This study explored the association between reading self-belief and reading achievement among a representative sample of nine year old children in the Republic of Ireland. Results from analysis of variance and simple effects analysis showed a positive linear association between reading achievement and "attitude to reading." The association was observed in the full sample, was strongest among girls and among children in third grade, and did not differ significantly between social classes or between children who had attained different levels of reading achievement. However, there was evidence of inflated "attitude to reading" among children in the below average reading sub-sample.