The theme of the 1990 Texas Reading Club, "The Secret Code is READ," allows librarians to use a wide variety of topics dealing with mystery, intrigue, and the unexplained in programming, displays, and reading suggestions. Through the Texas Reading Club, students in grades 2-9 meet real-life and fictional detectives, spies, cops, and criminals. They can also investigate detection techniques and the science of crime solving. The flexibility of the program allows teachers to decide what aspects of the theme to use and which to ignore. Librarians are encouraged to involve their school districts, other staff members, and volunteers in planning and promoting the program. They are discouraged from embarrassing children by rating their reading skills, criticizing their taste in books, or appearing to doubt their honesty about whether they have read their books. This guide provides ideas for activities, crafts, bulletin boards, speakers, and book and film materials related to the theme. An annotated bibliography provides 352 titles on the subjects mentioned in the guide which schools may already own; a 40-item filmography is also provided. The guide also lists commercial suppliers of materials for this program, children's specialty bookstores in Texas, speakers and storytellers, and organizations to contact for additional information. (SD)