I Can Read! is a line of beginning reading books published by HarperCollins. The series is rated by level and is widely used to teach children to read English. The first book in the series was Else Holmelund Minarik's Little Bear, published in 1957.

Structure

The I Can Read! series divides its output into 6 levels:

• My Very First - for teaching children vowels
• My First - for reading aloud to children
• Level 1 - for children who have begun to read sounds and sentences aloud
• Level 2 - for children who can read confidently, but still benefit from help
• Level 3 - enjoyable titles for children to read unassisted
• Level 4 - advanced titles to further develop the readers' literacy

History

The I Can Read! series began with 1957's Little Bear, by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. There are now over 500 titles in the series.^[1]

HarperCollins published a new series in 2021, called "I Can Read! Comics", which is targeted at children between the ages of four and eight.^[2][3]

Other languages and formats

Some I Can Read! books are also available in Spanish, French, audiobook, and e-book format.

Recognition

I Can Read! books have won Newbery Medal and Caldecott Medal honors.

Selected titles

• Amelia Bedelia series by Peggy and Herman Parish
• At Home in a New Land by Joan Sandin
• Arthur series by Lillian Hoban
• Biscuit by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Pat Schories
• Danny and the Dinosaur, story and pictures by Syd Hoff (1958)
• Frog and Toad series, Arnold Lobel
• Little Bear series, by Else Holmelund Minarik, pictures by Maurice Sendak
• Two Silly Trolls by Nancy Jewell, pictures by Lisa Thiesing
• Silly Times with Two Silly Trolls by Nancy Jewell, pictures by Lisa Thiesing
• The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches by Alice Low, pictures by Jane Manning
• Indian Summer by F.N. Monjo, pictures by Anita Lobel
• No Fighting, No Biting! by Else Holmelund Minarik, pictures by Maurice Sendak (1958)
• Sammy the Seal, story and pictures by Syd Hoff
• Julius, story and pictures by Syd Hoff (1959)
• Oliver, story and pictures by Syd Hoff (1959)
• Chester, story and pictures by Syd Hoff (1959)
• Stanley, story and pictures by Syd Hoff (1959)
• Little Chief, story and pictures by Syd Hoff (1959)
• Last One Home Is a Green Pig by Edith Thacher Hurd, pictures by Clement Hurd (1959)
• Hurry Hurry by Edith Thacher Hurd, pictures by Clement Hurd (1959)
• Stop Stop by Edith Thacher Hurd, pictures by Clement Hurd (1959)
• No Funny Business by Edith Thacher Hurd, pictures by Clement Hurd (1959)
• Emmett's Pig by Mary Stolz, pictures by Garth Williams
• Harry and the Lady Next Door by Gene Zion, pictures by Margaret Bloy Graham
• The Fire Cat, story and pictures by Esther Averill
• Scarlet Monster Lives Here by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, illustrated by Dennis Kendrick
• David and the Giant by Mike McClintock, pictures by Fritz Siebel
• Morris Is a Cowboy, a Policeman and a Baby Sitter, story and pictures by B. Wiseman
• A Picture for Harold's Room by Crockett Johnson
• Morris the Moose by B. Wiseman
• Tell Me Some More by Crosby Bonsall, pictures by Fritz Siebel
• Morris and Boris Join the Circus by B. Wiseman
• Morris Goes to School by B. Wiseman
• Piggle by Crosby Bonsall
• Who's a Pest? by Crosby Bonsall
• And I Mean It, Stanley by Crosby Bonsall
• The Day I Had to Play with My Sister, story and pictures by Crosby Bonsall
• Who's Afraid of the Dark?, story and pictures by Crosby Bonsall
• The Happy Birthday Present by Joan Heilbroner, pictures by Mary Chalmers
• This Is the House Where Jack Lives by Joan Heilbroner, pictures by Aliki
• Little Runner of the Longhouse by Betty Baker, pictures by Arnold Lobel
• What Do They Do? Policemen and Firemen by Carla Greene, pictures by Leonard Kessler
• Tillie and Mert by Ida Luttrell, pictures by Doug Cushman
• What Spot? by Crosby Bonsall
• The Secret Three by Mildred Myrick, pictures by Arnold Lobel
• A Bargain for Frances by Russell Hoban, pictures by Lillian Hoban
• Doctors and Nurses: What Do They Do? by Carla Greene, pictures by Leonard Kessler
• The Elephant Who Couldn't Forget by Faith McNulty, pictures by Marc Simont
• Grizzwold, story and pictures by Syd Hoff
• Barney's Horse, story and pictures by Syd Hoff
• Mrs. Brice's Mice, story and pictures by Syd Hoff
• Captain Cat, story and pictures by Syd Hoff
• The Lighthouse Children, story and pictures by Syd Hoff
• Emily's First 100 Days Of School by Rosemary Wells
• Soldiers and Sailors: What Do They Do? by Carla Greene, pictures by Leonard Kessler
• Buzby to the Rescue by Julia Hoban, pictures by John Himmelman
• Buzby by Julia Hoban, pictures by John Himmelman
• Lucille, story and pictures by Arnold Lobel
• Small Pig, story and pictures by Arnold Lobel
• Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel
• Mouse Tales by Arnold Lobel
• Grasshopper on the Road by Arnold Lobel
• Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel
• Uncle Elephant by Arnold Lobel
• Red Fox and His Canoe by Nathaniel Benchley, pictures by Arnold Lobel
• Railroad Engineers and Airplane Pilots: What Do They Do? by Carla Greene, pictures by Leonard Kessler
• Tom and the Two Handles by Russell Hoban, pictures by Lillian Hoban
• Three to Get Ready by Betty Boegehold, pictures by Mary Chalmers
• The Drinking Gourd by F.N. Monjo, pictures by Fred Brenner
• Stan the Hot Dog Man by Ethel and Leonard Kessler
• Johnny Lion's Book by Edith Thacher Hurd, pictures by Clement Hurd
• No More Monsters for Me! by Peggy Parish, pictures by Marc Simont
• Dinosaur Time! by Peggy Parish, pictures by Arnold Lobel
• Little Chick's Big Day by Mary DeBall Kwitz, pictures by Bruce Degen
• Little Chick's Friend Duckling by Mary DeBall Kwitz, pictures by Bruce Degen
• Little Chick's Big Breakfast by Mary DeBall Kwitz, pictures by Bruce Degen
• Hill of Fire by Thomas P. Lewis, pictures by Joan Sandin
• Porcupine's Pajama Party by Terry Webb Harshman, pictures by Doug Cushman
• The Adventures of Snail at School, story and pictures by John Stadler
• Too Many Babas, story and pictures by Carolyn Croll
• Oscar Otter by Nathaniel Benchley, illustrations by Arnold Lobel
• Sam the Minuteman by Nathaniel Benchley, pictures by Arnold Lobel
• Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner, pictures by Don Bolognese
• Juan Bobo series by Virginia Schomp, pictures by Jess Yeomans
• The Big Balloon Race by Eleanor Coerr, pictures by Carolyn Croll
• The Long Way to a New Land by Joan Sandin

References

• "Biscuit Goes to School" by Alyssa Satin Capucilli; pictures by Pat Schories. Fiction, 26 pages. HarperCollins, 2002. ISBN 978-0-06-443616-8.

External links

• Official website