Teacher’s Tip: Working with the right textbooks can bring structure and clarity to your Italian learning journey at levels A1 and A2. To get the best results, combine a textbook with grammar drills and a short story reader—reading helps you consolidate what you’ve learned in your lessons.
Below is a list of the best beginner Italian resources I’ve successfully used for years with my private students. These books are perfect for A1–A2 learners who want to build a solid foundation in grammar, vocabulary, and everyday communication.
1. Le Avventure di Paul a Roma
Level: A1–A2
Type: Easy Italian reader with exercises
Le Avventure di Paul a Roma is a short storybook designed for Italian beginner learners.
The book uses simple grammar structures and vocabulary suitable for A1–A2 learners. It consists of 12 short chapters, each followed by a few comprehension exercises to check your understanding.
It’s a great resource to consolidate your grammar, learn new vocabulary, and discover Rome through the eyes of a local—the author of the book.
👉 Kindle or Paperback on Amazon 👉 PDF
2. Due Amiche e Un Album di Fotografie
Level: A1-A2
Type: Easy Italian Reader with exercises
Level: A1-A2
Type: Easy Italian Reader with exercises
Due Amiche e Un Album di Fotografie is an easy reader for beginners. It tells the story of two friends who meet after a long time and look through an old photo album together.
The book uses simple grammar structures and vocabulary for A1 learners. Each chapter is short and followed by a few comprehension exercises to check your understanding. It’s a good option if you’re looking for a graded reader that combines storytelling and practice in one.
👉 Kindle or Paperback on Amazon
3. Volentieri A1
Level: A1-A2
Type: Textbook with exercises and audio
Volentieri A1 is a textbook for beginners widely used in Italian language schools. It covers all essential grammar and vocabulary for the A1 level, with a focus on communication in everyday situations.
The book includes a built-in video course that follows a practical and gradual approach, making it suitable for both self-study and classroom use. It’s especially great if you want to improve your listening skills at a beginner level.
👉 on Amazon
4. Un Tuffo nell’Azzurro
Level: A1
Type: Textbook with exercises and audio
Un tuffo nell’azzurro A1 is a popular Italian textbook for beginners, often used in language courses in Italy. It offers a balanced mix of grammar, vocabulary, dialogues, and cultural notes.
The book follows a step-by-step progression and includes plenty of exercises for practice. Each unit introduces useful expressions and real-life situations, making it a good option if you want to build both language and cultural awareness.
👉 on Amazon
5. Basic Italian: A Grammar and Workbook
Level: A1-A2
Type: Grammar book with exercises
Basic Italian is a grammar reference and workbook in one, designed for beginners and independent learners. It explains essential grammar rules in clear, simple English, followed by practical exercises to consolidate each topic.
The book covers all the main areas of Italian grammar needed at A1-A2 level, including verbs, prepositions, and sentence structure. It’s a good resource if you prefer self-paced study with explanations in English.
👉 on Amazon
6. Easy Italian Step by Step
Level: A1-A2
Type: Grammar book with exercises and readings
Easy Italian Step by Step is a beginner-friendly grammar book that introduces Italian gradually, starting from the most basic structures to more complex grammar points.
Each chapter includes concise grammar explanations in English, followed by practice exercises. The book also features short reading passages to help learners see the grammar in context.
It’s a good choice for independent learners who prefer a structured, step-by-step approach to mastering Italian grammar.
👉 on Amazon
7. Praticamente dimmi…
Level: A1-A2
Type: Workbook with exercises
Praticamente… dimmi. is a workbook designed for beginners who want to practice everyday Italian through simple grammar drills.
It’s a useful tool for reinforcing basic structures and improving speaking and comprehension skills in a practical context.
👉 on Amazon
8. Come e perché… Esercizi utili di italiano
Level: A1-A2
Type: Workbook with grammar and vocabulary exercises
Come e perché… Esercizi utili di italiano is a practical workbook for beginners focusing on the most common grammar structures and vocabulary topics at A1-A2 level.
The book offers a variety of clear, simple exercises designed to reinforce essential grammar points such as articles, prepositions, verb conjugations, and question forms. It is organized into short units, making it easy to use for self-study or as extra practice alongside a course book. A strong point is that you can find the answer keys beneath each exercise section.
👉 on Amazon
9. 501 Italian Verbs
Level: A1 and up
Type: Verb conjugation reference book
501 Italian Verbs is a classic verb reference book and one of the most popular resources for Italian learners at any level.
It lists 501 of the most common Italian verbs drills. fully conjugated in all tenses and moods, along with usage examples, idiomatic expressions, and grammar notes. It’s particularly useful for beginners who want a complete, reliable tool to check verb forms and build confidence with conjugations.
Though it’s not a textbook or workbook, it’s a great companion for self-study or classroom learning.
👉 on Amazon
10. Viaggiamo in Italia. Livello A1-A2.1
Level: A1 and A2
Type: A1 Textbook
This popular Italian textbook covers all the essential grammar and vocabulary for A1 and the first part of A2. Each unit follows the theme of traveling in Italy, making the content practical and engaging.
It’s especially useful for beginners who have completed A1 or started A2 and want to consolidate their skills. With clear explanations, structured exercises, and travel-related topics, it’s one of the best resources to practice Italian for real-life situations.
11. Le prime 1000 parole di italiano. Con esercizi
Level: A1 and A2
Type: Vocabulary builder with exercises
A practical vocabulary builder that introduces the most useful 1000 Italian words with exercises to reinforce learning. Great for A1–A2 learners who want to expand their vocabulary quickly.
👉 More info
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