Penguin Readers

160 books in this series
Book cover of Penguin Readers Level 6: The Turn of the Screw (ELT Graded Reader) by Henry James

Penguin Readers Level 6: The Turn of the Screw (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

The Turn of the Screw, a Level 6 Reader, is B1+ in the CEFR framework. The longer text is made up of sentences with up to four clauses, introducing future continuous, reported questions, third conditional, was going to and ellipsis. A small number of illustrations support the text.

A young woman accepts her first job as a governess and goes to Bly, a large country house in England. There she teaches a young brother and sister. But the governess soon starts to see ghosts and tries to protect the children from them.
Book cover of Penguin Readers Level 6: Viruses and Pandemics (ELT Graded Reader) by Ros Wright

Penguin Readers Level 6: Viruses and Pandemics (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

Viruses and Pandemics, a Level 6 Reader, is B1+ in the CEFR framework. The longer text is made up of sentences with up to four clauses, introducing future continuous, reported questions, third conditional, was going to and ellipsis. A small number of illustrations support the text.

This book is about viruses and was written during the Covid-19 pandemic. Learn about bacteria and viruses - from the common cold to smallpox, polio, Ebola and the Zika virus. Then meet some of the scientists who discovered ways to prevent these diseases, and those who are working with viruses today.
Book cover of Penguin Readers Starter Level: The Moor Stones (ELT Graded Reader) by Fiona Mackenzie

Penguin Readers Starter Level: The Moor Stones (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

The Moor Stones, a Starter level Reader, is A1 in the CEFR framework. Starter level is ideal for readers who are learning English for the first time. Short sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, using the present simple and continuous tenses, possessives, regular and irregular verbs, and simple adjectives. Illustrations support the text throughout, and many titles at this level are graphic novels.

Mia and Beth travel from New Zealand to Whitby, England. They stay with Sheila and Jack at Baysdale Farm Bed and Breakfast. There, Mia reads the story of the Moor Stones, and Beth goes for a walk in the rain . . .
Book cover of Penguin Readers Starter Level: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (ELT Graded Reader) by Jules Verne

Penguin Readers Starter Level: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, a Starter level Reader, is A1 in the CEFR framework. Starter level is ideal for readers who are learning English for the first time. Short sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, using the present simple and continuous tenses, possessives, regular and irregular verbs, and simple adjectives. Illustrations support the text throughout, and many titles at this level are graphic novels.

There is a new animal in the sea, and it is killing people . . . "We can find it!" says Captain Farragut. But what do they find? And can they stop it?
Book cover of Penguin Readers Level 1: Taylor Swift (ELT Graded Reader)

Penguin Readers Level 1: Taylor Swift (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

Taylor Swift, a Level 1 Reader, is A1 in the CEFR framework. Short sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, introducing the past simple tense and some simple modals, adverbs and gerunds. Illustrations support the text throughout, and many titles at this level are graphic novels.

Taylor Swift started singing and writing songs at a very young age. Now she is a very famous singer - and lots more! How did she get there? This book tells the story of her life.
Book cover of Penguin Readers Level 1: Silverfin (ELT Graded Reader) by Charlie Higson

Penguin Readers Level 1: Silverfin (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

Silverfin, a Level 1 Reader, is A1 in the CEFR framework. Short sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, introducing the past simple tense and some simple modals, adverbs and gerunds. Illustrations support the text throughout, and many titles at this level are graphic novels.

On Loch SilverFin in Scotland, a bad man lives in a castle with his son. James Bond and his new friend Red Kelly go to the castle. They must find Red's missing cousin, Alfie. But what do they find in the castle? Do they find Alfie, or is it too late?
Book cover of Penguin Readers Level 1: The Canterville Ghost (ELT Graded Reader) by Oscar Wilde

Penguin Readers Level 1: The Canterville Ghost (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

The Canterville Ghost, a Level 1 Reader, is A1 in the CEFR framework. Short sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, introducing the past simple tense and some simple modals, adverbs and gerunds. Illustrations support the text throughout, and many titles at this level are graphic novels.

An American family buy Canterville Hall - a house with a ghost. But the ghost is not happy because it cannot frighten the family.
Book cover of Penguin Readers Level 2: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (ELT Graded Reader) by Mark Twain

Penguin Readers Level 2: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a Level 2 Reader, is A1+ in the CEFR framework. Sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, introducing the future tenses will and going to, present continuous for future meaning, and comparatives and superlatives. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear on most pages.

"Someone killed Huckleberry Finn."
Everyone in the village of St. Petersburg will tell you this, but Huck Finn is not dead. He ran away. Now he is traveling down the great Mississippi river. Come with him on his adventures and meet many new people. Some of them are good, but some of them are very bad.
Book cover of Penguin Readers Level 2: The Little Prince (ELT Graded Reader) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Penguin Readers Level 2: The Little Prince (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

The Little Prince, a Level 2 Reader, is A1+ in the CEFR framework. Sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, introducing the future tenses will and going to, present continuous for future meaning, and comparatives and superlatives. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear on most pages.

A man crashes in the desert and meets the little prince. Through his pictures and stories, the man learns about the important things in life - like love and friends.
Book cover of Penguin Readers Level 3: Dynasties: Chimpanzees (ELT Graded Reader) by Stephen Moss

Penguin Readers Level 3: Dynasties: Chimpanzees (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

Dynasties: Chimpanzees, a Level 3 Reader, is A2 in the CEFR framework. The text is made up of sentences with up to three clauses, introducing first conditional, past continuous and present perfect simple for general experience. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear on most pages.

A few years ago, the BBC made the TV programme Dynasties about animal families across the world. They chose to film David and his family - a group of chimpanzees in south-eastern Senegal. Sometimes families are happy and sometimes they fight. Sometimes life is good and sometimes it is not easy. It is the same for chimpanzees, and for all animal families.
Book cover of Penguin Readers Level 3: Elon Musk (ELT Graded Reader) by Ashlee Vance

Penguin Readers Level 3: Elon Musk (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

Elon Musk, a Level 3 Reader, is A2 in the CEFR framework. The text is made up of sentences with up to three clauses, introducing first conditional, past continuous and present perfect simple for general experience. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear on most pages.

This book tells the story of Elon Musk, American businessman and multi-billionaire. Learn about his early years in South Africa and Canada, move to Silicon valley and his plans to travel to Mars.
Book cover of Penguin Readers Level 3: The Picture of Dorian Gray (ELT Graded Reader) by Oscar Wilde

Penguin Readers Level 3: The Picture of Dorian Gray (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, a Level 3 Reader, is A2 in the CEFR framework. The text is made up of sentences with up to three clauses, introducing first conditional, past continuous and present perfect simple for general experience. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear on most pages.

An artist paints a beautiful young man called Dorian Gray. When Dorian sees the picture, he decides to give his soul to keep his beautiful face. He lives a bad life and he is bad to many people, but his face never changes. However, in a room upstairs, the portrait gets uglier and uglier.
Book cover of Penguin Readers Level 4: Artemis Fowl (ELT Graded Reader) by Eoin Colfer

Penguin Readers Level 4: Artemis Fowl (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

Artemis Fowl, a Level 4 Reader, is A2+ in the CEFR framework. The text is made up of sentences with up to three clauses, introducing more complex uses of present perfect simple, passives, phrasal verbs and simple relative clauses. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear regularly.

Artemis Fowl is twelve years old and he is a clever and dangerous criminal. He discovers that fairies have gold - a lot of gold - and he wants some of it. But these fairies are not the fairies you read about in children's books. They are not sweet and friendly. They have guns, and they are ready to fight.
Book cover of Penguin Readers Level 4: Emma (ELT Graded Reader) by Jane Austen

Penguin Readers Level 4: Emma (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

Emma, a Level 4 Reader, is A2+ in the CEFR framework. The text is made up of sentences with up to three clauses, introducing more complex uses of present perfect simple, passives, phrasal verbs and simple relative clauses. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear regularly.

Emma Woodhouse is beautiful, clever and rich, and she has everything she wants. She does not want a husband for herself, but she loves match-making for her friends. But is Emma really as clever as she thinks? And what will she do when things start to go wrong?
Book cover of Penguin Readers Level 4: The Boy in Striped Pyjamas (ELT Graded Reader) by John Boyne

Penguin Readers Level 4: The Boy in Striped Pyjamas (ELT Graded Reader)

This ELT Graded Reader is made for people learning English as an additional language. The short, simple text is also perfect for anyone looking for an easier read. It is an adapted version of the original story.

In this story, Bruno's father gets a new job, and the family have to move from Berlin, Germany, to a new place. There is a strange camp at the end of the garden. Bruno is very unhappy and bored until he meets Shmuel. The two boys become very good friends. But why is Shmuel in the camp? And why is he wearing striped pyjamas?

Our Penguin Readers books include:


  • Simple text (CEFR-levelled)
  • Pictures to help you understand the story
  • Fun exercises to help you learn and practise English

With the print book, you can get even more help online:


  • Read the book online
  • Listen to the book being read out loud
  • Get lesson plans for teachers
  • Find answers to check your understanding

Note: online resources not available with the eBook.

Book cover of Penguin Readers Level 5: Far from the Madding Crowd (ELT Graded Reader) by Thomas Hardy

Penguin Readers Level 5: Far from the Madding Crowd (ELT Graded Reader)

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

Far from the Madding Crowd, a Level 5 Reader, is B1 in the CEFR framework. The text is made up of sentences with up to four clauses, introducing present perfect continuous, past perfect, reported speech and second conditional. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear regularly.

Bathsheba Everdene is young and beautiful. She has her own farm and she likes to do things her way. Three men are in love with her - a poor shepherd, a rich farmer and a soldier. Which man will she choose, and will he be the right one for her?