7 GREAT ITALIAN SHORT STORIES FOR BEGINNERS 

1. Amore a Cappuccino – beginners A0/A1

If you have learned Italian for a month or two, Amore and Cappuccino is the first short story you should read. This is an Italian short storybook for A0-A1 level. If you are an advanced beginner, you will find this book way too easy, so scroll below for the other ones :). The language used is simple and tailored for a real beginner Italian learner. Each chapter consists of short dialogues between the two main characters: a German girl visiting Rome and her date, Claudio, a man that hides a few mysteries. The setting is the eternal city of Rome. The best about Amore and Cappuccino is that it takes place in Rome’s most iconic areas, and other than the language, it teaches you of a few elements of Roman art and culture. An excellent introductory course on the eternal city if you are planning to visit Rome one day.

2. Dolomiti – beginners A1

I love this short story because it takes you to one of my favorite areas in Northern Italy – the Dolomites!
This storybook is written in the present tense. It revolves about Emanuela, a young woman who lives in Dobbiaco (a picturesque mountain village immersed in the Dolomites) and still is not very happy with her life…until when she finds a way to change it. 

The story uses a great deal of useful Italian vocabulary for work/transport and the mountains. At the end of the book, you will find a cultural section where you can read in simple Italian all about the culture, the language, and the food Aldo Adige (Sudtirol), the region where the Dolomites belong.

The book’s level is for Italian learners who have learned the language for 3-4 months and are familiar with the basic Italian grammar and most recurring Italian everyday vocabulary.

3. Come hai detto che ti chiami – advanced beginners / A1-A2.1

Have you already landed the foundations for your basic Italian grammar and vocabulary? If you have learned the Italian present perfect (passato prossimo), the common irregular verbs and the basic pronouns, this story is for you.The setting is the beautiful city of Como in Northern Italy. It’s a story about a young German woman learning Italian in Germany and an Italian young man learning German in Italy. They meet online for a language exchange; their friendship is based on a misunderstanding, though! This book is a fun story that won’t only reinforce your basic Italian grammar but also help you internalize a lot of relevant Italian vocabulary through the power of reading in context. And if you haven’t been to Como yet, you will learn a lot about the city too.

4. Le città impossibili – advanced beginners A1/2

This is a great short storybook for those who explore the major Italian cities through its cliches. The book contains 12 chapters: each chapter focuses on a different town from Palermo to Turin. Every chapter isn’t longer than two pages and follows the steps of a first time visitor in the cities. At the end of the book, you will find some useful vocabulary and exercises and cultural insights about each town. This resource helps the advanced beginners, and it focuses more on vocabulary (lots of adjectives, vocabulary related to cities) rather than the grammar.

5. Storie per i giorni di festa – advanced beginners A1/A2

Have you ever heard about Carnevale? Or Ferragosto? Or do you know how Italians love to spend their Saturdays night? This Italian short story book for advanced beginners is culture based. Each chapter tells you a story related to a significant Italian holiday and the Italian habits that go with it. Brilliant book if you want to expand your Italian vocabulary and strengthen your beginner grammar. As usual for the Alma Italian short stories book, you will find grammar and vocabulary exercises and extra cultural insights.

6. Imparo l’italiano con le favole di Esopo (A1/A2)

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

7.Pasta per due – false beginners (A1)

What happens when we are in a foreign country, and we don’t understand the language well? Many misunderstandings, of course. Like those that occur to Minni, an Asian girl, when arriving in Italy for the first time to meet her Italian friend Libero in Rome. A fun story that, not only will reinforce your beginner grammar but will teach you frequent Italian popular expressions, especially those involving the verb fare