Helping a Customer Find a Book
A free A2-level English story for language learners, readable online in English, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
Elena, an experienced librarian, helps a customer track down a book he can only vaguely describe.
Elena started working at the city library three years ago. She knows almost every shelf very well. Today, she opens the library at nine o'clock.
An older man walks in a few minutes later. He looks a little lost, so Elena walks over to help him.
"Good morning. Can I help you find something?" Elena asks.
"Yes, please," the man says. "I'm looking for a book, but I don't remember the title."
"That's okay," Elena says. "What is the book about?"
"It's about a sailor," the man says. "He gets lost at sea and finds a strange island. I read it years ago."
Elena thinks for a moment. She remembers a few old books about a sailor and an island.
"I think I know which book you mean," she says. "Follow me, please."
She walks to the back of the library, past the history section. She stops at a tall shelf near the window.
"Here it is," Elena says, pulling out an old blue book. "Is this the one?"
The man takes the book and looks at the cover. He smiles a big smile.
"Yes! This is it!" he says. "I can't believe you found it so fast."
"I read it myself, years ago," Elena says with a smile. "It's one of my favorites too."
The man thanks her again. He walks to a table by the window.
Elena returns to the front desk. She starts sorting the returned books.
