The Bad Enchilada ~ Book Review

Sadly, not the fast food Mexican restaurant I love from NYC (best. nachos. EVER.) But a children's book, but oddly enough, when I did a Swagbucks search for the image, I got this link for the restaurant instead ... but I am distracted by my memory of their nachos loaded with cheese, and I need to get back to this "enchilada," so stay with me!

[Writer's note, that restaurant is the BIG Enchilada, which is not the name of this book ...]

Anyway, here's the deal. I received this book to review, and was pretty excited. The first children's book I've received! How cool! How fun! How -- not really the right book for my 3-year-old daughter. Bummer.

I checked on Barnes and Noble's website, and they have the book listed as appropriate for children aged 3-8 years. And perhaps it would be okay for the younger children, but it confused me a bit, so I struggled with reading it clearly for my own child to fully understand.

While I understood the concept of holding in your emotions and comparing that to the way you feel when you eat something that bothers your stomach, I think 3 is a little young to truly get that, and because of that I had some difficulties explaining the story as it was to my daughter.

The other issue I had was I was totally confused with who was who, why there was a talking flea, and what the connection was that made him the character to teach Wil what was happening with him.

After reading the book, first on my own, then with my daughter, then asking a friend, who has an older child to read it, as well (also a bit confused while perusing the story) I determined that it doesn't seem to stand strongly by itself. I went to the publisher's website, and reviewed the information for the first book of the series, Wil, Fitz and a Flea Named "T." I think that this detail when they describe the initial story is what was missing from The Bad Enchilada: "Significant part of the text used to introduce the main characters (Wil and ”T”) and developing the character of ”T” as the “sage” of the series."

So, while I thought that this book wasn't the best choice for my 3-year-old daughter, I can see how a 5-year-old might enjoy the story, and benefit from reading the first one, as well, to set the stage, so to speak.

As for my daughter and those with younger children, check out the website. The coloring pages are really cute and fun. And you don't need to truly get the story when you print them out and use them. Let the kids make up their own. Sometimes it's more fun that way, anyway!

** I was not compensated for this review in any way. I was provided a copy of this book to review by the publisher. **

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