For nearly two centuries a vast collection of books, songs, riddles and folktales have developed around the Juan Bobo character.

[9] Juan Bobo stories are also used as instructional models in public school districts and libraries throughout the United States,[13] and on PBS Television.

[16] Often a trickster, sometimes a fool, Juan Bobo depicts a boy with a special way of doing things: with a good heart but little common sense.

[5] In a typical Juan Bobo story his mother asks him to clean up a pig, so that she will fetch a higher price in the town market.

Instead, Juan Bobo dresses her for church in his mother's best Sunday clothes, complete with lipstick and high heels.

Though Juan and his tricks constitute the main story interest, the satirical comments on various trades and professions give a wealth of information on the social, political and religious fabric of Puerto Rico.

[28][29] The McGraw Hill company uses the books in a reading instruction series, which is used in public school districts throughout the United States.

[43] The Juan Bobo stories are known in many countries, from the United States to Central and South America, the Caribbean, Spain and the Philippines.

[57] In the theatrical arts, in New York City, Theatre Works USA developed and presented a Juan Bobo play, together with a children's study guide in 2008.

[62] Children's theater companies enact the Juan Bobo stories, often in the form of puppet plays.

[68][69] Belpré, throughout her life, collected many other folktales from Puerto Rico, translated them into English and had them published as children's literature.

Juan Bobo and the Queen's Necklace is still in print, and appears in book catalogues throughout the United States.