Why Parents (and Kids!) Love the I Can Read! Book Series
If you’ve ever found yourself standing in the children’s section, wondering which book will actually help your little one fall in love with reading, let me introduce you to one of the best places to start — the I Can Read! book series.
This long-running collection has turned reluctant readers into bookworms for decades, offering stories that grow with your child — from those first wobbly words to confident chapter reading.
📚 What Is the I Can Read! Series?
The I Can Read! series is a structured reading program designed to help children build confidence, fluency, and comprehension skills step by step.
It’s divided into five levels, starting with simple picture books and progressing to early chapter books. Each level gently increases vocabulary and sentence complexity, helping kids learn at a comfortable pace.
Levels include:
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My First: Shared Reading – For toddlers and pre-readers who love listening to stories.
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Level 1: Beginning Reading – Simple sentences, lots of pictures, and familiar words.
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Level 2: Reading with Help – Slightly longer stories for kids who are ready for more challenge.
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Level 3: Reading Alone – Early chapter books that foster independence.
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Level 4: Advanced Reading – Engaging stories for confident readers.
💡 Why Parents Trust I Can Read! Books
Here’s what makes I Can Read! a household name in early literacy:
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Consistency – Each book is tailored to a child’s reading stage, so no wild leaps in difficulty.
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Familiar Characters – Beloved faces like Amelia Bedelia, Biscuit the Dog, and Little Bear make reading feel like visiting old friends.
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Teacher-Approved – Many educators recommend I Can Read! because it aligns with classroom reading levels.
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Affordable & Easy to Find – You can find them in bookstores, libraries, and online — including local gems like BookBoss.ae for UAE-based readers.
🧠 How to Use I Can Read! at Home
Parents often ask: “How can I make reading time engaging?”
Here’s how you can make the most of the I Can Read! collection:
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Start with “My First” – Even if your child can’t read yet, these books build rhythm and vocabulary through read-aloud time.
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Mix Familiar with New – Alternate between characters your child already loves and fresh stories to keep excitement alive.
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Let Them Choose – Children are more likely to read when they have agency over what they’re reading.
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Praise Effort, Not Perfection – Celebrate small milestones (“You read three pages on your own!”) to build confidence.
✨ Top Picks from the I Can Read! Series
If you’re just starting out, here are a few parent-and-teacher favorites:
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“Biscuit” by Alyssa Satin Capucilli (My First) – A sweet, gentle start for toddlers.
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“Amelia Bedelia” by Peggy Parish (Level 2) – Silly wordplay and humor that teach idioms and comprehension.
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“Frog and Toad Are Friends” by Arnold Lobel (Level 2) – Timeless tales of friendship.
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“Little Bear” by Else Holmelund Minarik (Level 1–2) – Warm, cozy stories for bedtime reading.
You can browse the full collection on BookBoss.ae — and yes, they deliver locally! 📦💛
🎯 Final Thoughts: Why I Can Read! Still Matters
In a world full of flashy apps and tablets, I Can Read! books remind us that the simple magic of holding a story — turning a page, sounding out a word, giggling at a familiar character — never gets old.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or doting auntie with a soft spot for storytime, this series is a delightful way to nurture a lifelong love of reading.
📍 Where to Buy
🛒 Find I Can Read! books at BookBoss.ae or your nearest local bookstore — support your neighborhood bookseller whenever you can!
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🐾 Why My Nieces (and Every Kid I Know) Love the I Can Read! Book Series
If you’ve ever sat cross-legged on a carpet, surrounded by picture books and half-eaten snacks, trying to convince a child that reading can be fun — you’ll understand why I adore the I Can Read! book series.
In my case, it started with my niece clutching a slightly chewed copy of Biscuit. You know Biscuit — that floppy-eared, golden little puppy who somehow manages to make “Woof, woof!” sound like poetry. She loved him so much she used to “read” it to her younger brother, proudly turning the pages and narrating the story entirely from memory. That’s the magic of these books: they don’t just teach reading; they build tiny storytellers.
📚 What Is the I Can Read! Series?
The I Can Read! series is one of the most beloved early reading programs in the English-speaking world. Designed to guide children from their first shared storytime all the way to independent reading, it uses gentle progression and charming characters to make learning feel natural — almost sneaky, in the best way.
The five levels are:
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My First: Shared Reading – Perfect for pre-readers and toddlers who love to listen.
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Level 1: Beginning Reading – Short sentences, big pictures, lots of giggles.
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Level 2: Reading with Help – For little ones gaining confidence.
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Level 3: Reading Alone – Early chapter books with more story depth.
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Level 4: Advanced Reading – Engaging tales for fluent young readers.
💛 Why Parents (and Aunties!) Love I Can Read!
Here’s why I — and just about every parent I know — keep coming back to this series:
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Familiar, lovable characters – From Biscuit to Amelia Bedelia to Frog and Toad, these aren’t just stories; they’re friends.
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Perfectly leveled books – Each step builds confidence without overwhelming kids.
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Trusted by teachers – It’s the same series you’ll often find in classrooms and school libraries.
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Affordable and easy to find – And if you’re in the UAE like me, you can grab them from BookBoss.ae — no international shipping drama, thank goodness.
🧠 My Tips for Making Reading Time Magical
A few small things that have worked wonders with my nieces and nephews (and the occasional neighbor’s kid I’ve been roped into babysitting):
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Let them choose — Autonomy is everything. A child who chooses Biscuit is far more likely to read it three times in a row.
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Mix reading and acting — We bark, we giggle, we over-dramatize. It’s chaos, but glorious.
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Keep expectations realistic — Some days they’ll read two pages, some days they’ll “read” the pictures. Both are wins.
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Create a ritual — Ours involves hot chocolate and a cozy corner on the couch.
🏆 Our Family Favorites
If you’re new to the series, here’s where to start:
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🐶 “Biscuit” by Alyssa Satin Capucilli – Sweet, gentle, and endlessly re-readable. My nieces could quote this one before they could spell their own names.
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😂 “Amelia Bedelia” by Peggy Parish – For kids who love wordplay and silliness (and grownups who need a laugh).
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🐸 “Frog and Toad Are Friends” by Arnold Lobel – Simple stories that sneak up on you with emotional depth.
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🧸 “Little Bear” by Else Holmelund Minarik – Warm and old-fashioned in the best way — a bedtime classic.
You can browse these titles and more on BookBoss.ae.
✨ Final Thoughts: Tiny Readers, Big Hearts
What I love most about I Can Read! is how it makes reading feel like play, not homework. Kids don’t realize they’re learning phonics or sentence structure — they just know they’re spending time with characters they love (and maybe getting an extra bedtime story out of it).
And for me, watching my nieces light up when they sound out a tricky word — that’s better than any five-star review.
So if you’re searching for the perfect first series to spark a lifelong love of reading, start here. Trust me: Biscuit will wag his way straight into your heart.
📍 Where to Buy
🛒 Find I Can Read! books at BookBoss.ae or your nearest independent bookstore — always support your local shelves when you can!