Mistaco - by Eliza Kinkz (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A tale of tragedy y tortillas"--Jacket.

Book Synopsis

* "[W]ith magnificently scrawled artwork, Kinkz offers a story that blends deep empathy, raucous candor, and a useful ritual for dealing with shame." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

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!

Review Quotes

Praise for Mistaco by Eliza Kinkz:

May/June 2025 Kids' Indie Next List (picture books)
2025 Brightly's The Best Kids' and YA Books of the Year (So Far)!
NEA Read Across America 2025-2026 Selection

★ "Pura Belpré Honor winning-illustrator Kinkz conveys a message all kids need to hear: Everyone makes mistakes, and owning them can bring relief and even joy...Kinkz has created a fully realized youngster who's equal parts goofy exuberance and vulnerable insecurity. A deliciously effervescent celebration of family and resilience." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "[W]ith magnificently scrawled artwork, Kinkz offers a story that blends deep empathy, raucous candor, and a useful ritual for dealing with shame." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Kinkz has created a reassuring story of big feelings and belly laughs in her author-illustrator debut, no mistake about it." --Booklist, starred review

★ "Every scene will invite readers closer into the pages till they've found every burp, fart, and poop joke, and terrific asides... There are no mistakes in these pages, just an SEL lesson writ large, delivered with perfect comic timing. A must." --School Library Journal, starred review

About the Author

Eliza Kinkz is a Tejana artist who never stopped viewing the world through the bright colors of her crayons, AND she even ate a few, too! She's illustrated many hilarious picture books, including Papá's Magical Water-Jug Clock by Jesús Trejo which won the Pura Belpré Illustration Honor, and was the 2022 James Marshall Fellow. All her ridiculous scribbles burst straight from her heart, which is overflowing with joy. . .and probably a few crayon pieces. Eliza lives in Austin, Texas, with her family and her one true love, a huge bowl of queso.
Mistaco is her author-illustrator debut, and you can spill all the frijoles to her at ElizaKinkz.com.