I teach Italian to foreigners, and when a student asks “which book should I buy?”, my answer always depends on their level and their goal. Here are the resources I recommend, grouped by purpose: exams, grammar, reading and gear for online lessons. It is a short, curated list, not a catalogue.
🏆 Books for the official exams (CILS, CELI, PLIDA, fide)
Before you buy any book, download the free official sample papers from the body that issues the exam: they are the safest way to learn the format, timing and text types. Exams can change from one session to the next, so always check the official website.
- CILS – University for Foreigners of Siena: cils.unistrasi.it
- CELI – CVCL, University for Foreigners of Perugia: cvcl.unistrapg.it
- PLIDA – Società Dante Alighieri: plida.it
- fide – Switzerland (levels A1–B1): fide-service.ch
These manuals are written in Italian, so they work best from A2 upwards.
CILS (Siena)
Percorso CILS – preparation manuals A2 · B1 · B2 · B1 Citizenship
Ornimi Editions. They follow the structure of the original exam papers, with complete practice tests and answer keys; the listening audio can be downloaded free from the publisher’s website. Suitable for self-study or for class.
See on AmazonTraguardo CILS DUE – B2 B2
Casa delle Lingue. Five units on B2 content, guided exercises on the exam format and five complete mock exams; audio and answer keys can be downloaded.
See on AmazonCELI (Perugia)
Il CELI dell’Università per Stranieri di Perugia – Loescher CELI Impatto → CELI 5
A six-volume series, one per exam, produced with the CVCL: it contains complete, unpublished practice tests written by the same authors as the real CELI exams. Remember the levels: CELI Impatto = A1, CELI 1 = A2, CELI 2 = B1, CELI 3 = B2.
See on AmazonPreparazione al CELI 2 · 3 · 4 – Edilingua B1 · B2 · C1
Each volume offers material equivalent to more than ten tests: reading comprehension, writing and listening, plus a complete exam with answer keys. Good for studying on your own.
See on AmazonPLIDA (Società Dante Alighieri)
Quaderni del PLIDA – Alma Edizioni A1 → C2
The preparation workbooks published by Alma Edizioni in agreement with the Società Dante Alighieri. Before buying, check that the edition matches the PLIDA syllabus currently in force.
See on Amazonfide (Switzerland)
The fide test measures the Italian you need in everyday life in Switzerland (work, family, the doctor, municipal offices) at levels A1–B1, and it is designed so that no special preparation is required. The best way to understand the format is the free sample test on fide-service.ch. To strengthen your basics, start with the grammar books below.
✍ Grammar books, workbooks and dictionaries
Grammar and exercises (A1–B2)
Italian Grammar in Practice – Susanna Nocchi A1 → B2
Alma Edizioni, updated edition: the English-language version of the best-known Italian grammar workbook for foreigners (“la Nocchi”). Clear, essential grammar sheets followed by graded exercises, so you can check what you have learned straight away. Perfect if you want explanations in English.
See on AmazonGrammatica pratica della lingua italiana – Susanna Nocchi B1 → B2
The all-Italian edition (ISBN 978-88-6182-736-3). Once you are comfortable at B1, switching to the Italian version trains you to read grammar explanations in Italian, which is exactly what exams ask of you.
See on AmazonDictionaries: bilingual first, monolingual from B1–B2
At A1–A2 a good bilingual (English-Italian) dictionary is the fastest way to unblock yourself on basic vocabulary. From B1–B2 start using a monolingual Italian dictionary too: it shows you how a word is really used and keeps your brain in Italian.
English-Italian / Italian-English dictionary A1 → B2
Choose a recent edition from a major publisher (for example Collins or Oxford-Paravia). Look for example sentences and usage notes, not just word lists.
See on AmazonGerman-Italian dictionary A1 → B1
For German speakers, including many learners in German-speaking Switzerland. Watch out for false friends such as Chef/chef, Kamera/camera and Tasche/tasca: a good dictionary flags them.
See on AmazonLo Zingarelli – Vocabolario della lingua italiana (monolingual) B1 → C2
Zanichelli. A large Italian-only reference dictionary, updated every year: buy the latest edition available.
See on Amazon- Free online (monolingual): Treccani Vocabolario and the Corriere Italian dictionary.
📖 Graded readers and Italian literature
Simplified texts (A1–B2)
Italiano facile – Alma Edizioni A1 · A2 · B1 · B2
A series of graded readers at several levels: short texts, explanations in Italian and comprehension activities. Pick the level where you understand almost everything without a dictionary: that way you read for pleasure and the vocabulary sticks on its own.
See on AmazonStorie per principianti – Alma Edizioni A1 → A2
Short stories for the first months of study, with exercises and downloadable audio.
See on AmazonL’Italia in tasca – Ornimi Editions simplified readers
A series of simplified readers, useful for moving from beginner texts to independent reading.
See on AmazonClassics and literature (B2 → C2)
Fiabe italiane – Italo Calvino B2 → C1
Two hundred folktales gathered from every region of Italy and rewritten by Calvino in clear, lively Italian: ideal to train the passato remoto. My B2 reading activity on “The Silver Nose” gives you a ready-made lesson. Before buying, check the table of contents of the edition you choose: some editions are abridged and do not include every tale.
See on AmazonItalian Folktales – Italo Calvino (translated by George Martin) English translation
The English translation of the collection. A useful trick: read a tale in Italian first, then compare it with the English version to check what you missed. Not a substitute for the original, but a very good safety net at B1–B2.
See on AmazonThe great classics (Dante, Boccaccio, Ariosto, Machiavelli) are out of copyright and free online; an annotated edition with footnotes is, however, far more comfortable to read.
🎧 Tools for online lessons
You don’t need anything special to take lessons with me: a computer or tablet, a stable connection and good audio. Sound matters more than image: if you can’t hear the words clearly, you can’t fix your pronunciation.
Headset with microphone recommended
Look for a USB model (or a jack model, if your computer supports it) with a well-placed microphone and an adjustable headband. Test it before the lesson with a voice recording.
See on AmazonWebcam only if your computer’s camera is poor
A Full HD webcam with autofocus is more than enough. If your laptop camera is already sharp, there is no need to buy another one.
See on AmazonNot sure where to start? Take the free Italian level test or book a free trial lesson: we will choose the right books for you together.
Last updated: October 2026. Titles, editions and availability can change: always check the details on the product page. Certification exams are updated from time to time: consult the official websites before you start preparing. Availability and shipping of Italian-published books depend on your country and the Amazon store you use.