The article examines key aspects of developing reading literacy in primary school students. The approaches of domestic and foreign educators to this issue are analyzed, including children’s text perception and the role of illustrations in reading instruction. Methods for working with literary, continuous, and creolized texts aimed at developing skills in extracting, interpreting, analyzing, and summarizing information are discussed. The results of an experimental study conducted in class 4 “B” of School No. 5 are presented, demonstrating the effectiveness of incorporating illustrations into literature lessons and extracurricular reading activities. The significance of these approaches for forming functionally literate individuals and enhancing children’s interest in reading is emphasized.