The American Library Association (ALA) started an "Read" poster initiative in 1985, featuring a celebrity posing with their favorite book or books. The celebrities were chosen because of their popularity, appeal, and visibility to a general audience, and the ALA worked to feature a range of diverse talent who would be great spokesmodels for reading to both adults and children. In this poster, Award-winning Colombian performer John Leguizamo is seated on a wooden staircase wearing jeans and a t-shirt.