakes," as well as SEL lessons about the fun side of making mistakes.
I recommend PreS-Grade 3 for this fun, colorful story of a young girl who learns to laugh at her mistakes.
I always love books that blend English and Spanish words. I live in Texas, and many people here speak at least some Spanish. It's important that young students start learning some basics.
This is a great read-aloud for Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep 15-Oct 15). Topics of discussion can include Latinx cuisine, large extended families, and speaking Spanglish. There is also an extended metaphor of "eating your mistakes," as well as SEL lessons about the fun side of making mistakes.
I recommend PreS-Grade 3 for this fun, colorful story of a young girl who learns to laugh at her mistakes.
October 4, 2025
A humorous picture book about accident prone Izzy who calls herself the President of Mistakes. Then she has a really horrible, very bad day that involves laughing while eating chicken nuggets and slipping on a cup of chocolate pudding that gets stuck to her butt. Poor Izzy! So she's in a terrible mood for Friday making tortillas night with her grandparents and simply loses it when none of her tortillas are perfectly round. However, her supportive grandfather, Lito, tells her that he will eat all her mistakes. He says he loves eating them. "Lito!!! You know what we should call these? Mistacos!" A wonderful story with a wonderful message that will be fun to read and share! Also don't miss the pages on How to Make a Mistaco and Spanglish at the back!
April 14, 2025
Izzy is having a very bad day. She just can’t stop making mistakes. In fact, she made a huge mistake at school and doesn’t want to talk about it! When they go to visit her Lita and Lito’s house, Izzy just wants to be left alone. Instead she is asked to help make tortillas. Now there are even more mistakes! Can Izzy find a way to get past her mistakes and laugh about things again? A large and merry family supports Izzy in her struggles with mistakes, finding a creative way together to help her see that mistakes can be delicious. With rambunctious illustrations full of speech bubbles, action and joy, this picture book invites us all to laugh more together.
Appropriate for ages 4-8.
Appropriate for ages 4-8.
February 27, 2026
Picture book. Izzy has had a bad day. So bad that she wants to stay in the car instead of going in to see her abuelito for a taco party. But when bees come to visit the car, she resigns herself to going inside with her extended family. She tries to help make tortillas, but keeps making mistakes. Finally it is too much, and she has to let it all out. I challenge the reader not to laugh when the incident at the source of her bad mood is revealed-- literally one of the funniest things I've read in awhile. The illustrations are very childlike and irreverent, looking deceptively simple. A fun read, probably best for elementary school due to length.
April 29, 2026
A terrific and rather unique picture book in it's approach to combining Spanish and English; it is about making mistakes as it states in the title. There is an abundance of wordplay (about eating one's mistakes) and a message that tells us that "everyone makes them" that adheres to a wide audience of kids - even adults. If focuses on a girl named Izzy who multi-tasks and has an awful day as a result. The last thing she feels like dealing with is a family taco night which at first continues as a mistake-making situation but soon turns out to be a "happier one". There are plenty of laughs at hand, and the wonderful artwork is colorful and expressive.
May 9, 2026
FUNNY cover art will grab readers attention, for sure. Although this book is bright and funny and silly as a girl who keeps making mistakes is asked to make tacos with her grandparents, it actually has an important message. Verbalizing mistakes allows them to have less power over us. Laughter truly is the best medicine. Eliza Kinkz has given us a gift in this fun book that is sure to be loved by young readers and their teachers and families!
Aside: I feel like her cartoon at the end about Spanglish is more important than the space she has given it. I will ask my students about that one and how it hits them as they speak English and Spanish and they intermingles often.
Aside: I feel like her cartoon at the end about Spanglish is more important than the space she has given it. I will ask my students about that one and how it hits them as they speak English and Spanish and they intermingles often.
June 12, 2025
Wait... I'm obsessed with this picture book. Even though it's the last page I want to mention first that the note from Kinkz about the importance of allowing kids to use Spanglish is so refreshing. She points out that it's a easy way to preserve culture rather than forcing kids to speak one language or the other when at home.
The way both languages are peppered in make it a fun selection for my bilingual storytimes where we have patrons who speak both. And the illustrations are so fun and the dialogue will definitely make the kiddos crack up.
I'm a huge fan. <3
The way both languages are peppered in make it a fun selection for my bilingual storytimes where we have patrons who speak both. And the illustrations are so fun and the dialogue will definitely make the kiddos crack up.
I'm a huge fan. <3
May 11, 2026
After making some huge (and embarrassing) mistakes at school, and on the way to her grandparents, Izzy is in NO MOOD for making tortillas with her grandmother. But when Izzy makes one mistake after another, her grandfather gets the whole story of her day out of her, and then offers to eat her mistakes -- if she turns them into tacos. Mistacos! Izzy finds that releasing her worries into the tortillas makes her feel lighter, and soon the whole family is sharing their mistakes. Turns out, mistakes can happen to anyone. This humorous story makes light (and delicious) work of mistakes.
January 4, 2025
I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.
Izzy is having a terrible, mistake-filled day and now her family wants her to help make tortillas! What could go wrong? I loved this funny, cute book about eating your mistakes. The art style is messy perfect, fitting in with the “mistakes” theme. Lastly, I love the back matter about how to make your own mistaco and the importance of Spanglish.
Izzy is having a terrible, mistake-filled day and now her family wants her to help make tortillas! What could go wrong? I loved this funny, cute book about eating your mistakes. The art style is messy perfect, fitting in with the “mistakes” theme. Lastly, I love the back matter about how to make your own mistaco and the importance of Spanglish.
April 10, 2025
Loved this! Such a funny book and kids will love the humor. A girl is always making mistakes and feels bad about something that happen at school that day. Her Lito tells her to whisper the mistake into a fresh tortilla and then he will eat it. After that it's silliness and sweetness. The family is so wonderful and does a great job helping her see that we all make mistakes. A great read aloud for a older elementary group for sure!
May 1, 2025
Okay, so my feelings are very mixed on this book.
What I did like:
1.) I liked that this was a very relatable way to teach that it's okay to make mistakes. And we all make them. Every single person has those difficult moments in life; it's what we do with them.
2.) I also appreciated why this book used Spanglish and they were very intentional about it!
What I didn't like:
1.) Illustrations were not my style
2.) The book was almost too busy. I struggled with focus.
What I did like:
1.) I liked that this was a very relatable way to teach that it's okay to make mistakes. And we all make them. Every single person has those difficult moments in life; it's what we do with them.
2.) I also appreciated why this book used Spanglish and they were very intentional about it!
What I didn't like:
1.) Illustrations were not my style
2.) The book was almost too busy. I struggled with focus.
September 8, 2025
Izzy is bursting with embarrassment over a mistake she made at school, so much so that she can't enjoy making tortillas with her Lito (abuelito) at the weekly family gathering. She keeps making mistakes! Thankfully, Lito knows just what to do: put all of her mistakes into a taco, which he then eats right up with gusto. A joyous Spanglish story of working through mistakes with family.
Themes: Mistakes, Embarrassment, Tacos, Family, Grandparents
Age range: Kindergarten - Elementary
Themes: Mistakes, Embarrassment, Tacos, Family, Grandparents
Age range: Kindergarten - Elementary
October 5, 2025
There is something both odd and very fun about stuffing your tacos full of your mistakes and then EATING them. The family camaraderie just adds to the joy.
My only complaint is that the handwritten text was literally impossible for me to decipher at one point. It was a minor issue and I was able to gloss over it, but from a design standpoint it should have been adjusted in a book meant for young kids.
My only complaint is that the handwritten text was literally impossible for me to decipher at one point. It was a minor issue and I was able to gloss over it, but from a design standpoint it should have been adjusted in a book meant for young kids.
April 4, 2025
Eliza Kinkz is a perfect addition to children's books. She's funny and knows how to use bathroom humor so that kids and parents will chuckle. But she also is teaching a valuable lesson about making mistakes. Plus it features a diverse family speaking in Spanglish.
Her art is wild and crazy, but so fun and bright.
Love it!
Her art is wild and crazy, but so fun and bright.
Love it!
July 5, 2025
This is great to talk about growth mindset, but also so funny and clever.
A young girl is always making mistakes and hates her mistakes. But then Lito says to speak her mistakes into a tortilla, fold it into a "Mistaco" and eat it and the mistake will feel better. That seems ridiculous at first, but she tries it and it works. I love the "Spanglish" and the lesson taught in a humorous way.
A young girl is always making mistakes and hates her mistakes. But then Lito says to speak her mistakes into a tortilla, fold it into a "Mistaco" and eat it and the mistake will feel better. That seems ridiculous at first, but she tries it and it works. I love the "Spanglish" and the lesson taught in a humorous way.
August 27, 2025
Izzy is always making mistakes. At school she made one so big she now has an unfortunate nickname. When she tells her family and extended family about it, sure, they all laugh, but they also tell her all about their mistakes. In the process, Izzy creates a new dish - mistaco! Recipe included.
Hilarious read aloud.
Hilarious read aloud.
March 24, 2026
Hilarious case cover art & endpages. Wish public library didn’t have them covered up by the jacket flaps.
Author bio says her one true love is a huge bowl of queso.
Entertaining story of family and tortillas, great message that everyone makes mistakes and the fun you can have conferring those mistakes onto a misshapen or perfect tortilla!
Frantic illustrations match the story perfectly.
Author bio says her one true love is a huge bowl of queso.
Entertaining story of family and tortillas, great message that everyone makes mistakes and the fun you can have conferring those mistakes onto a misshapen or perfect tortilla!
Frantic illustrations match the story perfectly.
May 12, 2025
In this very busy book with vibrant, childlike illustrations, a little girl struggles with the fallout of a mistake-filled day in which everything seems to go wrong. Lots of culture and vocabulary and nice modelling of a parent helping a child overcome a bad day.
July 28, 2025
This hilarious book can help us to laugh at our mistakes while we gobble them up inside a taco. The art is really fun and Izzy's family are warm and funny. Every kid who ever made a mistake will relate to this story!
December 27, 2025
Such a great story! Rolling out tortillas into circles is easier said than done. I love how Eliza Kinkz, the author and illustrator, uses tortilla-making in such a clever way to uncover how mistakes don’t have to so bad as we make them.
February 28, 2026
A silly and funny story with over-the-top cartoon illustrations. I loved the description of the artwork: "The illustrations were done with pencil, ink, watercolor, gouache, crayons, and muchas concha crumbs."
May 5, 2026
This book is about a grandpa helping his granddaughter deal with her mistakes by telling them to the tortillas as they make dinner and then eating them. It connects to me because I struggle when I make mistakes and this is something my grandpa would do too.
June 2, 2026
Print- 2026 2x2: Izzy is embarrassed by all the mistakes she makes, but her Lito and Lita teach her that her mistakes can be made into mistacos! Children learn to let go of failure and move forward. Everyone makes mistakes. Also we learn about Spanglish.
October 6, 2024
This is a laugh out loud book! Everyone should have a Mistaco party and practice laughing at our mistakes!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews