Reading is one of the most powerful ways to build your vocabulary and fluency in a new language. But if you're an intermediate learner, picking up an original Danish novel can be discouraging. When you have to stop every few words to look up their meaning, the pleasure of getting lost in a story quickly turns into a joyless chore, and it's easy to lose the plot entirely.
This is where graded readers come in. These are classic stories and modern tales that have been carefully adapted for language learners. With vocabulary and grammar tailored to a specific proficiency level, they allow you to enjoy a great story without the struggle, making reading an effective and deeply satisfying part of your learning journey.
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1Best choice
Around the World in Eighty Days Jorden rundt i 80 dage
Our B2 edition of Jules Verne's classic adventure is the ideal tool for self-study. The vocabulary is scientifically graded based on a two-billion-word corpus, ensuring you learn the most useful words first. Each book features a unique progression system where sentences and paragraphs gradually lengthen, gently building your stamina. Best of all, a bilingual glossary in the margin provides instant English translations for tricky words, so you never have to break your reading flow. With chapter exercises, online activities, and printable flashcards included, it's a complete system for mastering Danish at your own pace.
- Danish–English glossary of hard words in the margin of every page
- Difficulty rises inside the book (sentences & paragraphs grow longer)
- Exercises after every chapter (crosswords, gap-fills, anagrams and more) — in print and online
- Flashcards to print and cut out
- Vocabulary graded by corpus research (science-based)
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2
Farvel og tak
From the Letlæsningsserie by Forlaget Bostrup, <em>Farvel og tak</em> is a well-regarded easy-reading story written for intermediate learners of Danish.
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3
Charleston-pigen Anne
<em>Charleston-pigen Anne</em> is another title from Forlaget Bostrup's Letlæsningsserie, offering a short novel designed for language learners working at an intermediate level.
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4
Sølvmønten
This adaptation of a classic H.C. Andersen tale, <em>Sølvmønten</em>, is published by Forlaget Bostrup and is aimed at adult learners of Danish.
Our edition of Jorden rundt i 80 dage tops this list because it offers a complete, research-backed learning system designed for independent study. Beyond just a simplified story, our readers provide a unique in-book difficulty progression, exercises after every chapter (in print and online), and printable vocabulary flashcards. The key advantage is the bilingual margin glossary, which gives you instant translations into your own language right on the page, making for a smooth and uninterrupted reading experience. This scientific approach to vocabulary and built-in support system is what sets our edition apart.
| Pentecost | Typical simplified reader | |
|---|---|---|
| Danish–English glossary of hard words in the margin of every page | ✓ | ~ |
| Difficulty rises inside the book (sentences & paragraphs grow longer) | ✓ | ✕ |
| Exercises after every chapter (crosswords, gap-fills, anagrams and more) — in print and online | ✓ | ~ |
| Flashcards to print and cut out | ✓ | ✕ |
| Vocabulary graded by corpus research (science-based) | ✓ | ~ |
The verdict
For a B2 learner looking to make real progress, our edition of Jorden rundt i 80 dage is an excellent choice. The thrilling, fast-paced story of Phileas Fogg's race against time is universally appealing and makes for a fantastic first read at this level. The comprehensive learning system built into the book—from the margin glossary to the vocabulary progression—is specifically designed to support and accelerate your learning. While the other titles listed are also solid options for finding level-appropriate reading material, the integrated support in our edition provides a uniquely effective path to fluency.
Frequently asked questions
Why should I use a B2 graded reader instead of an original Danish book?
At the B2 level, you can understand a lot, but original literature often uses complex, rare, or historical vocabulary and sentence structures that can be overwhelming. A graded reader is carefully controlled to use language you can mostly understand, allowing you to read smoothly, enjoy the story, and learn new words from context without constant dictionary look-ups.
How do I know if B2 is the right level for me?
A good rule of thumb is the 'five-finger rule'. Open a page at random. If you don't know more than five words on that page, the book is likely too difficult. You should understand about 95-98% of the text to read comfortably and learn effectively. If a B2 reader feels too easy, you might be ready for B2+ or C1.
What makes Pentecost Publishing's graded readers different?
Our readers are a complete learning system. We use a science-based method to select vocabulary based on frequency, so you learn the most important words. Each book also has built-in difficulty progression, chapter exercises, printable flashcards, and, most importantly, a bilingual margin glossary with translations into your native language, so you can read without interruption.
What is the best way to read a graded reader?
Try to read for pleasure and flow first, without stopping for every single unknown word. Use the context and our margin glossary to help you. After finishing a chapter, go back and review the new vocabulary, use the flashcards, and complete the exercises to solidify what you've learned. The goal is 'extensive reading'—reading a lot of understandable text.
Can't I just use a dictionary app instead of a margin glossary?
You can, but switching between a book and a phone or dictionary breaks your concentration and pulls you out of the story. Our margin glossary provides instant, curated translations for the most difficult words on the page, allowing you to stay immersed in the narrative. This makes reading smoother, more enjoyable, and ultimately more effective for language acquisition.
Ranking reflects suitability for independent learners at this level. We list respected alternative series for context; prices and availability vary by retailer. The right-hand column describes a typical simplified reader in general; individual competing titles may differ.