Title: Cursive Writing Reference Workbook
Author: Doreen S. Castillio
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1-6655-3544-1
Genre: Educational / Calligraphy
Pages: 78
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
When I think of the many styles of handwriting, I believe cursive is the more casual, friendly, intimate and powerful way to communicate. Many documents throughout our past history are cursive; most likely due to being written with a quill and an ink-well, when it is best not lifting the writing instrument off the page due to ink dripping.
In author/creator Doreen S. Castillo’s Cursive Writing Reference Workbook, the lessons begin without any historical background, getting right into the teaching of cursive lettering. Some of us who are old enough will remember the cursive lettering shown to students above the blackboards in our classrooms; with the 4 horizontal lines (top, middle, lower, and below lower for drop-down elements) plus the characters in alphabetical order being clearly displayed – this is basically how the book is presented. Castillo has methodically divided the workbook into categories for each of the elements of the cursive fonts. Section 1 begins with upper- and lower-case letters; then moving on to categorize “Round Letters Loopy Letters, Smiley Faces, Bumpy Letters,” for example. I especially liked the “Candy Cane Letters” where she said you can use a loop or no-loop on the top, showing how this guide is designed as a root-lesson whereas individual preferences can be later indulged.
From letters to words, then onto sentences and having “joining or not-joining” guidelines, Castillo has a well laid-out methodology for presenting these techniques in a clear and unambiguous fashion. It shows that she has done this often and is experienced in her presentation.
Of course, practice makes perfect – hence Cursive Writing Reference Workbook has ample room on the pages for students to use their own pen or pencil to work along with each of the lessons. As a benefit the book has many blank pages in the back to provide the lined paper for continuing developing the students’ skills.
I would suggest buying this book in the printed (soft-cover) version; or if purchased on the electronic version have a printer nearby to create the pages to work on. After all, it is a work book which requires work and practice.
After completing the lessons, and practicing for many, many weeks and months, those fortunate enough who have applied themselves to these techniques will develop a handwriting style, unique to themselves, which can represent their personality, wisdom and conformity to English in a way much more unique than the typing keyboard and “canned fonts” of word-processing programs. After all, a handwritten note as well as a signature brings out the personality of the individual in a way no typing could every match.
