Can PDF files be downloaded to an ipad and be read like an ibook?

Hello Jesse,

Thank you for the question. You can open PDFs in iBooks on your iPad. You have the option of transferring them to your iPad using email or iTunes:

Opening PDFs with iBooks

You can open PDF documents, such as a PDF attached to an email, with iBooks:

1. When you view a PDF email attachment, tap the Share button in the upper-right corner.
2. Tap Open in iBooks to open the attachment. iBooks will open, and you can view your PDF.
   

When you use iBooks to open a PDF, iBooks will automatically save a copy of the PDF to your iBooks PDF shelf. These PDFs will sync to your iTunes Book library the next time you sync your device with iTunes.

Syncing and saving PDFs

To add PDFs to your iTunes library on your computer, drag and drop the PDF into your iTunes Book library. If you're using OS X Mavericks, drag and drop your PDFs into your iBooks library using iBooks for Mac.

To sync a PDF to iBooks on your device:

1. Select your iOS device. (Learn more about syncing your data with iTunes.)
2. Click the Books tab.
3. Select Sync Books.
4. If iTunes is set to sync only selected books, select the checkbox next to the PDF you want to sync.
5. Click Sync.

You can use iTunes to back up your PDF files so they will restore to your iOS device after you update or restore your software or transfer information to a different device. If you use iTunes 11 or later to sync your PDF files to iBooks on your iOS device, a backup of your PDF will be automatically created. A copy of the PDF will be added to your iTunes Books library, or iBooks library if you're using OS X Mavericks.

You can find the full article here:

iBooks: Viewing, syncing, saving, and printing PDFs on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4227

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

Best,

Sheila M.