Easy Italian books (level A2)
These easy Italian books are for learners who have finished a first course and want to read a complete story. Everything is rewritten for CEFR level A2: still simple sentences, but with the imperfetto alongside the passato prossimo, the future tense, and direct and indirect pronouns. It is the level where reading stamina is built: and where choosing a story you enjoy makes all the difference.
On this page: Le avventure di Pinocchio: the story you already know, in easy Italian; La coscienza di Zeno: ironic chapters on smoking, marriage and business; Il corsaro nero: fast-paced pirate adventure in the Caribbean; Demetrio Pianelli: everyday Milan between home, office and salaries; Lettere di viaggio: Columbus and Vespucci in their own words; L'Orlando innamorato: knights, spells and the chase for Angelica; Don Giovanni in Sicilia: Brancati's irony on a Sicilian bachelor.
The level A2 books
What you can do at each level
| Level | What you can do in Italian | Books |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Introduce yourself, ask simple questions, follow short sentences spoken slowly. | 4 in paperback |
| A2 | Talk about your day and your past, get by in shops and on a trip. | 5 in paperback |
| B1 | Tell a story, give your opinion, follow the main points of a conversation. | 5 in paperback |
| B2 | Discuss abstract topics, follow most films and the news, write a clear argument. | 5 in paperback |
| C1 | Read long literary texts, notice tone and register, speak fluently at work. | 2 in paperback |
| C2 | Understand almost everything, catch fine nuances, read any original. | The originals |
Is A2 your level?
Take the free level test: grammar, reading and vocabulary, no sign-up. Then read the free Amazon sample of one of the A2 books: if you understand about 90% without a dictionary, you are in the right place. If you stop on almost every line, try the A1 books.
Questions about the A2 books
How long are the A2 books?
108 to 122 pages in the 6×9 paperback, in 20 chapters, each followed by comprehension questions.
Which A2 book should I read first?
Pinocchio, if you want a story you already know: when you know the plot, your attention goes to the language. If you want a fast plot, Il corsaro nero is pirate adventure from start to finish.
Paperback or Kindle?
Both, on Amazon. The paperback is $9.99 on Amazon.com; prices vary by country. The links on this page open the paperback, and the Kindle edition is on the same Amazon page.
