Penguin Readers is a structured series of simplified novels, non-fiction, and short stories. The series is divided into 8 levels, from Starter (Pre-A1) to Level 7 (B2/C1 – Upper Intermediate).

Starter Level is the entry point. These books are engineered for learners who have:

Pros:

Cons:

Penguin Readers is a series of "Graded Readers." Unlike normal books, these are written specifically for learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL).

The Starter Level sits at the very bottom of the ladder (CEFR Level: A1). The goal is not complex poetry or nuance; the goal is survival. Can a learner pick up a book, read a story from start to finish, and understand it?

Penguin achieves this by: