Best Italian Books for A2 Learners

What Books to Use at the A2 Level

If you’re learning A2 Italian, bravo!
You’ve moved past survival mode, and now you’re ready to build real fluency.

I’ve been teaching Italian for over a decade, and after working with hundreds of A2 students, one thing is clear:progress at A2 doesn’t come from doing more it comes from choosing better tools and using them consistently.

At this level, the right combination of:

• graded reading (short stories)
• guided grammar (with many drills)
• repetition
• audio exposure
• guided speaking practice

is what truly moves you forward.

This guide will help you choose the best Italian books for A2 learners. This is the same list of A2 books my private students have successfully used for years.

What Is the A2 Italian Level?

At A2 Italian, you can:

• understand simple sentences and short texts
• talk about daily life (family, work, travel, routines)
• describe past experiences briefly
• handle basic conversations in familiar situations

Best Types of A2 Italian Books (My Top Recommendation)

1. Graded Readers for A2 Italian

Graded readers are written specifically for learners and follow the CEFR A2 guidelines.

They:

• use controlled grammar
• recycle key A2 structures
• introduce vocabulary gradually
• build confidence without frustration

This is the core of my A2 approach: once you’ve learned the foundational grammar and and most common words and conjugations, what it takes to take your Italia from bits and piece to longer and more natural sentences is reading in accessibile Italian. By doing this, cluster what you’ve learned in your lesson together. Reading is not about adding, it’s about consolidating.

My A2 Italian Graded Readers

All of these books are:

• written specifically for A2 learners
• designed to cluster vocabulary and structures
• available with audio, so you can listen and read

These books are not meant to be rushed. They’re meant to be re-read, listened to, and absorbed.

The best way to use them is to talk about what you read with:

• your tutor
• or your language exchange partner

These readers provide excellent input for guided Italian conversation and and guided conversation is the key to more confident Italian speaking.

2. Textbooks (Best Used With a Tutor)

Textbooks are excellent especially when paired with guidance.

They provide:

• structure
• pacing
• a clear progression

In my classes, I regularly use:

• Facile Facile A2
• Un Nuovo Giorno in Italia A2
• New Italian Espresso
• Italiano in Corso A2

3. Grammar Books With Drills (Repetition Is Key)

At A2, exercises are never enough.
Repetition is what unlocks fluency and confidence.

I strongly recommend supplementing your textbook with:

• Come e Perché
• Complete Italian Grammar
• Italian Step-by-Step

Grammar drills help you:

• automate structures
• stop translating in your head
• feel more secure when speaking

The Ideal A2 Study Combination

For real progress at A2, you need three elements working together:

1. A textbook for structure
2. A grammar book for drills and repetition
3. Graded readers with audio to consolidate and activate vocabulary

You don’t need more books.
You need the right ones.

Read more:

Learn Italian with Stories: My Prove Method for All Levels