Italian graded readers: learn Italian through the classics
Manzoni, Pirandello, Deledda, D’Annunzio and the other greats of Italian literature, adapted level by level: sentences calibrated to the CEFR, footnotes, a glossary and comprehension questions. Written by a qualified Italian teacher. Paperback and Kindle, on Amazon.
What’s inside every reader
CEFR adaptation
Every title is rewritten for one precise level, from A1 to C1, with controlled vocabulary and syntax.
Footnotes and glossary
Footnotes on difficult words and a final glossary, designed for independent reading.
Comprehension questions
Every chapter ends with questions to check understanding, just like in class.
Paperback and ebook
6×9 paperback on cream paper, or Kindle ebook. The same texts also live in the ti app.
Why learn Italian through reading
Reading is the fastest way to grow your Italian vocabulary, because you meet every new word inside a story, attached to characters and emotions: which is exactly how memory works best. Books to learn Italian only do their job, though, when they match your level: that is what graded readers are for. When you understand about 95% of a page, you read for pleasure and absorb the remaining 5% from context, instead of stopping at every line with a dictionary.
This series adds one more ingredient: the stories are the real classics of Italian literature, so while your reading skills grow you also collect the cultural references every Italian shares. Pair a chapter a day with the free grammar and vocabulary exercises on this site, or with the learners' blog, and the progress compounds quickly.
Pick your level
Ebook from $4.99 · also in paperback on Amazon · prices there may change
Dedicated level pages: Italian books for beginners (A1) · easy Italian books (A2) · intermediate (B1) · upper-intermediate (B2) · advanced (C1)
Which Italian book should I start with?
If you are a complete beginner, start from A1: Cuore reads as a school diary in short daily entries, while Eva is a linear love story with very few characters. After your first course, move to A2 with Pinocchio (a story you already know, which makes comprehension much easier) or the fast-paced adventure of Il corsaro nero.
Intermediate students (B1) can pick the puzzle plot of Il fu Mattia Pascal or the Nobel-winning prose of Canne al vento. At B2, I promessi sposi is the novel every Italian read at school; at C1, Il piacere prepares you for reading the originals. Quick test: open a book's Amazon sample, if you understand about 90% without a dictionary, it is your level; if it feels easy, go one level up.
Frequently asked questions
What level of Italian do I need for these books?
Each book states its CEFR level on the cover and in the listing: from A1 for the easiest readers up to C1 for the most complex novels. If you’re starting out, pick an A1 title and work your way up.
Which Italian book should I start with?
Complete beginners should start from A1 (Cuore or Eva). If you already finished a first course, choose A2 (Pinocchio, Il corsaro nero). A practical test: read the free Amazon sample, if you understand about 90% without a dictionary, that’s your level.
Are these the original texts or simplified versions?
They are adaptations: the plot and spirit of the original remain, but vocabulary and syntax are rewritten for the stated level, with footnotes and a glossary for the hardest words.
Are these books suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. The A1 titles assume only basic vocabulary and the present and passato prossimo tenses. Sentences are short, difficult words are explained in footnotes, and every chapter ends with comprehension questions to check yourself.
Can Dutch speakers use these books?
Absolutely: the series is published by thuisitaliaans in the Netherlands. The readers work from any language background, every book page on this site includes an Italian–English–Dutch glossary, and the same texts live in the 
amo Italian app with vocabulary translated into Dutch and 16 other languages.
Where can I buy them?
On Amazon, as paperback or Kindle ebook. All titles are collected on Alessio Insegnante’s author page. The ebooks are $4.99 and are also available in paperback.
Prefer reading in the app?
The same novels, with tap-to-translate vocabulary in 17 languages and animated scenes, live inside ti.
