One of the best ways to improve your reading skills in another language is to choose books in English. After all, they improve your understanding of sentences in that language and also help you increase your vocabulary. Therefore, consuming this type of media is very important, even for beginners.

To show you the way and give you tips on how to start this type of training, CCAA has prepared a list of 15 reading options for those who are taking their first steps in learning English. We have selected interesting alternatives for children, teenagers and adults, after all, it is never too late to become fluent in another language!

Let's go!

English books for children

In addition to books in English being important for developing reading skills in the language, they are also essential to improve writing.

Many people are extremely visual, and this is even more so with children. Repeatedly visualizing the spelling of each word, memorizing the way it is written, and trying to understand the semantic field and meaning of sentences makes all the difference in this type of learning.

These are some books recommended for this age group to take the first steps towards proficiency in English:

1. Percy Jackson and the Olympians – Rick Riordan

The “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” book series was written by Rick Riordan and tells the story of a boy who discovers he is the son of one of the gods of Greek mythology. This revelation takes the protagonist and his friends on several exciting adventures. The reading sequence for these books is as follows:

• Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief (2005);
• Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters (2006);
• Percy Jackson and The Titan's Curse (2007);
• Percy Jackson and The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008);
• Percy Jackson and The Last Olympian (2009).

As this saga was written for children, it has an easy-to-understand language, in which the sentences are short and the plot is simple to follow. Books in English can be easily found in large stores and bookstores. online.

2. The Little Prince — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

“The Little Prince” is a classic that combines a playful universe and life lessons in a relaxed and easy way for children to learn – and adults love it too! The plot tells the story of a Little Prince who travels between planets and appears to the narrator of the story when his plane ends up crashing in the desert.

The language is also quite simple and uses terms that help expand the English vocabulary of the reader. If you don’t know the story of this charismatic and wise character yet, it’s worth reading – alone, with family or with friends!

3. Peter Pan – J.M. Barrie

This is a famous story in both literature and cinema. Peter Pan lives in Neverland, a place where children never grow old, but he visits the Darlings' house every night to listen to the bedtime stories that the family's mother tells. During one of his visits, the protagonist is seen by Wendy, the couple's eldest daughter, and ends up taking her to see his world.

Because the plot is already known to the public, this book becomes even easier to understand for children who are learning English. The version in this language is not difficult to find in large physical stores and online.

4. Harry Potter – J.K. Rowling

Originally published by Bloomsbury Publishing, Harry Potter is a saga that has marked the lives of thousands of people and is a craze among children. The friendly protagonist, at the age of 11, discovers that he is a wizard. The books then follow his adventures from then on at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Despite having some very unique terms in their vocabulary, these publications are not difficult to understand, and the sentences become more complex as the story progresses – which helps the student to assimilate these terms gradually. The books that make up this saga are:

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997);
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998);
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999);
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000);
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003);
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005);
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007).

5. The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway

American children have “The Old Man and the Sea” as required reading in schools. The story tells of Santiago, a fisherman who has been unsuccessful at sea for 84 days, and his attempt to catch the biggest fish he has ever seen. It is a short and easy-to-read book, written in simple language.

Even though there are some technical terms in this reading, it is possible to understand their meanings from the context of the story. This, in addition to helping develop interpretation, also increases the child's repertoire of English words.

6. Alice's Adventure in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll

The book “Alice in Wonderland” was originally published in 1865 and tells the story of Alice, a child who falls down the White Rabbit’s hole. She ends up entering a new world, full of magical items and creatures, and must face some obstacles in order to return home.

Just like the other books in English that we recommend for children, This one has a not very complex vocabulary and is very playful, making it easier to assimilate each term and its meaning.

English books for teenagers

Even though children's books can be read at any time in life, we know that some themes attract more audiences. teen. With that in mind, we have selected some titles that are all related to the interests of this phase.

7. The Fault in Our Stars – John Green

John Green is a popular author among teenagers and manages to bring up more complex themes in a simple way. All of his books are written in a fluid manner and with words that are easy to understand., however “The Fault in Our Stars” is his best-known story.

In this book, the reader follows the passion between Augustus Waters and Hazel Grace, two teenagers who meet at a support meeting for people with cancer. The original publication was made by the publisher Penguin Books and, in addition to being translated into several languages, the work was made into a film that is also very well-known.

Here in blog At CCAA, we've already talked about movies to learn English, so check out our recommendations and enjoy each one of them!

8. Nine Lives to Die – Rita Mae Brown

This book is a thriller that follows the story of a city in the United States that ended up being the scene of several deaths that do not seem to be natural. Then, the narrator introduces a group of characters and the search to unravel the mysteries surrounding the deaths.

“Nine Lives to Die"It is a book with a simple plot to follow and very clear sentences to understand. The dialogues are simple and informal, helping to understand how natives speak in their daily lives.

9. The Outsiders – SE Hinton

“The Outsiders" is a classic English book for teenagers. Between gang competitions for territory, social problems and forbidden passions, the plot ends up unfolding. The protagonists are three orphans of Mexican origin who have to face the difficulties of everyday life until one of them, Ponyboy Curtis, joins the gang of Greasers.

Even for those with a basic level of English, it won't take much effort to understand the dialogues in this book. By the end, you'll realize that you've learned many new terms and still had fun reading this exciting story.

10. The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger

In Brazil, this is known as “The Catcher in the Rye” and is a very popular work among young people. The story tells the story of Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old boy who is expelled from his school because of his behavior, but who is afraid to tell his parents about this fact.

By talking about the transition from adolescence to adulthood, the book ends up involving its audience and causing a certain identification. As we are seeing a young man, the narration is informal and with some slang that help improve understanding of other readings and everyday conversations.

English books for adults who are beginning to learn English

Adults who are just starting to learn English also have excellent book options. Check them out!

11. Emma – Jane Austen

“Emma” is not Jane Austen’s best-known book, but it is considered one of the author’s greatest works. The protagonist Emma Woodhouse is a strong woman who breaks the mold of her time because she does not want to get married. Even so, she loves to give her opinion on the love lives of other people in her life.

The comedic twist on a discussion about the value of marriage makes “Emma” a great read for adults, as well as having a rich vocabulary for those learning EnglishYou won't regret reading this work!

12. Number the Stars – Lois Lowry

“Number the Stars" is based on historical facts and is set during the Second World War. The protagonist and her family are being hunted by the German government, and the plot follows all the drama of this historical period. Despite discussing heavy topics, the book is written in simple language.

The plot has several expressions from native English speakers and with that, you will be able to learn some idiomatic customs of the North Americans.

13. The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank

In Brazil, this book is called “The Diary of Anne Frank” and became very well-known due to its documentary nature. Anne is a Jewish girl who lived during the Nazi Regime and had to hide in an attic with her family to avoid being captured. She wrote the diary describing her daily life and her fears during that period.

As the work was written by a child, the language is easy to understand. and very accessible. However, as it is a war context, this is a recommended read for young people and adults. Even with the heavy content, the story originally published by Doubleday & Co INC It is an important read and worth picking up.

14. Girlboss – Sophia Amoruso

“Girlboss" is one of our most biographical recommendations and is well worth reading, whether for beginners in English or those who are already advanced in the language. This work tells the story of the founder of an online store who went from a reality in which she barely had money to eat, to become a great CEO.

Sophia Amoruso's story is real and can serve as inspiration for many people who are looking for a new direction in their lives. The book brings real dialogues and with several expressions typical of native speakers, so it really helps those who are not yet fluent in English.

15. Make Good Art – Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is the author of a huge number of works, from children's books to Marvel Comics. The book “Make Good Art” is a transcription of the speech given by this artist during the graduation of the University of the Arts, in Philadelphia. In this speech, he reflects on creativity, art and how young people should pursue their dreams.

Despite being a very famous author, Gaiman uses accessible and easy-to-interpret vocabulary. Therefore, this is an excellent option for those who want to read books in English and still be motivated for their personal or professional life.

These were the tips to further improve your English knowledge and improve your reading skills! Be sure to follow the blog from CCAA to learn even more techniques that will help you reach fluency!