Pick Up Your Pen: The Art of Handwriting Paperback – March 13, 2012

I loved this book for my 2nd grader as a bridge before beginning cursive. I had her do the lines of copywork, including the page numbers, and then as a reward she would get out markers and do her own artistic versions like the left-hand pages show. If you only do the line copywork this book would feel lacking... But if you allow your child to do the art part as well, it is a beautiful excersize in both practicing neatness and in being allowed creative expression.

As a homeschooling mom of 3 I love this book and have bought it twice and will probably buy it for the third child when he's old enough! I look at it sort of as artistic handwriting. My daughter hated handwriting so bad in 2nd grade so I got her this. She loved it. My son who is in Kindergarten LOVES writing so I got him this as extra fun. Two different kids and two total different reasons yet it worked for both of them. It's just a simple addition to our homeschooling. :)

I was rather disappointed to find that this was not an adult tutorial, but a one-page-per-letter workbook for children. I gave it away. Book binding is good, and there's lots of room to write. It there were quite a few different styles of example on each page as decoration, that might be confusing.

I was under the impression that this book would teach cursive, but it teaches print and italic cursive, which is just print letters hooked together. Cursive has some completely different letters then print for example the s, f and b. If you are looking for a cursive book don't buy this one.

It is not a book only for children and any adult who likes of handwriting can learn and practice also.

Big disappointment. There is no text in this book! It does not teach you how to write in Monica Dengo's style. There is just one letter written on every other page and a place for you to practice writing that letter. How this lady got someone to publish a book that contains so very little is beyond me. My copy will be returned!

A must have for anyone with children learning to write. Teachers don't teach this in school any more, so we as parents need to supply this much needed skill. Love the book and its many styles!!!

There is a picture of a letter on one page and lines on the other page. I agree with the other reviewer, how did she get this published with so little content? Returning.

I learned about this book after visiting Monica Dengo's site http://www.freehandwriting.net/. Pick up your Pen has some great ideas for letterwork, not least if you want to add some artistic qualities and colours to your letters. I am a mother and a teacher and I am one of those who thinks handwriting practice is being neglected in many schools. Pick up your Pen contains some good tips on how to practice the fluency of joins.

Avrò frainteso la descrizione di questo libro, aspettavo con ansia arrivasse a casa un piccolo manuale per beginners sulle basi della calligrafia... Amara constatazione: sfogliandolo trovo solo pagine bianche con un paio di esempi di lettere in stampatello e corsivo, si tratta dunque non tanto di un manuale, quanto di un blocco "schizzi", sul quale provare ad "imitare" le lettere scritte in ogni pagina, non c'è nulla di esplicativo o descrittivo, solo fogli per provare un tipo di grafia, la copertina è simile all'interno, per farvi un'idea.

L'ho acquistato con consapevolezza e sono soddisfatta. Offre un approccio alla calligrafia italica molto stimolante. L'uso del colore invita a sperimentare. Non è un manuale di calligrafia ma io lo sapevo e il mio giudizio positivo viene proprio da questo, è insolito.

Ottimo articolo, pensato per avvicinare i più piccoli alla bella scrittura in modo accessibile, divertente e naturale, senza essere appesantito da nozioni di teoria. Ampio spazio lasciato alla creatività.Altamente consigliato.

Had the opportunity to take a course with Monica Dengo- she's an amazingly talented artist and teacher! This book is inspiring and full of great ideas and instructions!