My First Book of Chinese Calligraphy Kindle Edition

Although a "childrens" book, it is my favorite introduction to calligraphy. Great illustrations clearly show the origins of common shapes in Small Seal Script, the ideas of radicals, components & composition, the tools of calligraphy, the strokes of Yong, and a bunch of basic characters all in a beautiful and friendly format. Almost all the characters are chosen from those which were not simplified in the PRC, so this book is a good introduction whether you are learning Chinese or Japanese calligraphy. But, the bird character does appear and is simplified, so for those who feel strongly about this issue, you should be aware. My copy was printed in Malaysia by Tuttle which is owned by a Hong Kong company.

Perfect for adults' first introduction to Chinese calligraphy. Don't be afraid to use a child's learning tool in the early days of learning something new. Includes step-by-step instructions, and lots of practice opportunities on basic strokes, radicals, and order of mark making. The title sold me and it was the key to moving onto Chinese brush painting. Artists will appreciate the approach of this wonderful little book.

Since on the KQED and/or the PBS channel, there’s a PBS Kids show called “Sagwa the Chinese Siamese Cat”, and Sagwa is 1 of the main characters who mostly speaks English, but says some Chinese words. So when looking at the Calligraphy, it’s very interesting for me to try to understand.

This book is an invaluable resource for those wanting to learn about the Chinese language, cultural history, and what the different parts of each calligraphy word means! I'm in awe of this language and written word thanks to this book, and I'm so excited to learn more!!!!

I never take the time to write reviews, but for this book I did. If you are coming to calligraphy as a new student, this book is really essential, particularly if you do not have access to a teacher or class. These are basic fundamentals that are a must in order to progress in your practice, presented in a fun and easy to understand manner. This simple book is your foundation and it's very user friendly!

I know this is for kids; however, I took a chance that I might learn something. Rebecca Yue's book is much better for adults. The included CD is basically worthless; it just repeats the info in the book and the clips of a calligrapher aren't even in standard Kaishu script.

This is a beautiful book. I was worried when I ordered it that it might be a poor quality, but was pleasantly proved wrong. My four elementary aged children are learning traditional Mandarin and this has added to the breadth of their knowledge. I love the way the rules for the order of character strokes is laid out. It is something we are committing to memory. I highly recommend this book!

Hope my granddaughter appreciates this beautifully illustrated book as much as I did. The sections of the book clearly show the history of Chinese calligraphy and then how to learn to make the words, first practicing separate strokes. Buying the additional pack of marked practice paper enables the writer to carefully learn the exact place for each stroke. I want to learn, too!