A literature based reading program was developed to improve reading comprehension skills of 14 students in a Chapter 1 pre-first grade class. Instead of using a basal reader for instruction, the students were exposed to trade or literature books, The reading strategies that were pre- and posttested were recognition of a sight vocabulary, recognition of the letters of the alphabet, and recognition of family rhyming words. The results indicated a marked improvement in reading comprehension as well as increased student self-esteem from success in reading. (Nineteen references and 18 appendixes containing testing instruments and results as well as a suggested list of appropriate trade books are attached.) (Author/KEH)