I Can Read! Explained

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, and subsequent notable titles have included Amelia Bedelia and Frog and Toad.

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 is set to be 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, Peggy and Herman Parish
• At Home in a New Land, Joan Sandin
• Biscuit series, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
• 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, Nancy Jewell
• The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches, Alice Low
• Indian Summer, by F.N. Monjo, pictures by Anita Lobel
• Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik, pictures by Maurice Sendak (1957)
• Father Bear Comes Home by Else Holmelund Minarik, pictures by Maurice Sendak (1958)
• Little Bear's Friend by Else Holmelund Minarik, pictures by Maurice Sendak (1960)
• Little Bear's Visit by Else Holmelund Minarik, pictures by Maurice Sendak (1961)
• 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 of Fritz Siebel
• Morris Is a Cowboy, a Policeman and a Baby Sitter, story and pictures by B. Wiseman
• A Picture for Harold's Room, story and pictures by Crockett Johnson
• Tell Me Some More by Crosby Bonsall, pictures by Fritz Siebel
• Who's a Pest? 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 of Arnold Lobel
• Doctors and Nurses: What Do They Do? by Carla Greene, pictures by Leonard Kessler
• Grizzwold, 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
• Red Fox and His Canoe by Nathaniel Benchley
• Railroad Engineers and Airplane Pilots: What Do They Do?
• 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
• Oscar Otter, by Nathaniel Benchley, pictures by Arnold Lobel
• Juan Bobo series, by Virginia Schomp, pictures by Jess Yeomans

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
• Big Max, by Kin Platt, pictures by Robert Lopshire

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
• 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

References

• "Biscuit Goes to School" by Alyssa Satin Capucilli; pictures by Pat Schories. Fiction, 26 pages. HarperCollins Publishers, 2002. .

Notes and References

1. Web site: The History of I Can Read! . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100525201053/http://www.icanread.com/history.cfm . 2010-05-25 . 2010-07-03 . I Can Read! Website . Harper Collins.
2. News: Alverson . Brigid . HarperCollins Launches I Can Read! Comics . 9 October 2020 . Publishers Weekly . 8 October 2020.
3. Web site: Alverson . Brigid . HarperCollins Launches I Can Read! Comics . 2024-07-13 . PublishersWeekly.com . en.