I Can Read! is a line of beginning reading books published by

HarperCollins HarperCollins Publishers LLC is one of the Big Five English-language publishing companies, alongside Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Macmillan. The company is headquartered in New York City and is a subsidiary of News Cor ...

. 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 Else Holmelund Minarik (née Holmelund; September 13, 1920 – July 12, 2012) was an American author of more than 40 children's books. She was most commonly associated with her '' Little Bear'' series of children's books, which were adapted for t ...

's '' Little Bear'', published in 1957, and subsequent notable titles have included ''

Amelia Bedelia Amelia Bedelia is the protagonist and title character of a series of American children's books that were written by Peggy Parish from 1963 until her death in 1988, and by her nephew, Herman, beginning in 1995. They have been illustrated by W ...

'' 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

and illustrated by

Maurice Sendak Maurice Bernard Sendak (; June 10, 1928 – May 8, 2012) was an American author and illustrator of children's books. He became most widely known for his book ''Where the Wild Things Are'', first published in 1963.Turan, Kenneth (October 16, 200 ...

. In late 2020, HarperCollins announced the addition of a new series called "I Can Read! Comics". It is set to be released in June 2021 with four books, from levels 1 to 3. There are now over 500 titles in the series.

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 The John Newbery Medal, frequently shortened to the Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of "the most distinguished contr ...

and

Caldecott Medal The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service ...

honors.

Selected titles

series, Peggy and

Herman Parish Herman S. Parish III is an American children's writer, the current author of ''Amelia Bedelia'' children's books and the nephew of the series creator Peggy Parish. Life and career Parish was born in Texas. His father served in the US Air Force. ...

* ''At Home in a New Land'', Joan Sandin * Biscuit series, Alyssa Satin Capucilli * ''

Danny and the Dinosaur ''Danny and the Dinosaur'' is a children's picture book by Syd Hoff, first published by Harper & Brothers in 1958. It has sold over ten million copies and has been translated into a dozen languages. The book inspired six other sequels by Syd Hoff. ...

'', story and pictures by Syd Hoff (1958) * Frog and Toad series,

Arnold Lobel Arnold Stark Lobel (May 22, 1933 – December 4, 1987) was an American author of children's books, including the '' Frog and Toad'' series and '' Mouse Soup''. He wrote and illustrated these picture books as well as ''Fables'', a 1981 Caldecott M ...

* Little Bear series, by

, pictures by

* ''Two Silly Trolls'', Nancy Jewell * ''The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches'', Alice Low * ''Indian Summer'', by F.N. Monjo, pictures by

Anita Lobel Anita Lobel (née Kempler; born June 2, 1934) is a Polish-American illustrator of children's books, including ''On Market Street'', written by her husband Arnold Lobel and a Caldecott Honor Book for illustration, ''A New Coat for Anna'', ''Alis ...

* ''Little Bear'' by

, pictures by

(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 Edith Thacher Hurd (September 14, 1910 – January 25, 1997) was an American writer of children's books. She published 70 books in her lifetime,Saxon, Wolfgang''The New York Times'' (July 25, 1997). fifty of them illustrated by her husband, Cleme ...

, pictures by

Clement Hurd Clement Gazzam Hurd (January 12, 1908 – February 5, 1988) was an American artist. He is known for illustrations of children's picture books, especially collaborations with writer Margaret Wise Brown including ''Goodnight Moon'' (1947) and ''The ...

(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 Mary Stolz (born Mary Slattery, March 24, 1920 – December 15, 2006) was an American writer of fiction for children and young adults. She received the 1953 Child Study Association of America's Children's Book Award for ''In a Mirror,'' Newbe ...

, pictures by

Garth Williams Garth Montgomery Williams (April 16, 1912 – May 8, 1996) was an American artist who came to prominence in the American Post-war, postwar era as an illustrator of children's books. Many of the books he illustrated have become classics of Americ ...

* ''Harry and the Lady Next Door'' by Gene Zion, pictures by Margaret Bloy Graham * ''The Fire Cat'', story and pictures by

Esther Averill Esther Averill (July 24, 1902 – May 19, 1992) was an American writer and illustrator best known for the Cat Club picture books, a collection of 13 stories featuring Jenny Linsky, a small black cat who always wears a red scarf. She was also an e ...

* ''The Rooftop Mystery'' by Joan M. Lexau, pictures by

Syd Hoff Syd Hoff (September 4, 1912 – May 12, 2004) was an American cartoonist and children's book author, best known for his classic early reader '' Danny and the Dinosaur''. His cartoons appeared in a multitude of genres, including advertising co ...

* ''David and the Giant'', by Mike McClintock, pictures of

Fritz Siebel Frederick "Fritz" Siebel (December 19, 1913 – December 1991) was an Austrian American illustrator, well known for his award winning World War II poster "Someone Talked" and his illustrations for the children's book Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish ...

* ''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 Crockett Johnson (October 20, 1906 – July 11, 1975) was the pen name of the American cartoonist and children's book illustrator David Johnson Leisk. He is best known for the comic strip ''Barnaby'' (1942–1952) and the ''Harold'' series of book ...

* ''Tell Me Some More'' by

Crosby Bonsall Crosby Newell Bonsall (January 2, 1921 – January 10, 1995) was an American artist and children's book author and illustrator. She wrote and illustrated more than 40 children's books. Born January 2, 1921, in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, Bon ...

, 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 Rosemary Wells (born January 29, 1943) is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She is well known for using animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby (later adapted into ...

* ''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 Nathaniel Goddard Benchley (November 13, 1915 – December 14, 1981) was an American writer from Massachusetts. Early life Born in Newton, Massachusetts to a literary family, he was the son of Robert Benchley (1889–1945), a noted American wri ...

* ''Railroad Engineers and Airplane Pilots: What Do They Do?'' * ''Tom and the Two Handles'' by

Russell Hoban Russell Conwell Hoban (February 4, 1925 – December 13, 2011) was an American expatriate writer. His works span many genres, including fantasy, science fiction, mainstream fiction, magical realism, poetry, and children's books. He lived in ...

, pictures by

Lillian Hoban Lillian Hoban (May 18, 1925 – July 17, 1998) was an American illustrator and children's writer best known for picture books created with her husband Russell Hoban. According to OCLC, she has published 326 works in 1,401 publications in 11 lan ...

* ''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 Robert Lopshire (April 14, 1927 – May 4, 2002) is best known for his popular children's book Put Me In the Zoo. Life and career Lopshire was born in Sarasota, Florida. He attended the city's elementary and high schools. Lophsire ...

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

, pictures by

* ''Who Will Be My Friends?'', story and pictures by

* ''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

, pictures by

* ''Mine's the Best'', by Crosby Bonsall * ''Hester the Jester'', by Ben Schecter * ''The Case of the Dumb Bells'', story and pictures by

* ''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 Jean-Thomas "Tomi" Ungerer (; 28 November 1931 – 9 February 2019) was an Alsatians (people), Alsatian artist and writer. He published over 140 books ranging from children's books to adult works and from the fantastic to the autobiographical. H ...

* ''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

* ''Red Tag Comes Back'' by Fred Phleger, pictures by Arnold Lobel * ''Prove It!'' by Rose Wyler and

Gerald Ames Gerald Ames (12 September 1880 – 2 July 1933) was a British actor, film director and Olympic fencer. Ames was born in Blackheath, London in 1880 and first took up acting in 1905. He was a popular leading man in the post-First World War cinema ...

, 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 John Kaufmann * ''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. .

External links

* {{HarperCollins Book series introduced in 1957 American children's books Learning to read Series of children's books William Collins, Sons books HarperCollins books