A study was conducted to acquire information about poor black children who were successful readers in order to determine what can be done to increase the number of such children. For purposes of the study, "successful" was defined as scoring at or above grade level on a standardized reading test at the end of fifth grade, while "poor" was defined as being eligible for free meals and milk. Data on the 23 subjects were collected through observations, review of school records, and interviews with the students, teachers, administrators, and parents, as well as other family members. The findings indicated the following factors to be of importance in producing successful readers: (1) preschool reading ability, (2) families that were interested in school because they saw achievement there as a step toward a life that would be better than their own, (3) student love of reading, (4) contacts with other good readers through homogeneously grouped classes, and the use of challenging materials within those classes. (FL)