The current study collected data of 1954 students and their parents in primary and secondary schools from 8 provinces,including western, central, and eastern areas in China. Based on the family capital theory and reading interest model, a structural equation model was used to analyze the effects of family economic capital and family cultural capital on reading interest. The results showed that: 1) The reading interest of primary and secondary school students were significant different in terms of gender, grade levels, regions and locations. 2) There were significant positive correlations between family economic capital, cultural capital, and students’ reading interest. 3) Family cultural capital played a mediating role between family economic capital and students’ reading interest.