diff --git a/nco/nco.py b/nco/nco.py
index 31574bc..1aa501b 100644
--- a/nco/nco.py
+++ b/nco/nco.py
@@ -495,15 +495,20 @@ def open_cdf(self, infile):
 
         return file_obj
 
-    def read_array(self, infile, var_name):
-        """Directly return a numpy array for a given variable name"""
+    def read_array(self, infile, var_names):
+        """Directly return multiple numpy arrays for given variable names"""
         file_handle = self.read_cdf(infile)
-        try:
-            # return the data array
-            return file_handle.variables[var_name][:]
-        except KeyError:
-            print("Cannot find variable: {0}".format(var_name))
-            raise KeyError
+        result = {}
+
+        for var_name in var_names:
+            try:
+                # return the data array for each variable
+                result[var_name] = file_handle.variables[var_name][:]
+            except KeyError:
+                print("Cannot find variable: {0}".format(var_name))
+                raise KeyError
+
+        return result
 
     def read_ma_array(self, infile, var_name):
         """Create a masked array based on cdf's FillValue"""