A group of librarians who were using book lists such as the Texas Bluebonnet Award list and the Texas 2x2 list for collection development and reader advisory saw the need for a list of Spanish titles to serve their many bilingual students. In the fall of 2006 they formed the Luminarias committee, and each year they select twenty great reads for young children to appear on the Luminarias Master List. They also produce a supplemental list of more recommended titles and an upper elementary list.
The mission of the Luminarias committee is to provide reading lists that librarians, teachers, parents, and children can use to select high-quality Spanish language books that reflect diversity, promote Spanish literacy, and support lifelong learning. Young library patrons will have access to high-quality, multicultural Spanish language books that reflect the riches of the Spanish language and allow them to see themselves represented as valued members of society.