A study investigated the meaning to participating mothers of their involvement in a family literacy program, the Family Reading Program, based in an elementary school in a low-income urban neighborhood. The Family Reading Program is a workshop series for adult family members. In the program, the adults read interesting children's books and learn generic reading, thinking, and discussion strategies, then borrow books from the program to read to their children. The program is targeted to parents of K-3 children. Data for the study were gathered through structured interviews of 50-70 minutes with 7 women engaged in the program. The study found that the mothers attended the program both to learn how to help their children and for the learning experience with other women and the interaction with the teacher. All participants reported learning about books and reading strategies and translating their knowledge into new behaviors with their children. All reported reading the program books to their children. Some parents were stimulated to pick up new reading material for themselves; some reported that they had improved their reading skills. All enjoyed the social aspects of the program. The study concluded that involving women in their children's education was a natural and productive way to foster literacy in their children as well as enhance the mothers' knowledge and skills. (Contains 15 references.) (KC)