Your First Book in Spanish 🇪🇸 My Go-To Books!

I get this question a lot from my students:

"Lucía, what’s a good first book to read in Spanish?"

And there are some great options out there that are not too hard, not too boring, and actually enjoyable to read. I always say this: reading in Spanish is one of the best things you can do to improve your vocabulary, reinforce grammar naturally, and start thinking more in the language. But it only works if you pick something that matches your level and keeps you motivated!

💛 First of all: you don’t need to understand every word

This is important. Reading in a language you’re still learning is NOT about understanding 100%.

It’s about:

• getting the general idea

• learning in context

• and… enjoying the process (even if your brain gets a bit tired sometimes)

  
  

It’s totally normal to feel a bit lost at times. I’ve been there with Chinese and Italian. But if you choose the right book for your level, it can be really enjoyable!

So… what should you read at A2?

Here are my top picks 👇🏼

1. Graded readers – books written for learners

These are specially made for Spanish learners, and there are lots of great ones out there. They usually come with short chapters, simple vocab, and sometimes even little questions or glossaries at the end.

Some I really like:

• La chica de los zapatos verdes (classic A2 mystery)

• Un día en Madrid

• Misterio en el bosque

  
  

They’re short and easy to follow!

2. Short stories for beginners

There are tons of collections! I like the ones that have a few pages per story, so you can read one mini-story at a time (and feel accomplished ✨).

Try:

• Spanish Short Stories for Beginners (Olly Richards has a popular one)

• Mini cuentos en español

  
  

Some are more natural than others, but they’re a great starting point.

3. El Principito (The Little Prince) – adapted version

You probably know this one! It’s a lovely book to read slowly. There are simplified versions available for Spanish learners, and it’s full of short, sweet, poetic sentences. Not fast-paced, but very rewarding!

4. Books for kids or teens

YES, really! Some children’s books are perfect because they use real Spanish, but in a way that’s clear and accessible.

• Manolito Gafotas (this one’s super fun and very “Spanish”, though maybe more B1-ish)

🧰 Want vocabulary support while you read?

I've created a free Spanish Vocabulary Builder with over 1,000+ useful words organized by topic (food, travel, emotions, routines…). It’s perfect to use while reading your first book in Spanish.

🎁 Download it here – it’s free!

✨ Little tips to make it easier

• Don’t stop for every single word. Seriously. Let your brain guess sometimes.

• Underline what you do understand. It feels amazing to realise how much you already know!

• Read out loud. Even just a little. It helps with confidence and pronunciation.

• Use it to build vocabulary. Keep a little notebook and write down new words!

• And most importantly: enjoy it. This isn’t an exam, it’s an adventure 🌍

  
  

Reading is one of the best ways to fall in love with a language. Let me know if you pick up one of these, or if you’ve already read something you liked!

Sending you a huge abrazo and all the reading motivation 📖💛

— Lucía

Your Spanish teacher