Recommended books for beginners

Richardson, David. Esperanto: Learning and Using the International Language. 2004. ISBN: 0939785064. 368pp. $15.00.

This introductory textbook begins with an extensive English-language introduction, covering the need for an international language, an overview of Esperanto's history, and the international Esperanto community. A series of brief lessons with exercises follows, concentrating on practical communication and vocabulary. The highlight of the book is a graded reader, which includes history, letters, stories, and poetry (both translated from English and drawn from original Esperanto literature) that gradually introduce more advanced usage and additional vocabulary. The book concludes with an abridged Esperanto-to-English dictionary.

This book is also available on Amazon.com.

Butler, Montagu.Step-by-Step in Esperanto. 1991. ISBN: 0939785013. 281pp. $13.00.

This introductory textbook is aimed at readers with a more traditional language-learning background. It focuses on grammatical principles, vocabulary, sentence structure. Because it contains more detailed examples and exercises, it is a good companion to Esperanto: Learning and Using the International Language for motivated learners.

Benson, Peter. Comprehensive English-Esperanto Dictionary. 1995. ISBN: 0939785021. 607pp. $27.00. (Paperback ISBN: 093978503X, $20.00)

A good dictionary is indispensable to the language learner. Benson's dictionary is the most complete English-to-Esperanto dictionary available and well-respected by the Esperanto community.

Piron, Claude. GERDA MALAPERIS!48pp. $7.11.

This simple detective story, entirely in Esperanto, eases you into reading Esperanto. Each chapter adds a few new words and one or two grammar concepts, weaving them into an engaging story. You'll need a dictionary and textbook to go along with Gerda Malaperis -- there's also an English wordlist available.

Piron, Claude. LASU MIN PAROLI PLU!214pp. $19.00.

This book takes the same graded reader approach as "Gerda Malaperis." Each chapter in "Lasu Min Paroli Plu" uses the same vocabulary and grammar concepts introduced in "Gerda Malaperis," giving you more practice at every step of the way. Again, a dictionary and textbook are necessary to get the most out of this book.

Valano, Johan (Claude Piron). ILI KAPTIS ELZAN!103pp. $20.00.

A humorous novella for post-beginners; to be used after Gerda Malaperis! by the same author. An excellent tool to improve vocabulary and understanding.