Required reading is an integral part of educational system for a number of years, the aim of which is to encourage reading at leisure and to develope readers interested in literature for life. This diploma thesis studies the importance of reading literacy, esspecially today, as well as reading teaching. Reading process comprehension leads to successfull initial reading teaching. More precisely, teaching and learning is easier for both pupil and teacher if all aspects of this extremely complex process is percieved. This thesis also presents required reading teaching guidelines prescribed by the National Curriculum for the Croatian language subject. In other words, the level of freedom teachers have in required reading teaching and obligations they need to follow. However, required reading has its disadvantages that affects both pupils and teachers. Issues of required reading are dealt in this paper, as well as measures of eliminating and shortening them. Teaching approach is one of the crutial factors in accomplishing the reqired reading purpose, therefore it requires a full teacher' s attention. Variety of methodical approaches is most important element of required reading teaching, as well as literacy teaching, to achieve the desired outcome. The aim of this thesis is researching the concepts of required reading in primary education and teachers' opinions on required reading as encouragement to read.