The number of excellent books reflecting the culture, heritage, and contemporary experiences of America's minority population is very small. Hispanic literature has focused on a conglomerate of cultures from Central and South America, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the United States and other Spanish speaking countries. Often, the authors of these children's books were not Puerto Rican . Mexican American characters mostly displayed traditional Mexican male-female roles and lived in rural or impoverished circumstances. It is important that children see themselves represented in books.
Books send very strong messages to children about who they are and what they can become.
These books affect children's attitudes, beliefs and achievement.