An image reading apparatus includes an abnormal pixel detection device configured to examine a value of standard white image data, which is acquired by reading a white image to be a standard for a shading correction, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, to determine whether or not pixels are abnormal, wherein a previously specified value is stored for use as the standard white image data for pixels which are determined to be abnormal by the abnormal pixel detection device. As a result, costs of the image reading apparatus can be reduced because a special memory device for memorizing the positions of abnormal pixels is not required.