diff --git a/pyn5/dataset.py b/pyn5/dataset.py
index 38f7124..07bd6e6 100644
--- a/pyn5/dataset.py
+++ b/pyn5/dataset.py
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
+from copy import copy
+
 from typing import Union, Tuple, Optional, Any
 
 import numpy as np
 
 from h5py_like import DatasetBase, AttributeManagerBase, mutation, Name
+from h5py_like.shape_utils import thread_read_fn, thread_write_fn
 from pyn5.attributes import AttributeManager
 from .pyn5 import (
     DatasetUINT8,
@@ -33,6 +36,8 @@
 
 
 class Dataset(DatasetBase):
+    threads = None
+
     def __init__(self, name: str, parent: "Group"):  # noqa would need circular imports
         """
 
@@ -44,6 +49,7 @@ def __init__(self, name: str, parent: "Group"):  # noqa would need circular impo
         self._parent = parent
         self._path = self.parent._path / name
         self._attrs = AttributeManager.from_parent(self)
+        self.threads = copy(self.threads)
 
         attrs = self._attrs._read_attributes()
 
@@ -90,20 +96,46 @@ def resize(self, size: Union[int, Tuple[int, ...]], axis: Optional[int] = None):
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
     def __getitem__(self, args) -> np.ndarray:
-        def fn(translation, dimensions):
+        def inner_fn(translation, dimensions):
             return self._impl.read_ndarray(
                 translation[::-1], dimensions[::-1]
             ).transpose()
 
+        if self.threads:
+            def fn(translation, dimensions):
+                return thread_read_fn(
+                    translation,
+                    dimensions,
+                    self.chunks,
+                    self.shape,
+                    inner_fn,
+                    self.threads
+                )
+        else:
+            fn = inner_fn
+
         return self._getitem(args, fn, self._astype)
 
     @mutation
     def __setitem__(self, args, val):
-        def fn(offset, arr):
+        def inner_fn(offset, arr):
             return self._impl.write_ndarray(
                 offset[::-1], arr.transpose(), self.fillvalue
             )
 
+        if self.threads:
+            def fn(offset, arr):
+                return thread_write_fn(
+                    offset,
+                    arr,
+                    self.chunks,
+                    self.shape,
+                    inner_fn,
+                    self.threads
+                )
+        else:
+            fn = inner_fn
+
         return self._setitem(args, val, fn)
 
     @property
diff --git a/requirements_dev.txt b/requirements_dev.txt
index 114b51e..55468ae 100644
--- a/requirements_dev.txt
+++ b/requirements_dev.txt
@@ -11,5 +11,5 @@ setuptools_rust==0.10.6
 numpy==1.16.4
 pytest==4.6.3
 pytest-runner==5.1
-h5py_like==0.4.0
+h5py_like==0.5.2
 h5py==2.9.0
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 2436020..e8f2163 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 with open("HISTORY.rst") as history_file:
     history = history_file.read()
 
-requirements = ["numpy", "h5py_like>=0.4.0"]
+requirements = ["numpy", "h5py_like>=0.5.2"]
 
 setup_requirements = []
 test_requirements = []
diff --git a/tests/test_h5_like.py b/tests/test_h5_like.py
index d5ca19b..c9276b8 100644
--- a/tests/test_h5_like.py
+++ b/tests/test_h5_like.py
@@ -8,13 +8,15 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from h5py_like import Mode, FileMixin
-from h5py_like.test_utils import FileTestBase, DatasetTestBase, GroupTestBase, ModeTestBase
+from h5py_like.test_utils import (
+    FileTestBase, ThreadedDatasetTestBase, GroupTestBase, ModeTestBase,
+)
 from pyn5 import File
 
 from .common import blocks_hash
 from .common import blocks_in, attrs_in
 
-ds_kwargs = deepcopy(DatasetTestBase.dataset_kwargs)
+ds_kwargs = deepcopy(ThreadedDatasetTestBase.dataset_kwargs)
 ds_kwargs["chunks"] = (5, 5, 5)
 
 
@@ -28,8 +30,8 @@ class TestGroup(GroupTestBase):
     pass
 
 
-class TestDataset(DatasetTestBase):
-    dataset_kwargs = ds_kwargs
+class TestDataset(ThreadedDatasetTestBase):
+    dataset_kwargs = deepcopy(ThreadedDatasetTestBase.dataset_kwargs)
 
     def test_has_metadata(self, file_):
         ds = self.dataset(file_)