This award was established in 1996 & is co-sponsored by the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC), which is a division of American Library Association (ALA) & by the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish -Speaking (REFORMA).

The award is presented to a Latino/Latina writer & illustrator whose work best depicts, endorses, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

This award has been granted annually since 2009. Before that it was awarded biennially.