Calligraphy for Kids (Calligraphy Basics, 1) Paperback – March 1, 2007

I have decided to take up calligraphy. I am an artist with, what I think, is terrible penmanship. I often create things with wording and I struggle to make it look right, so I have my sister do the lettering. Not anymore! In just 1 week of practicing the alphabet in skeleton form (Without the thick and thins) with a carpenter's pencil (wide lead like a wide nibbled pen) and this book, and I'm well on my way!This book is perfect for me, I thought if this book can teach a child, it can teach me as well! On the other hand, I thought that if this can't teach me, nothing will! lolThe key to this, I've found, is repetition. Start with a roundhand lowercase (or miniscule) alphabet and write your abc's literally until you cannot stand to write another strange looking "g" (the roundhand lowercase "g" is the strangest way I've ever written a "g" before since the top circle doesnt fill up the entire x height, only about 2/3 plus the rest of the letter is made with a funky motion. It feels unnatural to me.) Even so, now I can make them with ease. After this is when I picked up this book. My normal handwriting has improved immensely, I find myself using the tips and tricks from this book without even thinking about. It's becoming second nature. Again, repetition is key! The practice pages in the back are perfect! I scanned them in and printed off a ton of copies. Lots of pictures, stroke numbers and detailed tips to help you or a child learn the beautiful art of calligraphy!One thing I didn't see in the book was the tip to use the carpenter's pencil at first. You get the hang of keeping it flat at all times with the wide lead, just like a wide nibbed pen. I can see where kids may have an easier time with that instead of jumping straight to a marker or fountain pen.(If I may also recommend a pen, the Pilot Parallel is amazing! So simple to use, to load and write with. The ink flows perfectly, it is unlike any other calligraphy or broad nibbled pen I've ever used and they're under $8 here on Amazon. I also recommend getting the 20 dollar 4 pack with differing sizes. 1.5, 2.4, 3.8 and 6.0)Speedball's Elegant Writers are great chisel tip markers to practice with also, and Amazon sells a 4 pk for 4 dollars as an add on item!**I included a photo of the funky roundhand script letter "g" just in case anyone wondered what I was talking about, but also to show the difference my practice has made. The "weird" g's looked terrible when I started a week ago.Written with the Pilot Parellel 1.5 mm

Great book even for beginner adults. Lots of hints on doing calligraphy effortlessly.

I have been a calligrapher for many years. I purchased this book for my 10 year old niece who is interested in learning. I am self-taught but wanted to give her a technical approach to it rather than the one I use. When I received the book, I was very pleased with the guidelines it uses and feel that this will help her to utilize her developing skills to encompass much more than I ever accomplished with my calligraphy.

I bought this book for my 9 year old as a homeschool art project. I really like the idea of teaching her a lost art, and I thought it might help her to learn to write more neatly.So far we have read the intro (I read it first and summarized it to her quickly as she was VERY excited to get started) and practiced exercises 1 and 2. She has come back to it several times to practice, when we're not doing school, just for fun.This book will take us a month or more to finish, but I anticipate that she will continue to do it even after we're done with all the exercises. She loves making cards and anything pretty.Oh, also another side benefit, she was always resistant to learning to hold a pencil correctly but now that it's required by the calligraphy book, she is happy to give it a try.Overall I am very pleased with this book. It cost me under $20 including a package of pretty, colorful calligraphy markers, for my daughter to learn to write beautifully and learn something that she'll use the rest of her life.

If you didn’t want to purchase for yourself or thought to overlook it: I suppose if your experienced that you may want something advanced. I found this to be a good simple foundation for a start, I’ve got other books on handwriting and similar topics like calligraphy to learn and I at times will just go right into learning something the first time even if it’s more advanced then other categories within the interest. With this I have started and continued to practiced just the first lowercase italic with the zig pen recommended as well as a just recently a medium italic pilot fountain pen from JetPens website. There’s also a variety of pens here I’m interested in utilizing with this and practicing. I practiced in a 3in1 note book/journal from below 5 which I think is similar to one offered at Walgreens, maybe Walmart. With the fountain pen and ink I used I included a picture of the back of the page.

Though written for kids, I believe that adults will also find this book helpful. It does not talk down to you, and it gives clear and easy to understand information and directions. Because I had some practice in calligraphy before I began using this book (and because I'm impatient), I do not take it as slowly as the book suggests. I also do not bother with the guide sheets, but whether you do or not depends on how perfect you want your writing to be. Part of the reason I don't use the guide sheets is because I already have a calligraphy marker, and it is not the correct size for the sheets. However, they might be helpful (I wouldn't know, I've never used them :D). I also do not think it is necessary to switch to an actual calligraphy pen; at least, not right away. The markers work just fine, and are less messy. Other than this, the book is very helpful, and, as I said before, easy to follow.

I wish they showed each styles letter both lower and upper case.