One of the most prolific Chicano writers, Nephtalí De León is principally known as a poet, although his literary production includes dramatic works, children's stories, and essays. De León also is highly regarded as a painter and illustrator; nearly all of his books contain his illustrations.

De León writes mainly to express the dreams, desires, and aspirations of the Chicano people. His motivation in writing is to give an honest and truthful representation of the plight of the Chicano, which he sees as the result of a historical process. His inspiration, as he described it in an unpublished interview granted in 1985, comes from the realization that Chicanos have been held in a "psychological and spiritual bondage," that they are "cultural and intellectual hostages" in American society.

Born 9 May 1945, in Laredo, Texas, De León is the son of migrant workers...