5 Easy Books for A1 (Beginning) German Learners

5 Easy Books for Beginning German Learners Cover NEW

Amended: This post now includes 8 Easy German Book recommendations for A1-level learners,
3 from adult literature and 5 from youth literature.

All of the books listed here are A1 books, however if you look in a bookstore, make sure you look for an emblem or a marking with "A1" on it. No matter where you buy it, I recommend you purchase a physical copy so you can take notes in the book and also so you can use the included audio/mp3 download with the book.

These are books I recommend for you for several reasons:

  • You're in a class and you'd like more homework. (Yes, you can ask for more homework.)
  • You love to read.
  • You'd like to read a German story book, but you aren't sure where to start.

Disclosure:

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links to various sites, which means that if you click through and make a purchase, you may anonymously support GermanWithNicole.com. (You'll see the words "Affiliate link" where there is such a link.) The full disclaimer is here. Danke!

3 Easy Books for German Learners - Regular Adult Literature

1. Du findest mich nicht! - Fender ermittelt

Private Detective Fender takes on a murder case involving football (soccer), plus the murder sends an anonymous letter. It's a puzzle for P.I. Fender.

This one is new to me, and if you like it, please comment or use the contact form to tell me about it.icon icon

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2. Schatten über der Vergangenheit

The freshly retired Chief Inspector Emma Wagner wants to enjoy her retirement. But when Felix, a friend of her grandson's from Kindergarten, disappears, Felix's father's strange behavior nags at her...

Schatten-ueber-der-vergangenheit-9783191285807

 

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3. Überfall in Mannheim

Paul Sommer gets knocked over and he's robbed of his cafe's takings, and thus misses his first date with Marie. She is livid at first, until she finds out what happened to him via the newspaper. This is where the story takes off, as the sympathetic, courageous Marie assists the Detective Superintendent. Will the two of them be able to catch the culprits with a fast chase through Mannheim's downtown?

Ueberfall-in-Mannheim-9783191685805

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5 (More) Easy Books for German Learners - Young Adult Literature

Thee books in this Stadt, Land, Fluss... series are stories about teens and kids, but they are stories for everybody. They may be mysteries, but they are not scary, and they are thus a great choice for taking a mental break and engaging with some German. If you don't mind a story written for youth, then try these on for size, you'll learn a lot.

1. Der Schatz von Hiddensee

This is my favorite A1 story. Read this one if you like a wintery vacation, Schmuck (jewelry), and archaeological history.

 Schatz von Hiddensee_Cover

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2. Spannende Tour im Schwarzwald

Read this one if you like Fahrrad fahren (bicycling), Wälder (forests), and Baden-Württemberg.

 Spannende_Tour_im_Schwarzwald_Cover.jpg

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3. Gefahr am Strand

Read this one if you like being am Strand (on the beach), die Nordsee, and Norddeutschland.

Gefahr am Strand Cover .jpg

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 4. Blinder Passagier

Read this one if you like Schiffe (ships), den Rhein (the Rhine river), and Familienausflüge (family outings).

 Blinder_Passagier_cover.jpg

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Then, when you're ready to move to the A2 level, or to simply give yourself an extra challenge, try...

5. Wilde Pferde im Münsterland

Read this one if you like Pferde (horses), Ferien (school holidays), and reiten (riding horses).

 Wilde Pferde im Münsterland_cover.png

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4 comments

Alyssa Tryon
 

I know it's mainly down to the student's personal preference, but if you had to make a general recommendation, do you think it's better to learn from digital copies or physical copies when studying stories like these? I can see benefits and drawbacks to each.

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Nicole Warner
Staff
 

@Alyssa Tryon As with most things, it depends on the situation. Some books work perfectly well as digital books, and some work better as a physical book. I have two recommendations.

1. My first general recommendation is for physical copies whenever possible. Here's why:

  • When we touch a book, write in it, flip pages, and hold it, we have a sensory experience of the textures of the book, the colors, the pictures, the scent of the paper and the ink, etc. The more senses we engage while learning, the more effective our learning is.
  • With most (not all, but most) digital experiences, distraction via superfluous links, ads, and such has increased significantly. When you're trying to learn by reading, distraction from the text in front of you is a detractor.
    • In addition, our brains don't comprehend tapping on a flat screen the same way they comprehend flipping the pages of a book.
  • Most of my clients learn more, ask more specific questions, and garner more cultural information from the physical copy of the book.
    • One of my clients bought a digital and a paper copy of one book; the paper copy stays at home, but then she reads the digital copy again and again while she travels, and it harkens back to that more sensory experience. She also gets a lot out of the book because she has read it many times.

2. My second general recommendation is if you aren't sure, try it out and see what you think. You only need one physical copy and one digital copy, so it's a lower-priced experiment.

If you do, please reply and tell us what you discovered!

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Alyssa Tryon
 

@Nicole Warner  Viele dank! That was my inclination as well - physical copies - but I wanted to be sure I wasn't missing some fantastic secret "learning trick" that made digital books preferable. I've ordered a few of your recos above, and will report back on how I'm going. Ich liebe buchen lesen, deshalb ich bin aufgeregt. (Corrections please if that's not quite right. :D)

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Nicole Warner
Staff
 

@Alyssa Tryon Ha! The big secret is...there are no secrets! Only "it depends." :) First of all, your sentence got the point across, so Gut gemacht! Here's a correction:


Ich liebe es, Bücher zu lesen, deshalb bin ich aufgeregt.

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