What’s a short story in Italian?
A short story (or “graded reader”) is a narrative written with language learners of Italian as a second language in mind. This means that the book uses vocabulary and grammar appropriate for the student’s language proficiency level.
Reading Italian short stories is a very efficient practice to integrate into your Italian study routine. By reading simplified Italian stories tailored to your level, you’ll not only consolidate the bits and pieces of Italian grammar and vocabulary you’ve previously learned but also acquire new words and grammar in context through engaging content. Reading can help you immerse yourself wherever you are and maximize your Italian learning outside the classroom.
Pick one that is right for your level and dive into it!
This is a comprehensive list of short story books that I have written myself (and others) that I’ve used extensively with my students.
Test Your Italian
Not sure what your Italian level is? I’ve created a free online Italian test to help you determine it.
Le Avventure di Paul a Roma (A1-A2)
Beginners and Upper-Beginners
Learn about the diversity of Roman neighborhoods while following Paul’s adventure in the Eternal City. This Italian short novel has been optimized for beginners to upper-beginner Italian language learners. Each bite-sized chapter is easy to read and concludes with a bilingual word list (English-Italian). At the end of the chapter, you’ll also find quizzes, translation exercises, and conversation prompts.
Due Amiche e un Album di Fotografie (A1)
Beginners
Set in the picturesque South Tyrol region, the story follows Costanza and Anna’s summer adventure in the Dolomites, in Northern Italy. The 16 bite-sized chapters are packed with useful bilingual wordlist, quizzes, insights on common mistakes students make and conversation prompts to train your speaking skills. This is also a dual-language short story (Italian-English). You can read a detailed review of this book on the blog Daily Italian Words here.
Gioielli, Caffè e Firenze (B1)
Lower-Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate
This story is written with intermediate learners in mind. It features the story of Marie, a young French woman who moved to Florence to learn the art of making jewelry. At a jewelry exhibit, she meets a mysterious Italian man who is hiding something from her. The chapters are designed to use modern and recurring vocabulary, Italian idioms and include realistic dialogues. The characters and the dialogues are relatable, and the settings will help you learn culturally relevant snippets about the city of Florence.
Mediterraneo (A2-B1)
Upper-Beginner to Lower-Intermediate
This short mystery in simple Italian is intended for upper-beginners and intermediate learners. It focuses on using verb tenses like presente, passato prossimo, imperfetto, and imperativo. It features common Italian phrases, drawing from the 1000 most frequently used Italian words and real-life dialogues commonly encountered in Italy.Furthermore, the book includes exercises at the end, such as quizzes, translations, and writing prompts for each chapter. These activities are designed to help readers retain the vocabulary they’ve learned throughout the chapters.
Amore e Cappuccino (A0-A1)
Beginners
Amore e Cappuccino is a super easy Italian language book for beginners who have just started venturing into the world of Italian language. The story features Karen, a German tourist in Rome and Claudio, a mysterious Italian guy. The vocabulary and grammar are suitable for A1 levels.
Pasta per due (A1)
Beginners
Another super-easy Italian short story fo beginner students. The story feature a couple that met online and use grammar and vocabulary patterns easy to grasp for beginners but also upper-beginner levels.
Incontri in Sicilia (A2)
Upper-Beginners and Lower-Intermediate Learners
Fiona, a young American woman of Italian descent, journeyed to Rome on a scholarship to further her Italian language skills while studying at university in the US. However, her trip takes an unexpected turn when she travels to Sicily to obtain her great-grandfather’s birth certificate for her Italian citizenship application. The experiences she has in Sicily change her future in ways she could never have imagined.
7 Romance Short Stories (B1-B2)
Intermediate and Advanced Learners
A short story collection of 7 mini romantic stories, filled with real-life dialogues and experience. Every is divided in mini-chapters. The vocabulary and grammar used are optimized for all intermediate learners. Each story is followed by a translation prompt and preposition exercises, as well as conversation prompts and bilingual word list read for you flash cards. An audiobook in slow Italian is available too.
Francesca (A1)
Beginners
Perfect for beginners and those starting their Italian language journey, this book is designed for adult foreign students who want to learn Italian in an easy and enjoyable way. Divided into 10 chapters with accompanying exercises and a comprehensive glossary, the story follows Francesca, a university student in Milan, throughout her day from breakfast to dinner. Experience her daily routine, including time at the university, the gym, and a night out with friends.
Dolomiti (A1)
Beginners
I love this short story because it takes you to one of my favorite places in Northern Italy—the Dolomites! This storybook is written in the present tense and centers around Emanuela, a young woman living in the picturesque mountain village of Dobbiaco in the Dolomites. She is not satisfied with her life until she finds a way to change it. The story uses a wealth of useful Italian vocabulary related to work, transportation, and the mountains. At the end of the book, you will find a cultural section where you can read about the culture, language, and cuisine of Aldo Adige, the region where the Dolomites are located, in simple Italian. This book is suitable for Italian learners who have studied the language for 3-4 months and are familiar with basic Italian grammar and everyday vocabulary. Available on Amazon too.
Le città impossibili (A2)
Upper-Beginners
This book includes 12 chapters, each focused on a different city, from Palermo to Turin. Each chapter is no longer than two pages and follows the journey of a first-time visitor to the city. At the end of the book, you will find helpful vocabulary, exercises, and cultural insights about each city. This resource is ideal for advanced beginners and focuses more on vocabulary, including lots of adjectives and vocabulary related to cities, than grammar. Available on Amazon.
Come hai detto che ti chiami? (A1-A2)
Upper-Beginners and Lower-Intermediate Learners
Suitable for those with a foundation in basic Italian grammar and vocabulary, this story takes place in the city of Como, Northern Italy. A young German woman and Italian man meet online for a language exchange and form a friendship based on a misunderstanding. This book reinforces basic Italian grammar while internalizing vocabulary through reading context, and provides insights into the city of Como. Available on Amazon too.
Un fine settimana a Venezia (A1-A2)
Upper-Beginners and Lower-Intermediate Learners
This story is set in Venice and features Federica, who is in town for a congress and takes the opportunity to meet Alvise, an Instagram friend, face-to-face. It’s carnival time, and they hit the streets to explore the city, immersing themselves in one of Italy’s and the world’s most famous festivities. The atmosphere is magical, but something happens that turns the story into a mystery. This book is a perfect fit for those who love delving deeper into Venice’s rich history, art, and traditions while learning lots of new vocabulary along the way. Each chapter comes with vocabulary exercises and cool cultural insights. It’s ideal for students who have already been learning Italian for a year and are at a lower-intermediate level.
La Commissaria (A1-A2)
Upper-Beginners and Lower-Intermediate Learners
A collection of mini detective stories in easy Italian. Each story is around one or two pages long and follows Inspector Sara Corelli as she tackles different mysteries. On top of that, each chapter is accompanied a set of exercises with each chapter, and there’s even a free audio download included. It’s a perfect fit for those of you who are at an A1+ (advanced beginner) level, but it’s also great for lower-intermediate students who want to brush up on the basics.
Storie per i giorni di festa (A1-A2)
Upper-Beginners and Lower-Intermediate Learners
Are you familiar with Carnevale or Ferragosto? Or have you wondered how Italians spend their Saturday nights? This Italian short storybook for advanced beginners is focused on culture. Each chapter shares a story about a significant Italian holiday and the accompanying traditions and habits. It is an excellent book if you want to broaden your Italian vocabulary and reinforce your beginner grammar skills. As with all Alma Italian Short Stories books, you’ll find grammar and vocabulary exercises and additional cultural insights.” Available on Amazon too.
Il gatto scomparso (A2)
Upper-Beginners and Lower-Intermediate Learners
The book “Il Gatto Scomparso” is marketed as an A1 level text, but it’s more suitable for A2-B1 Italian learners. The grammar used is of a lower-intermediate level, but the vocabulary is advanced and requires more than beginner knowledge. The story is a fun and humorous tale about a missing cat named “Gippi” and the antics of his family as they search for him. The book is available in both a digital format with free audio and a paperback edition. Available on Amazon too.
Chef per un giorno (A2)
Lower-Intermediate and Intermediate Learners
A delightful Italian language book that is perfect for advanced beginners or lower-intermediate students. The book follows the story of a young American student who is passionate about cooking and is eager to learn all about traditional Italian cuisine. This passion, will bring her to Verona, in Italy. The author has skillfully crafted the story in a way that incorporates the use of grammar and vocabulary that is appropriate for an A2 level. This means that the book is accessible to students who have been learning Italian for a few months and have developed a basic understanding of the language’s grammar and vocabulary. Available on Amazon.
Modelle, pistole e mozzarelle (A2)
Lower-Intermediate and Intermediate Learners
Set in Milan, the fashion and financial capital of Italy, a blonde woman visits Detective Antonio Esposito’s office in search of her missing daughter, a model. This lower-intermediate and intermediate level Italian mystery book is a perfect way to improve language skills while expanding vocabulary through a well-crafted short story. Available on Amazon too.
Storie di italiani famosi (A2)
Lower-Intermediate and Intermediate Learners
This is a delightful Italian short storybook for beginners about nine great Italian historical and cultural personalities: Leonardo da Vinci and Federico Fellini, Michelangelo, and Gianni Versace. All the stories recount a real or imaginary episode in the protagonists’ lives, while also highlighting their world and their time. As icing on the cake, every chapter comes with vocabulary and grammar activities and short texts about cultural aspects. In a nutshell, one of the best short story books available on the market is not just about Italian, but about Italian history and Italian culture.
Adriano (A2)
Lower-Intermediate and Intermediate Learners
Adriano is a great resource for adult foreign students looking to learn Italian in a fun and engaging way. The book is split into 10 chapters, each accompanied by learning exercises and a comprehensive glossary. Adriano is a small restaurant owner in the bustling neighborhood of Trastevere in Rome. His days are uneventful and peaceful, but at night he transforms into a romantic hero and embarks on thrilling adventures. Ideal for beginner Italian learners. Available on Amazon too.
Mafia, Amore, Polizia (A2)
Lower-Intermediate and Intermediate Learners
A short mystery novel that combines love and crime for lower-intermediate Italian students. An insight into the Italian mafia (written in simplified Italian) stands out, especially at the end of the book. This ebook, which includes audio, uses the present simple, imperfect, and past tense. This is a fantastic story for Italian students at the lower intermediate level.
Un fine settimana a Napoli (A2)
Lower-Intermediate and Intermediate Learners
Are you intrigued by Naples, just like me, and want to learn more about it while following the Hans’ adventures in Naples? Hans, a German guy, travels to Naples to take a pastry course. However, a set of unexpected events messes up his plans.
This book is a good fit for A2 levels and is accompanied by a wealth of information about Naples’ rich history, culture, and traditions. In addition, for every chapter, you’ll find a free audio recording, a visual dictionary, and vocabulary activities. This book is a better find for lower-intermediate students, targeting them rather than beginners.
Le favole di Esopo (A1-A2)
Upper-Beginners and Intermediate Learners
This Italian short story book contains fourteen of Aesop’s fables translated and adapted for a beginner level: the first seven are in the present tense, the last seven in the past tense.Each chapter (fable) comes with a vocabulary list of the story’s essential words and some simple exercises. You will also have the option to listen to the audio tracks by downloading the audiobook for free by following the last page’s instructions. The fables are profound and straightforward, with a final moral to discover. This short story series in Italian is ideal for those learning Italian at A1 or A2 level.
Four Smart Tips to learn Italian better with Short Stories
- Writing is like speaking in slow motion. Be proactive! Don’t limit yourself to reading the stories; use them with your Italian teacher or language exchange partner. A good exercise is to summarize the chapters in a few written sentences. Writing will help you consolidate the new vocabulary and grammar patterns, while also improving your ability to construct Italian sentences.
- Talk about it: Tired of talking about the weather or the latest news? Discuss the stories with your tutors, teachers, or language partners. You won’t truly learn something unless you use it. Using the vocabulary and grammar patterns in conversation will greatly help expand your vocabulary and solidify your grammar.
- Don’t underestimate reading at any level. Why? When you read, you naturally absorb things like the correct order of the different parts of speech, correct conjugations, and the use of prepositions.
- Re-read your story two or three times. When you finish one of these short story books in Italian, don’t put it away forever. Set it aside for a couple of months and go back to re-read it a second or third time. That’s how you will efficiently learn (retain) your vocabulary.
