Cuore: an Italian book for beginners (A1)
Edmondo De Amicis · adapted by Alessio Insegnante · CEFR level A1
Edmondo De Amicis's classic (1886), rewritten for learners of Italian at level A1: calibrated sentences, footnotes, a final glossary and comprehension questions in every chapter.
Ebook free with Kindle Unlimited · $4.99 · also in 6×9 paperback
The plot of Cuore
Turin, late nineteenth century. Enrico Bottini, a third-grade pupil, fills his diary with a whole school year: his classmates, his teacher Perboni, the small conflicts and great friendships that grow between the desks. Around him is newly unified Italy, with its social differences and its ideals.
Woven into the diary are the famous monthly tales, such as the little Florentine scribe or Marco's journey from the Apennines to the Andes: episodes of courage and generosity that have moved generations of Italian readers.
Why read Cuore to learn Italian
The diary format breaks the novel into short episodes: five-minute readings, perfect for daily practice at A1. The vocabulary of school, family and emotions is exactly what you use in your first conversations, and the monthly tales give you complete little stories within the story.
Inside this reader
CEFR adaptation
The text is fully rewritten for level A1, with controlled vocabulary and syntax, while staying faithful to the original plot.
Footnotes and glossary
Footnotes on difficult words and a final glossary, so you can read independently without a dictionary.
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 text also lives in the ti app.
Language focus: what you practise
In this level-A1 edition you mainly practise the present tense, the passato prossimo, basic articles and prepositions, short coordinated sentences. The vocabulary revolves around school, family and emotions: the key words, with translations, are in the glossary below and recur throughout the text, so you learn them in context.
Essential glossary (Italian · English · Dutch)
| Italian | English | Dutch |
|---|---|---|
| la scuola | school | de school |
| il maestro | teacher | de leraar |
| il compagno | classmate | de klasgenoot |
| il diario | diary | het dagboek |
| il coraggio | courage | de moed |
| la patria | homeland | het vaderland |
| l'operaio | worker | de arbeider |
| il premio | prize | de prijs |
About the author: Edmondo De Amicis
Edmondo De Amicis (1846–1908) was a journalist, travel writer and one of the best-loved voices of post-unification Italy. With Cuore he created the most widely read children's book in Italian literature, translated into dozens of languages.
Details and difficulty level
A1 is the first step of the CEFR: short sentences, present and passato prossimo, high-frequency vocabulary. This reader suits anyone who has just started learning Italian or has completed a first beginner course. Format: 6×9 paperback on cream paper or Kindle ebook; 10 chapters with footnotes, a final glossary and comprehension questions. All level A1 books →
Frequently asked questions
What level of Italian do I need to read Cuore?
This edition of Cuore is rewritten for CEFR level A1. A1 is the first step of the CEFR: short sentences, present and passato prossimo, high-frequency vocabulary. This reader suits anyone who has just started learning Italian or has completed a first beginner course.
Is this Edmondo De Amicis's original text?
No, it is an adaptation: the plot and spirit of Edmondo De Amicis's original remain, but vocabulary and syntax are rewritten for level A1, with footnotes, a final glossary and comprehension questions at the end of every chapter.
Which formats is it available in?
Paperback (6×9, cream paper) and Kindle ebook on Amazon. The ebook is free to read with Kindle Unlimited. The same text also lives in the ti app, with vocabulary translated into 14 languages.
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Keep learning with thuisitaliaans
Cuore also lives inside the ti app, with tap-to-translate vocabulary in 14 languages and animated scenes. On the site you'll also find 700+ free Italian exercises and the blog for Italian learners.
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