The aim of this study is to investigate parents attitudes towards picture books and childrens reading. The study is based upon qualitative interviews with seven parents, 29-44 years of age, who have children between 3 and 6 years of age. The study is hermeneutic. The conceptual framework used in this study, is Uffe Seilmans categories of different kinds of attitudes towards childrens sparetime occupations, for example reading. These are the authoritarian, the laissez-faire and the democratic attitudes. The results show that the parents generally has a democratic attitude toward childrens reading, which means that they do not intend to control their childrens reading habits or the books that are chosen, but to introduce them into varying kinds of books. When it comes to picture books, they foremost like what their children like. This often implies funny books with funny and gaily coloured pictures. The parents think that it is important to read for their children but do not seem to have given much thought about why it is important. The reasons that are mentioned are foremost of educational character. When it comes to subjects in picture books, the parents often want their children to read about things that pave the way for identification or things from which they can learn about aspects of life. They do not avoid books concerning bad or sad subjects since they want their children to learn about real life.