I Did It! is an I Like To Read Comics that build confidence in pre-k

Kids of a certain age know the I Like to Read comics logo. It’s a red, anthropomorphic book that’s encircled in a black speech bubble with “I Like to Read” above it. Their books also have the slogan on the spine of the book, that way when they’re in classroom libraries kids can find them without looking at the cover. This is the logo that those sight word kids are looking for when they’re putting together the building blocks of confidence. I Did it! is by Michael Emberley and tells the very simple tale of a cat who is trying to do things.

The cat is wearing some adorable striped pajamas and trying to make a block tower. The cat asks itself if it can climb the rope, just like the penguin and elephant do. From climbing a tree to throwing a baseball, the cat just can’t seem to do anything. Every time it tries to do something it gets discouraged and sulks or storms away from his friends.

As the cat encounters more activities his initial query varies from “can I try….”, “I want to…..” to “I think I can…..” . The result is an evolution in its thinking and will illustrate to young readers a couple of very important life skills that they need to get under their belt.

Don’t get bogged down with ‘lessons’, even though I Did It! teaches a lesson it’s not preachy and won’t divide those young ages. That’s because of the detailed, full illustrations of the cat and its friends. The subtle mannerisms of the cat riding a bike will make you think that author/illustrator Michael Emberley actually knew a cat that tried to ride a bike, and then sketched them doing it. It’s a fun style of cartooning that is timeless and speaks to any age, even those older souls who might be reading the book to kids for the first time.

The theme of I Did It! is that you can do it. You can do it, but it will take a couple of different attempts, with probable failure mixed in with the results. However, the cat’s friends, a raccoon, a tiny alligator in a red coat and a small, blue elephant with toilet plunger appendages help make the book fun. As with all I Like to Read Comics, the text is minimal and the drawings are cute. Even by other I Like to Read Comics standards, the word count in I Did It! is very low. This means that it’s a book that’ll be attractive and one that will instill reading confidence at a younger age. Those two attributes are the magic chocolate and peanut butter combination in grasping pre-k and k ages and making them realize that they can do it.

Of course, in this case the ‘it’, is kids knowing that they can read and affirming that they can sound out the words on their own. That’s the entire purpose behind the I Like to Read and I Did It! is a great example of the leading, younger edge of the series. It’s also a hardback book, which will give kids more confidence because it’s got a “big-kid” feel. If you’re hip to the I Live to Read book series then you’ll know what to expect. If you’re not, then consider I Did It! as one of the first books that pre-k kids will be able to enjoy by themselves for a period of time until they’re ready for more complex things.

I Did It! is in the I Like to Read book series is by Michael Emberley and is available on Holiday House Publishing.

There are affiliate links in this post.