Nacho’s Nachos
The Story Behind the World’s Favorite Snack
by Sandra Nickel & Oliver Dominguez (Lee & Low, August 11, 2020)
Nacho’s Nachos is the true story about how nachos were invented—about what happened when a regular customer asked Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya for something new, and there were no chefs in the kitchen.
2020 was the 80th Anniversary of the invention, and Oliver Dominguez’s illustrations transport us back to the border of the Rio Grande in 1940, when Nacho’s quick thinking resulted in a snack now eaten everywhere from Texas to Paris to Hong Kong!
★ “Nickel’s thorough research, including communications with the descendants of the principals, brings to life the man behind the world’s favorite cheesy bites. . . . Nickel’s homage to this congenial, hardworking man and his renowned snack is a celebration of ingenuity and kismet.” —KIRKUS REVIEWS, starred review
“This tale of the humble origins of nachos, bolstered by vivid and period-specific illustrations, will whisk young readers away to a different time and place.” —BOOKLIST
“VERDICT A unique biography read-aloud title for younger kids.” —SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
“I have your book on display along with 17 other books related to the topic ‘Everyday Heroes.’ Everyone who looks at the display goes directly to your book, and only your book. I’ve had about 5 conversations about it just while sitting here at my desk.”—Mary Beth Romö, Librarian, St. George’s International School
Awards & Lists
Nacho’s Nachos is the winner of a Christopher Award, which recognizes works affirming the highest values of the human spirit. It was named as a finalist for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Award, a Best Picture Book of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews, a Best Children’s Book of the Year by the Bank Street College of Education, a Best Book for Kids of 2020 by the New York Public Library, a Delaware Diamond Title for 2021-2022, a Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award Honoree by the California Reading Association, a Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Nominee for 2023-2024, a Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominee for 2024, and a Best Book of 2020 by the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature. It was also chosen for placement in classrooms across New York City–the largest school district in the US.
More Books
Resources for Nacho’s Nachos
Nacho’s Nachos was awarded a Christopher Award, which recognizes works affirming the highest values of the human spirit. You can access resources created by TeachingBooks for all winners since 2001 HERE.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Golden Kite Awards recognize excellence in children’s literature. Nacho’s Nachos was named one of five finalists for Nonfiction Text for Younger Readers. You can see all of the exceptional 2021 finalists HERE.
Publishers Weekly has listed Nacho’s Nachos on its Booklist for 2020–2022 STEM/STEAM Biographies for Young Readers. You can find the full listing of all these inspiring biographies HERE.
Nacho’s Nachos was named a Best Children’s Book of the Year by the Bank Street College of Education. You can find all of the titles chosen by the Bank Street Children’s Book Committee as “the best of the best published in 2020” HERE.
Nacho’s Nachos was named a Best Picture Book of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews. You can find all of Kirkus’s Best Picture-Book Biographies of 2020 HERE.
Nacho’s Nachos was named a Best Book for Kids of 2020 by the New York Public Library. You can find all of its Best Books HERE.
For anyone looking for a fabulous list of Spanish and bilingual books, the Texas Library Association has released its Tejas Star Reading List for 2023-2024. I’m, of course, thrilled that Los nachos de Nacho is on the list–and so many other incredible books. You can find the list HERE.
Nacho’s Nachos was named a Best Book of 2020 by the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature. You can find all of the Center’s Best Books HERE.
Nacho’s Nachos was named an Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award Honoree by the California Reading Association. You can find all of the titles chosen by the Eureka! Committee HERE.
The Nacho’s Nachos Book Trailer is here!
Lee and Low Books has created a fourteen-page Teacher’s Guide, which includes Before and After Reading recommendations, as well as Interdisciplinary Activities.
To discover more about nachos and Nacho’s Nachos, listen to Food Non-Fiction’s Podcast, Ignacio Nicknamed Nacho.
Vermont College of Fine Arts interviewed me as part of its Alumnx Success Series. Among other things, I talk about the importance of Nacho’s Nachos being named a finalist for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Award. The interview is HERE.
TeachingBooks has created several original resources for Nacho’s Nachos, including a Meet-the-Author Recording, an illustrator page for Oliver Dominguez and a Virtual Book Tour blog. Click HERE to connect to these fabulous resources.
For an article highlighting some of 2020’s “must-add choices for your collections” take a look at Latinx Luminaries: Picture book biographies featuring Latinx superstars | Great Books by Shelley M. Diaz in School Library Journal (July 27, 2020).
Activity Sheets for Nacho's Nachos
Looking for a way to inspire your youngest nachos fan? Below you’ll find activity sheets for coloring, imaginative drawing, making a nacho banner, and, of course, preparing Ignacio Anaya’s original Nacho’s Special! Simply click on the sheets below, print, and have fun!
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- Dream Nachos
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- Nachos Banner
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- Nachos Placemat
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- Nachos Recipe