I Can Read!

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]

In late 2020, HarperCollins announced the addition of a new series called "I Can Read! Comics", targeted at children between the ages of four and eight. It was released in June 2021 with four books, from levels 1 to 3.^[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
Biscuit series 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
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)
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
The Rooftop Mystery by Joan M. Lexau, pictures by Syd Hoff
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
Who's a Pest? by Crosby Bonsall
And I Mean It, Stanley 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
What Spot?, story and pictures by Crosby Bonsall
The Secret Three by Mildred Myrick, pictures by Arnold Lobel
Doctors and Nurses: What Do They Do? by Carla Greene, pictures by Leonard Kessler
Grizzwold by Syd Hoff
Barney's Horse by Syd Hoff
Mrs. Brice's Mice by Syd Hoff
Captain Cat by Syd Hoff
The Lighthouse Children 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
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
Johnny Lion's Book by Edith Thacher Hurd, pictures by Clement Hurd
Little Chick's Big Day 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
Too Many Babas, story and pictures by Carolyn Croll
Oscar Otter by Nathaniel Benchley, pictures by Arnold Lobel
Sam the Minuteman by Nathaniel Benchley, pictures by Arnold Lobel
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

Mystery books

The Case of the Hungry Stranger, story and pictures by Crosby Bonsall
The Case of the Cat's Meow, story and pictures by Crosby Bonsall
The Case of the Scaredy Cats by Crosby Bonsall
Big Max by Kin Platt, pictures by Robert Lopshire
Aunt Eater Loves a Mystery by Doug Cushman
Inspector Hopper by Doug Cushman
The Great Snake Escape by Molly Coxe

Sports books

Here Comes the Strikeout, story and pictures by Leonard Kessler
Kick, Pass, and Run, story and pictures by Leonard Kessler

Early books

Cat and Dog by Else Holmelund Minarik, pictures by Fritz Siebel
Who Will Be My Friends?, story and pictures by Syd Hoff
Albert the Albatross, story and pictures by Syd Hoff
The Horse in Harry's Room, story and pictures by Syd Hoff
Thunderhoof, story and pictures by Syd Hoff
What Have I Got? by Mike McClintock, pictures by Leonard Kessler
Come and Have Fun by Edith Thacher Hurd, pictures by Clement Hurd
Mine's the Best by Crosby Bonsall
Hester the Jester by Ben Schecter
The Case of the Dumb Bells, story and pictures by Crosby Bonsall
The Homework Caper by Joan M. Lexau, pictures by Syd Hoff

Science I CAN READ books

Seeds and More Seeds by Millicent E. Selsam, pictures by Tomi Ungerer
Plenty of Fish by Millicent Selsam, pictures by Erik Blegvad
Tony's Birds by Millicent Selsam, pictures by Kurt Werth
Terry and the Caterpillars by Millicent Selsam, pictures by Arnold Lobel
Red Tag Comes Back by Fred Phleger, pictures by Arnold Lobel
Prove It! by Rose Wyler and Gerald Ames, pictures by Talivaldis Stubis
Greg's Microscope by Millicent Selsam, pictures by Arnold Lobel
Seahorse by Robert A. Morris, pictures by Arnold Lobel
Let's Get Turtles by Millicent Selsam, pictures by Arnold Lobel
Benny's Animals and How He Put Them In Order, by Millicent Selsam, pictures by Arnold Lobel
When an Animal Grows, by Millicent Selsam
Hidden Animals, by Millicent Selsam
The Toad Hunt, by Janet Chenery
Ants Are Fun, by Mildred Myrick, pictures by Arnold Lobel
Wolfie, by Janet Chenery
Catch a Whale by the Tail, by Edward Ricciuti
The Penguins Are Coming, by R.L. Penney
A Nest of Wood Ducks, by Evelyn Shaw, pictures by Cherryl Pape
The Bug That Laid the Golden Eggs, Millicent Selsam
Alligator by Evelyn S. Shaw
Octopus by Evelyn S. Shaw
Woodchuck by Faith McNulty
Elephant Seal Island by Evelyn S. Shaw
More Potatoes! by Millicent Selsam
Fireflies by Joanne Ryder
Barn Owl by Phyllis Flower
Egg to Chick by Millicent Selsam
An Animal for Alan by Edward R. Ricciuti, pictures by Tom Eaton
Donald and the Fish That Walked by Edward R. Ricciuti
Fish Out of School by Evelyn S. Shaw
Look for a Bird by Edith Thacher Hurd