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This series of traditional handwriting books is very simple and straightforward. The books are a standard 8.5" x 11" although the first six are in landscape format. The series has been reprinted by EPS (now School Specialty Intervention) and now consists of 11 books, designed to help students all the way from learning the basic strokes to mastering cursive. Books now feature color covers, but are still black-and-white inside The content and exercises in the books appears similar, it is mainly some of the graphics that are different. Book A gets students ready to write by engaging them in a series of prewriting activities including, tracing and drawing lines (up and down, left to right, and slanted), tracing and drawing shapes, matching letters, numbers and shapes, coloring, and completing mazes. In Book B, children are ready to learn how to write their manuscript letters from Aa to Zz. Many pages also offer an activity such as a matching or maze exercise. Books C and M feature slightly smaller writing lines and review all of the manuscript letters A-Z and guide students toward writing short words and sentences. Students begin the transition to cursive in book M/C. The first part of this book reviews manuscript. Students then learn the additional strokes for cursive and the cursive alphabet, practicing individual letters and short sentences. Book D is similar to the cursive part of the transition book, offering review of each cursive letter with individual letters, words, and sentences.

The last five books in the series are portrait format and feature even smaller lines. These continue offering cursive practice, with most pages progressing from letter practice to word practice to practice writing a sentence or a paragraph. The sentences and paragraphs to copy are always very educationally-focused, including facts about plants and animals, tidbits on geographical places and famous people, and other interesting pieces of information. Between practice on individual letters, there are occasionally opportunties to practice "real-life" writing, such as writing an address on a postcard or filling out a job application form. Overall, a solid choice for learning traditional style handwriting that offers plenty of cursive enrichment. - Melissa

Customer Reviews

 
Michelle B. from St. Louis, MO wrote the following on 01/20/2011:
This year we've used 3 levels of Universal Publishing's handwriting programs. My 3 year old son is using the Getting Ready to Write and I SO wish I had used this for my older 2! I'm certainly planning on using it for the 2 youngest after him! This book is very simple and easy to use. The two open pages are the perfect amount of work for a young preschooler. The size of strokes required, and the order of skills taught is absolutely on target with a 3 year old's developmental needs. No teacher's manual is necessary. The cost is very low. My son LOVES to work in the book, and I must pace him. When school work is fun, it makes the day go by so much better!

 
Michelle B. from St. Louis, MO wrote the following on 01/20/2011:
This year we've used 3 levels of Universal Publishing's handwriting programs. My 5 year old daughter is using the My Letter Book. I have decided that the program works very well together, and I like that I do not have to research each year for the right handwriting book. My daughter already knew the basic formations of her letters and numbers (although that is not necessary foreknowledge for this book). This book does a great job of fine tuning the wobbly preschool letters into proper school-aged penmanship. A review of the basic strokes is taught through a series of tracing and copying shapes and designs before letter formation begins. This book is very simple and easy to use. Like the younger books, the 2 open pages are just the right amount of work for a kindergarten student. The stroke-size required fits well with the typical developmental needs of a child beginning to write words. No teacher's manual is necessary. The cost is very low. My daughter enjoys her handwriting lessons and is always eager to keep going!