Top 16 English Books For Beginners Updated 04 /2024

You probably know that reading can considerably improve your language skills. Not only can it allow you to enrich vocabulary but it can also increase your ability to articulate ideas and notions. However, many English learners consider that they need advanced language skills to be able to read a book. Actually, you can start taking advantage of this interest even if you’ve just began your English learning adventure. The success key is simply choosing the appropriate books. This is a selection of 5 English novels for beginners that you might wish to check out.

Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White

Charlotte’s Web is a children’s classic novel written by American author E.B.White. It is a fantastic story about friendship and life.

Plot summary

The story begins on a farm in the United States, where Fern, an eight-year-old girl, attempts to save a baby pig. For his diminutive size and perceived inutility, the pig came dangerously close to being slaughtered. Fern took him in and raised him as her own, giving him the name Wilbur and looking after him. When Wilbur reached adulthood, he was taken to his uncle's farm. Fern was really depressed as a result of this. Wilbur was completely ignored by the rest of the farm animals, with the exception of a little spider named Charlotte. Wilbur and Charlotte became excellent friends until Charlotte learned that the farmers were preparing to assassinate Wilbur. She devised a strategy for saving Wilbur's life. And thus the narrative continues...

Why

Due to the fact that Charlotte's Web is a children's novel, it is clearly written and the language is quite straightforward. Not to mention the fact that the content is both adorable and heartwarming at the same time. Some of the vocabulary are even explained in detail in the book. In Chapter One, for example, we may find out what the words "runt" and "do away with it" imply on the first page of the chapter.

"Well," her mother explained, "one of the pigs is a runt." It is insignificant and insignificant, and it will never amount to anything. As a result, your father has decided to discontinue it."

Fern screamed angrily, "Get rid of it!" "Do you mean to murder it?" Because it's smaller than the others?" you might ask.

Isn't it intriguing, and it's excellent for someone who is just starting out?

James and the Giant Peach – Roald Dahl

The next novel I'd like to recommend is James and the Giant Peach, which was authored by British author Roald Dahl and published in 1957. In addition to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Fantastic Mr. Fox, he is the author of a slew of other beloved children's books.

a synopsis of the plot

James and the Giant Peach is a children's book that tells the narrative of James Henry Trotter, a poor little orphan. After his beloved parents were killed by a rhinoceros in a freak accident, he was left to live with his two ugly terrible aunts, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, who were both mean to him. He became known as "the saddest and loneliest youngster in the world" until one day, he was given a remarkable present by an unknown individual. One single peach sprang from the old, withering peach tree as a result of the magic. The peach's size continued to expand and develop. Once inside the giant peach, James made friends with giant bugs and rolled away from his evil aunts to begin a brand new life....

Why

This is a lovely book for readers of all English proficiency levels to enjoy. This is due to the fact that the storyline was visually stunning and intriguing. Not to mention Roald Dahl's use of simple language structures and straightforward vocabulary, James and the Giant Peach is an excellent choice for beginning readers.

Winnie the Pooh – A.A.Milne

Winnie the Pooh, the renowned children's book by A.A. Milne, takes third place in the poll. Since the publication of the first edition of Winnie the Pooh in 1926, the figure has grown to become one of the most beloved characters of all time among readers of all ages.

Summary of the plot

There are a total of ten separate short stories in the book, each depicting an adventure of the teddy bear named Winnie the Pooh and his companions Piglet and Eeyore, as well as Owl and Rabbit, as well as Kanga and her son Roo, who live in the Hundred Acre Wood.

Why

Bright themes and well-known characters make Winnie the Pooh a must-read for children of all ages. Written in a clear and cheerful English with simple syntax and vocabulary, it is appropriate for use as a children's novel. The book is divided into ten short stories, which makes it simple to follow regardless of the reader's level of English proficiency. You can also be inspired and drawn in by the really charming talks that Pooh and his buddies have with one another. Take a closer look at some of the short conversations below:

Piglet came up behind Pooh and sat on his lap.

'Pooh!' he exclaimed in hushed tones.

'Are you sure, Piglet?'

'Nothing,' Piglet answered, holding Pooh's paw in his own. 'I just wanted to make sure you were who you said you were.'

"You can't just sit in your little corner of the Forest and wait for others to come to you. "You have to go visit them every now and then."

In order to avoid being away for such a lengthy period of time, I believe we dream. Having each other's dreams allows us to be together all of the time," she says.

Isn't that a lovely sounding phrase? A plethora of more great lines can be found in Winnie the Pooh, which you should definitely check out.

Mary Poppins – P.L.Travers

As a child, this was one of my favorite books, despite the fact that I was unable to comprehend the allusion that was being made throughout the story. Mary Poppins, written by British novelist P.L. Travers, is unquestionably a unique and memorable book. It is the first novel in a planned series of children's novels with Mary Poppins - the nanny – as the main character.

a synopsis of the plot

Among the characters in Mary Poppins are the Banks' children, Jane and Michael Banks, as well as the twins John and Barbara Banks, who live at 17 Cherry Tree Lane. All of this begins when their nanny departs and their replacement, Mary Poppins, arrives on the brisk eastern breeze (literally). This new nanny is severe and unpleasant on the outside, yet she has lovely magic hidden beneath her façade!

Why

The book was nicely written, using straightforward language and straightforward grammar. For its part, the story itself was endearing and linked to the deepest wishes of children all around the world. Take a look at the first few lines of Mary Poppins to get some ideas about what the book is all about:

If you want to know where Cherry Tree Lane is, all you have to do is ask the police officer at the intersection. In the process, he will tilt his helmet to one side and scratch his chin thoughtfully, and then he will point to the ground with his giant white-gloved finger and say: "First to your right, then to your left, then sharp right again, and you'll be there." Hello and good morning.

Aesop’s Fables – Aesop

The final, but certainly not least, is Aesop's Tales, which is a collection of fables attributed to the ancient Greek writer Aesop. This legendary book, which may date back to the 5th Century BC, has been translated into hundreds of languages, including English, and is still in print today.

a synopsis of the plot

Because this is a collection of fables, it is made up of a number of various short stories. Each one highlights a different topic and instructs the audience on a certain lesson (not children only). In most cases, the characters are animals that act and speak like people while yet retaining the characteristics of their originals.

Why

Aesop's Fables is a collection of stories that are both humorous and engaging. As previously stated, it contains short stories (each story is fewer than 300 words long) that are written in a straightforward manner, making it simple to read. Furthermore, I'm sure you're already aware with some, if not all, of the fables that are told in your native language. As a result, the book is an excellent starting point for people who have only recently begun their English learning adventure.

Tips to learn English by reading books

Don't take a break every now and then to look something up in the dictionary that you're unfamiliar with. Make an educated estimate on the meanings of the words.

Tip No. 2

The books in question have already been separated into chapters, but if necessary, you can always break them down into smaller parts (passages).

Tip number three:

Find a group of friends (or at the very least one company) that enjoy reading and who share your desire to improve their English. One book should be read together, and then the group should talk with each other about it: the plot, the characters, and the meaning of the book.

Tip number four:

Keep a running list of new vocabulary words, phrases, and idioms that you learned from the reading to review when you've finished.

Conclusion

As a result, the following is a list of the top five English books for beginners. If you look closely, you will realize that each of them is a kind of journey in which you can learn about the wonders of life, friendship, and love. They can also motivate you to take risks and learn new things by encouraging you to investigate yourself and your surroundings. Furthermore, reading can help you enhance your English vocabulary and grammar in a big way. Don't forget to save the words from those books into your own personal wordbook on eJOY English so that you can review them more easily in the future. Allow eJOY to assist you in remembering those words for the rest of your life.

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