Recent research progress on magnetocaloric effect of La-Fe-M(M=Al, Si) compounds was presented. La-Fe-M(M=Al, Si) compounds of high Fe content are excellent soft magnetic materials with NaZn_(13) structure. The Curie temperature of the compounds can be increased by substituting small amount of Co for Si, Al. The La(Fe_(1-y)Co_y)_xSi_(13-x) compounds with an appropriate ratio of Co and Si can produce giant magnetocaloric effect comparable to that for Gd_5Si_2Ge_2 at room temperature. The La(Fe_xSi_(1-x))_(13) doped with H can also produce giant magnetocaloric effect at room temperature, which is much greater than that for Gd. For La(Fe_xSi_(1-x))_(13) compounds with low Si or high Si contents. The nature of phase transition near Curie temperature induced by temperature and magnetic field was described in detail. Recent research progress on magnetocaloric effect of La-Fe-M (M = Al, Si) compounds was presented. La-Fe- The La (Fe_ (1-y) Co_y) _xSi_ (13-x) compounds with an appropriate ratio of Co and Si can produce giant magnetocaloric effect comparable to that for Gd_5Si_2Ge_2 at room temperature. The La (Fe_xSi_ (1-x)) _ (13) doped with H can also produce giant magnetocaloric effect at room temperature, which is much greater than that for Gd. For La (Fe_xSi_ (1-x)) _ (13) compounds with low Si or high Si contents. The nature of phase transition near Curie temperature induced by temperature and magnetic field was described in detail.