I Can, Too! | Scholastic Canada
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I Can, Too! Read an excerpt Available in French Watch a video

Awards

  • Winner, The Word Awards - Books, General Market Fiction, Children, 2023
  • Short-listed, The Word Awards - Debra Fieguth Social Justice Award, 2023
  • Commended, CBC Kids Reads, 2023
  • Commended, TD Summer Reading Club, Top Recommended Read, 2023
  • Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, 2023
  • Commended, OLA Best Bets, Picture Books, 2022

I Can, Too! Canadian Title

By Karen Autio   Illustrated by Laura Watson   

Scholastic Canada Ltd | ISBN 9781443190084 Paperback
24 Pages | 8.038" x 10.025" | Ages 3 to 7

A wonderful story of new friendship between two children with diverse abilities.

Piper and Kayla love to move. They ride bikes, glide on ice, swoosh down mountains and much more — each in her own way. While Piper pedals her tricycle with her feet, Kayla uses her hands to move her trike forward. While Kayla coasts across the ice on a sled, Piper sails along on skates. Join Kayla and Piper as they play together, explore their world and make new friends.

The inspiration for I Can, Too! comes from the author’s daughter, who was born with spina bifida. On a visit to the mall after her child received her first wheelchair, a young boy pointed, asking his mother, "Why is that girl in a wheelbarrow?" Karen welcomed questions so the unknown could be named and understood and children could get to know her daughter.

Shining a much-needed spotlight on kids who use special gear to navigate the world, I Can, Too! will delight readers of all abilities with its affirming story of inclusion, while also inviting readers to learn more about adaptive devices in the back matter.

Raves & reviews:

"Karen Autio has created a vibrant and colorful book that showcases a young girl named Kayla who uses a variety of mobility aids to enjoy the same activities as her classmates . . . This book would make a fantastic learning tool for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten students as it uses direct language and each page is filled with joyful and colorful illustrations. Caregivers and educators will love the incredible comprehensive guide to mobility aids in the back." (I Can, Too!) — Reading With Red + the Magpie

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