I Can Read! Last updated October 27, 2025 Series of books for early readers published by HarperCollins
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 vowelsMy First - For reading aloud to childrenLevel 1 - For children who have begun to read sounds and sentences aloudLevel 2 - For children who can read confidently, but still benefit from helpLevel 3 - Enjoyable titles for children to read unassistedLevel 4 - Advanced titles to further develop the readers' literacyHistory 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]
Some I Can Read! books are also available in Spanish, French, audiobook, and e-book format.
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 Else Holmelund Minarik , pictures by Maurice Sendak Two Silly Trolls , Nancy JewellThe Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches , Alice Low 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 of Fritz Siebel Morris Is a Cowboy, a Policeman and a Baby Sitter , story and pictures by B. WisemanA Picture for Harold's Room , story and pictures by Crockett Johnson Tell Me Some More by Crosby Bonsall , pictures by Fritz SiebelWho's a Pest? by Crosby BonsallThe 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 LobelWhat Do They Do? Policemen and Firemen by Carla Greene, pictures by Leonard KesslerWhat Spot? , story and pictures by Crosby BonsallThe Secret Three by Mildred Myrick, pictures of Arnold LobelDoctors and Nurses: What Do They Do? by Carla Greene, pictures by Leonard KesslerGrizzwold , by Syd HoffEmily's First 100 Days Of School by Rosemary Wells Soldiers and Sailors: What Do They Do? by Carla Greene, pictures by Leonard KesslerLucille , story and pictures by Arnold LobelRed 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 HurdOscar Otter , by Nathaniel Benchley, pictures by Arnold LobelSam the Minuteman , by Nathaniel Benchley, pictures by Arnold Lobel Juan Bobo series, by Virginia Schomp, pictures by Jess YeomansMystery books The Case of the Hungry Stranger , story and pictures by Crosby BonsallThe Case of the Cat's Meow , story and pictures by Crosby BonsallBig Max , by Kin Platt, pictures by Robert Lopshire Sports books Here Comes the Strikeout , story and pictures by Leonard KesslerKick, Pass, and Run , story and pictures by Leonard KesslerEarly 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 HoffWhat Have I Got? , by Mike McClintock, pictures by Leonard KesslerCome and Have Fun , by Edith Thacher Hurd , pictures by Clement Hurd Mine's the Best , by Crosby BonsallHester the Jester , by Ben SchecterThe Case of the Dumb Bells , story and pictures by Crosby Bonsall The Homework Caper , by Joan M. Lexau, pictures by Syd HoffScience 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 LobelProve It! by Rose Wyler and Gerald Ames , pictures by Talivaldis StubisGreg's Microscope by Millicent Selsam, pictures by Arnold LobelSeahorse by Robert A. Morris, pictures by Arnold LobelLet's Get Turtles by Millicent Selsam, pictures by Arnold LobelBenny's Animals and How He Put Them In Order , by Millicent Selsam, pictures by Arnold LobelWhen an Animal Grows , by Millicent SelsamHidden Animals , by Millicent SelsamThe Toad Hunt , by Janet CheneryAnts Are Fun , by Mildred Myrick, pictures by Arnold LobelWolfie , by Janet CheneryCatch a Whale by the Tail , by Edward RicciutiThe Penguins Are Coming , by R.L. PenneyA Nest of Wood Ducks , by Evelyn Shaw, pictures by Cherryl PapeThe Bug That Laid the Golden Eggs , Millicent SelsamAlligator by Evelyn S. ShawOctopus by Evelyn S. ShawWoodchuck by Faith McNultyElephant Seal Island by Evelyn S. ShawMore Potatoes! by Millicent SelsamFireflies by Joanne RyderBarn Owl by Phyllis FlowerEgg to Chick by Millicent SelsamAn Animal for Alan by Edward R. Ricciuti, pictures by Tom EatonDonald and the Fish That Walked by Edward R. RicciutiFish Out of School by Evelyn S. ShawLook 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. ISBN 978-0-06-443616-8 External links
United States United Kingdom Australia Christian Canada
This page is based on this
Wikipedia article Text is available under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
