diff --git a/dataframe-parquet.cabal b/dataframe-parquet.cabal
--- a/dataframe-parquet.cabal
+++ b/dataframe-parquet.cabal
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 cabal-version:      3.4
 name:               dataframe-parquet
-version:            1.3.0.0
+version:            1.4.0.0
 
 synopsis:           Parquet reader and writer for the dataframe ecosystem.
 description:
diff --git a/src/DataFrame/Typed/IO/Parquet.hs b/src/DataFrame/Typed/IO/Parquet.hs
--- a/src/DataFrame/Typed/IO/Parquet.hs
+++ b/src/DataFrame/Typed/IO/Parquet.hs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{-# LANGUAGE AllowAmbiguousTypes #-}
 {-# LANGUAGE ScopedTypeVariables #-}
 {-# LANGUAGE TypeApplications #-}
 
@@ -23,35 +24,88 @@
     readParquetFiles,
 ) where
 
+import Control.Applicative ((<|>))
+import Control.Exception (SomeException, try)
 import qualified Data.Text as T
 
-import DataFrame.IO.Parquet (ParquetReadOptions)
+import DataFrame.IO.Parquet (ParquetReadOptions (..), defaultParquetReadOptions)
 import qualified DataFrame.IO.Parquet as Parquet
 import DataFrame.Typed.Freeze (freezeOrThrow, freezeWithError)
-import DataFrame.Typed.Schema (KnownSchema)
+import DataFrame.Typed.Schema (KnownSchema, schemaColumnNames)
 import DataFrame.Typed.Types (TypedDataFrame)
 
--- | Read a Parquet file into a typed DataFrame, throwing on schema mismatch.
+{- | Read only the columns @cols@ names, unless the caller selected columns
+themselves. Parquet supplies the element types, so the schema contributes the
+projection and the freeze checks the types.
+-}
+schemaOptions ::
+    forall cols. (KnownSchema cols) => ParquetReadOptions -> ParquetReadOptions
+schemaOptions opts =
+    opts
+        { selectedColumns = selectedColumns opts <|> Just (schemaColumnNames @cols)
+        }
+
+{- | Read a Parquet file into a typed DataFrame, throwing on schema mismatch.
+Reads only the columns @cols@ names.
+
+==== __Example__
+@
+ghci> trips <- readParquet \@Trips \"trips.parquet\"
+@
+-}
 readParquet ::
     forall cols. (KnownSchema cols) => FilePath -> IO (TypedDataFrame cols)
-readParquet path = Parquet.readParquet path >>= freezeOrThrow @cols
+readParquet = readParquetWithOpts @cols defaultParquetReadOptions
 
--- | Read a Parquet file, returning a descriptive error on schema mismatch.
+{- | Read a Parquet file, returning a descriptive error on schema mismatch or
+a missing column instead of throwing.
+
+==== __Example__
+@
+ghci> readParquetWithError \@Trips \"trips.parquet\"
+Right (TDF ...)
+@
+-}
 readParquetWithError ::
     forall cols.
     (KnownSchema cols) =>
     FilePath -> IO (Either T.Text (TypedDataFrame cols))
-readParquetWithError path = freezeWithError <$> Parquet.readParquet path
+readParquetWithError path = do
+    r <-
+        try
+            (Parquet.readParquetWithOpts (schemaOptions @cols defaultParquetReadOptions) path)
+    pure $ case r of
+        Left (e :: SomeException) -> Left (T.pack (show e))
+        Right df -> freezeWithError df
 
--- | Read a Parquet file with custom options, throwing on schema mismatch.
+{- | Read a Parquet file with custom options, throwing on schema mismatch. The
+schema still supplies the column selection; an explicit 'selectedColumns'
+takes precedence.
+
+==== __Example__
+@
+ghci> trips <- readParquetWithOpts \@Trips defaultParquetReadOptions{rowRange = Just (0, 10)} \"trips.parquet\"
+@
+-}
 readParquetWithOpts ::
     forall cols.
     (KnownSchema cols) =>
     ParquetReadOptions -> FilePath -> IO (TypedDataFrame cols)
 readParquetWithOpts opts path =
-    Parquet.readParquetWithOpts opts path >>= freezeOrThrow @cols
+    Parquet.readParquetWithOpts (schemaOptions @cols opts) path
+        >>= freezeOrThrow @cols
 
--- | Read a directory\/glob of Parquet files into a typed DataFrame.
+{- | Read a directory\/glob of Parquet files into a typed DataFrame.
+
+==== __Example__
+@
+ghci> trips <- readParquetFiles \@Trips \".\/data\/trips\/*.parquet\"
+@
+-}
 readParquetFiles ::
     forall cols. (KnownSchema cols) => FilePath -> IO (TypedDataFrame cols)
-readParquetFiles path = Parquet.readParquetFiles path >>= freezeOrThrow @cols
+readParquetFiles path =
+    Parquet.readParquetFilesWithOpts
+        (schemaOptions @cols defaultParquetReadOptions)
+        path
+        >>= freezeOrThrow @cols