A family literacy program was developed for families containing young children and learning-challenged adults whose limited reading skills made it impossible for them to read aloud to their children. The program's primary objective was to upgrade the parents' reading skills and knowledge of children's literature. The program was staffed by a literacy coordinator, reading instructor, and paraprofessional and was targeted toward parents currently enrolled at the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. The program was designed for a class of no more than 15 parents. Each of the 20 class meetings held between December 1993 and April 1994 was organized around a specific theme and included oral reading sessions and theme-related activities. According to the project staff, parent participants not only became aware of the benefits of reading to their children but also achieved significant gains in sight vocabulary, oral reading skills, reading comprehension, and self-esteem. (Included are 20 sample lesson plans for classes on the following themes: computers, multicultural awareness, dogs, Christmas, Dr. Seuss, family, Dr. Martin Luther King/peace, Sesame Street, hygiene/safety, Valentine's Day, cats, colors, seasons, love, nature, the environment, self-esteem, nutrition/cooking, manners, and reading in front of a video camera.) (MN)