Use Model::read() when you have the ID, ie: you know the record you are referring to. Also read() will populate the Model::$data in a way suitable for Model::save() while find() will simply return the resultset array.
Use find() / findAll() / find(‘all’) to find records.
Both methods should fetch associated models given the correct Model::$recursive value.
Model::read is only a wrapper for Model::find
Source:
http://n2.nabble.com/Difference-between-read-and-find-td726658.html
