diff --git a/benches/avro_read.rs b/benches/avro_read.rs
index 1411ad07d5f..029d3ab7d6b 100644
--- a/benches/avro_read.rs
+++ b/benches/avro_read.rs
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ fn read_batch(buffer: &[u8], size: usize) -> Result<()> {
         ),
         avro_schema,
         schema.fields,
+        None,
     );
 
     let mut rows = 0;
diff --git a/examples/avro_read.rs b/examples/avro_read.rs
index 6d7722ac1d4..2d0148cf9d9 100644
--- a/examples/avro_read.rs
+++ b/examples/avro_read.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
         read::Decompressor::new(read::BlockStreamIterator::new(file, file_marker), codec),
         avro_schema,
         schema.fields,
+        None,
     );
 
     for maybe_chunk in reader {
diff --git a/examples/avro_read_async.rs b/examples/avro_read_async.rs
index 92e5b420472..6370f6aeca5 100644
--- a/examples/avro_read_async.rs
+++ b/examples/avro_read_async.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
 
     let (avro_schemas, schema, compression, marker) = read_metadata(&mut reader).await?;
     let avro_schemas = Arc::new(avro_schemas);
+    let projection = Arc::new(schema.fields.iter().map(|_| true).collect::<Vec<_>>());
 
     let blocks = block_stream(&mut reader, marker).await;
 
@@ -27,11 +28,12 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     while let Some(mut block) = blocks.next().await.transpose()? {
         let schema = schema.clone();
         let avro_schemas = avro_schemas.clone();
+        let projection = projection.clone();
         // the content here is CPU-bounded. It should run on a dedicated thread pool
         let handle = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
             let mut decompressed = Block::new(0, vec![]);
             decompress_block(&mut block, &mut decompressed, compression)?;
-            deserialize(&decompressed, &schema.fields, &avro_schemas)
+            deserialize(&decompressed, &schema.fields, &avro_schemas, &projection)
         });
         let batch = handle.await.unwrap()?;
         assert!(!batch.is_empty());
diff --git a/src/io/avro/read/deserialize.rs b/src/io/avro/read/deserialize.rs
index cc636cc5b77..37c733fc578 100644
--- a/src/io/avro/read/deserialize.rs
+++ b/src/io/avro/read/deserialize.rs
@@ -137,24 +137,6 @@ fn deserialize_value<'a>(
                 array.try_push_valid()?;
             }
         }
-        DataType::Interval(IntervalUnit::MonthDayNano) => {
-            // https://avro.apache.org/docs/current/spec.html#Duration
-            // 12 bytes, months, days, millis in LE
-            let data = &block[..12];
-            block = &block[12..];
-
-            let value = months_days_ns::new(
-                i32::from_le_bytes([data[0], data[1], data[2], data[3]]),
-                i32::from_le_bytes([data[4], data[5], data[6], data[7]]),
-                i32::from_le_bytes([data[8], data[9], data[10], data[11]]) as i64 * 1_000_000,
-            );
-
-            let array = array
-                .as_mut_any()
-                .downcast_mut::<MutablePrimitiveArray<months_days_ns>>()
-                .unwrap();
-            array.push(Some(value))
-        }
         DataType::Struct(inner_fields) => {
             let fields = match avro_field {
                 AvroSchema::Record(Record { fields, .. }) => fields,
@@ -227,6 +209,25 @@ fn deserialize_value<'a>(
                         .unwrap();
                     array.push(Some(value))
                 }
+                PrimitiveType::MonthDayNano => {
+                    // https://avro.apache.org/docs/current/spec.html#Duration
+                    // 12 bytes, months, days, millis in LE
+                    let data = &block[..12];
+                    block = &block[12..];
+
+                    let value = months_days_ns::new(
+                        i32::from_le_bytes([data[0], data[1], data[2], data[3]]),
+                        i32::from_le_bytes([data[4], data[5], data[6], data[7]]),
+                        i32::from_le_bytes([data[8], data[9], data[10], data[11]]) as i64
+                            * 1_000_000,
+                    );
+
+                    let array = array
+                        .as_mut_any()
+                        .downcast_mut::<MutablePrimitiveArray<months_days_ns>>()
+                        .unwrap();
+                    array.push(Some(value))
+                }
                 _ => unreachable!(),
             },
             PhysicalType::Utf8 => {
@@ -283,11 +284,109 @@ fn deserialize_value<'a>(
     Ok(block)
 }
 
-/// Deserializes a [`Block`] into [`Chunk`].
+fn skip_item<'a>(field: &Field, avro_field: &AvroSchema, mut block: &'a [u8]) -> Result<&'a [u8]> {
+    if field.is_nullable {
+        let variant = util::zigzag_i64(&mut block)?;
+        let is_null_first = is_union_null_first(avro_field);
+        if is_null_first && variant == 0 || !is_null_first && variant != 0 {
+            return Ok(block);
+        }
+    }
+    match &field.data_type {
+        DataType::List(inner) => {
+            let avro_inner = match avro_field {
+                AvroSchema::Array(inner) => inner.as_ref(),
+                AvroSchema::Union(u) => match &u.as_slice() {
+                    &[AvroSchema::Array(inner), _] | &[_, AvroSchema::Array(inner)] => {
+                        inner.as_ref()
+                    }
+                    _ => unreachable!(),
+                },
+                _ => unreachable!(),
+            };
+
+            loop {
+                let len = util::zigzag_i64(&mut block)? as usize;
+
+                if len == 0 {
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                for _ in 0..len {
+                    block = skip_item(inner, avro_inner, block)?;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        DataType::Struct(inner_fields) => {
+            let fields = match avro_field {
+                AvroSchema::Record(Record { fields, .. }) => fields,
+                AvroSchema::Union(u) => match &u.as_slice() {
+                    &[AvroSchema::Record(Record { fields, .. }), _]
+                    | &[_, AvroSchema::Record(Record { fields, .. })] => fields,
+                    _ => unreachable!(),
+                },
+                _ => unreachable!(),
+            };
+
+            for (field, avro_field) in inner_fields.iter().zip(fields.iter()) {
+                block = skip_item(field, &avro_field.schema, block)?;
+            }
+        }
+        _ => match field.data_type.to_physical_type() {
+            PhysicalType::Boolean => {
+                let _ = block[0] == 1;
+                block = &block[1..];
+            }
+            PhysicalType::Primitive(primitive) => match primitive {
+                PrimitiveType::Int32 => {
+                    let _ = util::zigzag_i64(&mut block)?;
+                }
+                PrimitiveType::Int64 => {
+                    let _ = util::zigzag_i64(&mut block)?;
+                }
+                PrimitiveType::Float32 => {
+                    block = &block[std::mem::size_of::<f32>()..];
+                }
+                PrimitiveType::Float64 => {
+                    block = &block[std::mem::size_of::<f64>()..];
+                }
+                PrimitiveType::MonthDayNano => {
+                    block = &block[12..];
+                }
+                _ => unreachable!(),
+            },
+            PhysicalType::Utf8 | PhysicalType::Binary => {
+                let len: usize = util::zigzag_i64(&mut block)?.try_into().map_err(|_| {
+                    ArrowError::ExternalFormat(
+                        "Avro format contains a non-usize number of bytes".to_string(),
+                    )
+                })?;
+                block = &block[len..];
+            }
+            PhysicalType::FixedSizeBinary => {
+                let len = if let DataType::FixedSizeBinary(len) = &field.data_type {
+                    *len
+                } else {
+                    unreachable!()
+                };
+
+                block = &block[len..];
+            }
+            PhysicalType::Dictionary(_) => {
+                let _ = util::zigzag_i64(&mut block)? as i32;
+            }
+            _ => todo!(),
+        },
+    }
+    Ok(block)
+}
+
+/// Deserializes a [`Block`] into [`Chunk`], projected
 pub fn deserialize(
     block: &Block,
     fields: &[Field],
     avro_schemas: &[AvroSchema],
+    projection: &[bool],
 ) -> Result<Chunk<Arc<dyn Array>>> {
     let rows = block.number_of_rows;
     let mut block = block.data.as_ref();
@@ -296,21 +395,39 @@ pub fn deserialize(
     let mut arrays: Vec<Box<dyn MutableArray>> = fields
         .iter()
         .zip(avro_schemas.iter())
-        .map(|(field, avro_schema)| {
-            let data_type = field.data_type().to_logical_type();
-            make_mutable(data_type, Some(avro_schema), rows)
+        .zip(projection.iter())
+        .map(|((field, avro_schema), projection)| {
+            if *projection {
+                make_mutable(&field.data_type, Some(avro_schema), rows)
+            } else {
+                // just something; we are not going to use it
+                make_mutable(&DataType::Int32, None, 0)
+            }
         })
         .collect::<Result<_>>()?;
 
     // this is _the_ expensive transpose (rows -> columns)
     for _ in 0..rows {
-        for ((array, field), avro_field) in arrays
+        let iter = arrays
             .iter_mut()
             .zip(fields.iter())
             .zip(avro_schemas.iter())
-        {
-            block = deserialize_item(array.as_mut(), field.is_nullable, avro_field, block)?
+            .zip(projection.iter());
+
+        for (((array, field), avro_field), projection) in iter {
+            block = if *projection {
+                deserialize_item(array.as_mut(), field.is_nullable, avro_field, block)
+            } else {
+                skip_item(field, avro_field, block)
+            }?
         }
     }
-    Chunk::try_new(arrays.iter_mut().map(|array| array.as_arc()).collect())
+    Chunk::try_new(
+        arrays
+            .iter_mut()
+            .zip(projection.iter())
+            .filter_map(|x| if *x.1 { Some(x.0) } else { None })
+            .map(|array| array.as_arc())
+            .collect(),
+    )
 }
diff --git a/src/io/avro/read/mod.rs b/src/io/avro/read/mod.rs
index b48302d7b27..e437b4ef2da 100644
--- a/src/io/avro/read/mod.rs
+++ b/src/io/avro/read/mod.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ mod schema;
 mod util;
 
 pub(super) use header::deserialize_header;
-pub(super) use schema::convert_schema;
+pub(super) use schema::infer_schema;
 
 use crate::array::Array;
 use crate::chunk::Chunk;
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ pub fn read_metadata<R: std::io::Read>(
     reader: &mut R,
 ) -> Result<(Vec<AvroSchema>, Schema, Option<Compression>, [u8; 16])> {
     let (avro_schema, codec, marker) = util::read_schema(reader)?;
-    let schema = convert_schema(&avro_schema)?;
+    let schema = infer_schema(&avro_schema)?;
 
     let avro_schema = if let AvroSchema::Record(Record { fields, .. }) = avro_schema {
         fields.into_iter().map(|x| x.schema).collect()
@@ -48,15 +48,23 @@ pub struct Reader<R: Read> {
     iter: Decompressor<R>,
     avro_schemas: Vec<AvroSchema>,
     fields: Vec<Field>,
+    projection: Vec<bool>,
 }
 
 impl<R: Read> Reader<R> {
     /// Creates a new [`Reader`].
-    pub fn new(iter: Decompressor<R>, avro_schemas: Vec<AvroSchema>, fields: Vec<Field>) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(
+        iter: Decompressor<R>,
+        avro_schemas: Vec<AvroSchema>,
+        fields: Vec<Field>,
+        projection: Option<Vec<bool>>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        let projection = projection.unwrap_or_else(|| fields.iter().map(|_| true).collect());
         Self {
             iter,
             avro_schemas,
             fields,
+            projection,
         }
     }
 
@@ -72,10 +80,11 @@ impl<R: Read> Iterator for Reader<R> {
     fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
         let fields = &self.fields[..];
         let avro_schemas = &self.avro_schemas;
+        let projection = &self.projection;
 
         self.iter
             .next()
             .transpose()
-            .map(|maybe_block| deserialize(maybe_block?, fields, avro_schemas))
+            .map(|maybe_block| deserialize(maybe_block?, fields, avro_schemas, projection))
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/io/avro/read/schema.rs b/src/io/avro/read/schema.rs
index 75e65afa3d8..ff72879d78b 100644
--- a/src/io/avro/read/schema.rs
+++ b/src/io/avro/read/schema.rs
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ fn external_props(schema: &AvroSchema) -> Metadata {
     props
 }
 
-/// Maps an [`AvroSchema`] into a [`Schema`].
-pub fn convert_schema(schema: &AvroSchema) -> Result<Schema> {
+/// Infers an [`Schema`] from the root [`AvroSchema`].
+/// This
+pub fn infer_schema(schema: &AvroSchema) -> Result<Schema> {
     if let AvroSchema::Record(Record { fields, .. }) = schema {
         Ok(fields
             .iter()
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ pub fn convert_schema(schema: &AvroSchema) -> Result<Schema> {
             .into())
     } else {
         Err(ArrowError::OutOfSpec(
-            "An avro Schema must be of type Record".to_string(),
+            "The root AvroSchema must be of type Record".to_string(),
         ))
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/io/avro/read_async/metadata.rs b/src/io/avro/read_async/metadata.rs
index 1fb3526d91e..3c1b58ac78b 100644
--- a/src/io/avro/read_async/metadata.rs
+++ b/src/io/avro/read_async/metadata.rs
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ use futures::AsyncReadExt;
 use crate::datatypes::Schema;
 use crate::error::{ArrowError, Result};
 
-use super::super::read::convert_schema;
 use super::super::read::deserialize_header;
+use super::super::read::infer_schema;
 use super::super::Compression;
 use super::super::{read_header, read_metadata};
 use super::utils::zigzag_i64;
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ pub async fn read_metadata<R: AsyncRead + Unpin + Send>(
     reader: &mut R,
 ) -> Result<(Vec<AvroSchema>, Schema, Option<Compression>, [u8; 16])> {
     let (avro_schema, codec, marker) = read_metadata_async(reader).await?;
-    let schema = convert_schema(&avro_schema)?;
+    let schema = infer_schema(&avro_schema)?;
 
     let avro_schema = if let AvroSchema::Record(Record { fields, .. }) = avro_schema {
         fields.into_iter().map(|x| x.schema).collect()
diff --git a/tests/it/io/avro/read.rs b/tests/it/io/avro/read.rs
index 8ed77f03d38..46897ecceee 100644
--- a/tests/it/io/avro/read.rs
+++ b/tests/it/io/avro/read.rs
@@ -174,7 +174,10 @@ pub(super) fn write_avro(codec: Codec) -> std::result::Result<Vec<u8>, avro_rs::
     Ok(writer.into_inner().unwrap())
 }
 
-pub(super) fn read_avro(mut avro: &[u8]) -> Result<(Chunk<Arc<dyn Array>>, Schema)> {
+pub(super) fn read_avro(
+    mut avro: &[u8],
+    projection: Option<Vec<bool>>,
+) -> Result<(Chunk<Arc<dyn Array>>, Schema)> {
     let file = &mut avro;
 
     let (avro_schema, schema, codec, file_marker) = read::read_metadata(file)?;
@@ -183,8 +186,21 @@ pub(super) fn read_avro(mut avro: &[u8]) -> Result<(Chunk<Arc<dyn Array>>, Schem
         read::Decompressor::new(read::BlockStreamIterator::new(file, file_marker), codec),
         avro_schema,
         schema.fields.clone(),
+        projection.clone(),
     );
 
+    let schema = if let Some(projection) = projection {
+        let fields = schema
+            .fields
+            .into_iter()
+            .zip(projection.iter())
+            .filter_map(|x| if *x.1 { Some(x.0) } else { None })
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        Schema::from(fields)
+    } else {
+        schema
+    };
+
     reader.next().unwrap().map(|x| (x, schema))
 }
 
@@ -193,7 +209,7 @@ fn test(codec: Codec) -> Result<()> {
     let expected = data();
     let (_, expected_schema) = schema();
 
-    let (result, schema) = read_avro(&avro)?;
+    let (result, schema) = read_avro(&avro, None)?;
 
     assert_eq!(schema, expected_schema);
     assert_eq!(result, expected);
@@ -214,3 +230,36 @@ fn read_deflate() -> Result<()> {
 fn read_snappy() -> Result<()> {
     test(Codec::Snappy)
 }
+
+fn test_projected(projection: Vec<bool>) -> Result<()> {
+    let avro = write_avro(Codec::Null).unwrap();
+    let expected = data();
+    let expected = expected
+        .into_arrays()
+        .into_iter()
+        .zip(projection.iter())
+        .filter_map(|x| if *x.1 { Some(x.0) } else { None })
+        .collect();
+    let expected = Chunk::new(expected);
+    let (_, expected_schema) = schema();
+    let expected_fields = expected_schema
+        .fields
+        .into_iter()
+        .zip(projection.iter())
+        .filter_map(|x| if *x.1 { Some(x.0) } else { None })
+        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+    let expected_schema = Schema::from(expected_fields);
+
+    let (result, schema) = read_avro(&avro, Some(projection))?;
+
+    assert_eq!(schema, expected_schema);
+    assert_eq!(result, expected);
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn read_projected() -> Result<()> {
+    test_projected(vec![
+        true, false, false, false, false, false, false, false, false, false, false,
+    ])
+}
diff --git a/tests/it/io/avro/write.rs b/tests/it/io/avro/write.rs
index b605dc245d3..991cc59a76a 100644
--- a/tests/it/io/avro/write.rs
+++ b/tests/it/io/avro/write.rs
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ fn roundtrip(compression: Option<write::Compression>) -> Result<()> {
 
     let data = write_avro(&expected, &expected_schema, compression)?;
 
-    let (result, read_schema) = read_avro(&data)?;
+    let (result, read_schema) = read_avro(&data, None)?;
 
     assert_eq!(expected_schema, read_schema);
     for (c1, c2) in result.columns().iter().zip(expected.columns().iter()) {
diff --git a/tests/it/io/avro/write_async.rs b/tests/it/io/avro/write_async.rs
index 6b2bf2a39fd..1c679c564c7 100644
--- a/tests/it/io/avro/write_async.rs
+++ b/tests/it/io/avro/write_async.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ async fn roundtrip(compression: Option<write::Compression>) -> Result<()> {
 
     let data = write_avro(&expected, &expected_schema, compression).await?;
 
-    let (result, read_schema) = read_avro(&data)?;
+    let (result, read_schema) = read_avro(&data, None)?;
 
     assert_eq!(expected_schema, read_schema);
     for (c1, c2) in result.columns().iter().zip(expected.columns().iter()) {