What to read in English for a beginner? I want to start reading books to expand my vocabulary. Recommend something simple, interesting and with accessible language.

What to read in English for a beginner? I want to start reading books to expand my vocabulary. Recommend something simple, interesting and with accessible language. ?

Kenny Steel , 23 Jun 2025

3 Answers

For a beginner looking to expand vocabulary through reading, it’s important to choose books that are simple in language, engaging in story, and not too dense. The goal is to enjoy the process while gradually building vocabulary and comprehension. A great place to start is with short novels or stories written in accessible English. One of the best beginner-friendly options is *“Charlotte’s Web”* by E.B. White — a touching story with simple language and emotional depth. It introduces useful vocabulary in the context of friendship, life, and growth without being too childish. Another excellent choice is *“The Little Prince”* by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Though originally written in French, the English translation is poetic, easy to follow, and filled with philosophical insights that are both accessible and thought-provoking. If you prefer something more realistic and relatable, *“Wonder”* by R.J. Palacio is a fantastic modern novel. It’s written from the perspective of a child but deals with universal themes like kindness, self-acceptance, and empathy, using clear, conversational English. Similarly, *“Diary of a Wimpy Kid”* by Jeff Kinney is humorous, easy to read, and contains everyday language that helps in understanding sentence structures and slang. For mystery lovers, *“The Secret Seven”* or *“The Famous Five”* series by Enid Blyton are light and fun detective stories with simple vocabulary and straightforward narratives. As you read, it helps to keep a notebook for new words, their meanings, and example sentences. Try reading for 15–20 minutes daily and use context to guess meanings before checking a dictionary. These habits, combined with the right choice of books, will make reading both enjoyable and educational for vocabulary growth.

If you have just started learning English, reading will be difficult for you. You may stand in one place and lose motivation for learning. Instead, I would advise you to learn English in the most fun way with english learning app . It's the best app for learning English on your own. By the way, it has great reading practice exercises, so download it and try it for yourself. This app helped me develop my knowledge to a progressive level, so it will help you too.

I started with adapted books and everything is simple there. Then I moved on to short stories and dialogues. The main thing is that you are interested, then the words are easier to remember.