A practicum addressed second graders' negative attitudes and habits toward recreational reading. Students were not reading for pleasure at school or at home. A recreational reading program, which used a variety of thematic units, was implemented. Subjects were 20 second graders (mostly Hispanics) in an inner city school. Several innovative teaching strategies were integrated into the practicum. The problem was documented by administering student pre-attitudinal reading surveys, parent home reading surveys, and student reading graphs. The amount of library books approached in the classroom library was documented. Eight thematic units were developed and numerous works of children's literature based on interest inventories were used. Analysis of the data revealed that the majority of the students improved their attitudes and habits toward recreational reading. Students approached more books located in the classroom library. These individuals spent more time reading for pleasure at school and home. Parents were aware of the importance of reading with and to their child on a regular basis. (Contains 59 references, 4 tables, and 2 figures of data. Appendixes present survey instruments, an interest inventory, thematic resources, letters to parents, and a Spanish family guide to reading together.) (RS)