In CRACK GOES THE CASCARÓN, we meet Toti, an energetic young boy who lives with his sister, mom, dad, and grandma. Toti proudly calls himself "el rey" because no one, not even his Abuela, is safe from his pranks. As the weekend "shellebration" approaches, Toti gets ready for the festivities. Will he be able to keep his crown, or will someone else snatch it away? A cascarón recipe is included for families eager to try this fun tradition out themselves.
Common Sense Media Review
By Florencia Orlandoni
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Whimsical story celebrates family and cultural traditions.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Is It Any Good?
This whimsical story features a prank-loving boy named Toti who embraces his traditions, using his crafting skills and enthusiasm to bring his family together. The illustrations of pets, home objects, food, and family members in Crack Goes the Cascarón create a warm, comforting feel, almost like a hug. Vibrant depictions of delicious foods and creative arts and crafts enhance the cozy, welcoming feel of the book. Along with the narrative, readers can learn about the cascarón tradition while enjoying egg-related puns and picking up new Spanish vocabulary words.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Crack Goes the Cascarón shows a family that plays pranks and has fun together. What do you and your family members do for fun?
What are your favorite pictures in the book? Why?
How does Toti feel when his plans don't go the way he wanted them to? Why do you think he feels this way? Have you ever "lost" but felt OK about it? What happened?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Rocío Arreola Mendoza
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Holidays
- Character Strengths : Curiosity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Knopf Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : February 18, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 3 - 7
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Crack Goes the Cascarón
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate