German grammar is not really hard to learn when you have wonderful books to guide you.
German language learners should plan per day to read books that are physically or digitally available.
Here are some of the suggestions we have for easy books to learn German.
Why should you read books to study German?
Reading comprehension is such a critical language skill as it is often paired with speaking and listening.
The great news is that German literature doesn’t lack in this aspect.
German literary classics open us to different kinds of culture, people, and perspectives.
You’ll not only learn basic vocabulary and grammar rules but you’ll also discover everyday life in Germany.
There are also many books with different genres such as detective stories, documentaries, art history, as well as crime, and thrillers that make some of them best-seller novels.
You can also ask the Goethe-Institut for recommendations on which to read.
It is important not to get stuck with your language level. Don’t be afraid to explore outside your German language skills.
It’s better to learn from context clues and the flow of the story based on the earlier terms you’ve read in those books.
Easy books to learn German
There are many German novels that are not just easy to read, they are also fun and interesting.
Many of these books are also short stories and popular kids tales translated into German from English or your native language.
Choose these books if you’re a beginner or an advanced reader of German literature.
Café in Berlin by André Klein
This book is of the popular suggestions that any German native will tell you to pick up at your nearest bookstore.
If you’re tired of always reading the same German dictionaries or German textbooks, then Café in Berlin is the perfect icebreaker.
This book contains 10 short stories about life in Berlin with life and culture as the main theme.
It can be considered a great resource tool for intensive reading since it includes German idioms, easy-to-understand vocabulary, and short quizzes in every chapter.
It also has an audiobook version if you want to learn it while traveling.
Emil und die Detektive by Erich Kästner
Emil und die Detektive (“Emil and the Detectives”) is a famous German children’s book written and published in 1929 by Erich Kästner.
The story is set mostly in Berlin and follows Emil, a schoolboy who is robbed on a train, and the gang of youngsters who help him track down the culprit.
It has been translated into at least 59 other languages.
While Emil und die Detektive is intended for youngsters in very simple German, language experts recommend it for intermediate learners.
Despite being a work of fiction, the book provides a glimpse into life in 1920s Berlin.
Peter Härtling’s “Krücke” (Crutch) by Peter Härtling
Peter Härtling is a well-known German children’s book author, yet “Krücke” is not about children.
This is a story of a nine-year-old boy named Thomas who loses his mother in the chaos of refugee life after WWII and must travel to his aunt’s house in Vienna.
Krücke provides a picture of life during this tumultuous period, dealing with problems such as bombed-out towns and the illicit market that sprouted up throughout Europe after the war.
It’s ideal for anybody interested in a depiction of life at this pivotal period in history, and, like “Mario,” it teaches a lot of political and historical jargon.
Short stories in German
There are many books that we can recommend from this genre, but these short and contemporary books by German authors are perfect for beginners.
Some of them are even in picture books that will help you visualize what’s going on if you’re having a hard time translating them.
There are also many stories for children that you can try to read for basic grammar and introduction to colloquial language.
German teachers often give easy to read books for kids to A1-B1 levels since
Experiment by switching your favorite book to a German translation
Another tip that will surely work for all language skills in German is to read a book you’ve read in your native language into German.
If you’re an English speaker, you can find German versions of popular books that you used to read as a kid.
There are also many choices like the Brothers Grimm, Disney characters, as well as famous books like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter.
There are also bilingual books that you can pick up too.
When, Where, and How to read books in German
There are free online short stories and books that you can try during your free time.
It is important to focus on reading when you’re not busy. If you’re used to multitasking, then you can also listen to audiobooks on the bus, car, or on your way to school.
If you’re living in German, why not try to read at reading at cafes?
One book cafe I can recommend for you to visit is the Ocelot cafe in Brunnenstr, Berlin.
It allows customers to read books for free after paying for a nice cup of Kaffee.
