My First Book of Chinese Calligraphy is a fun and engaging introduction to one of China's most celebrated arts and crafts for kids. Calligraphy--the art of producing decorative handwriting or lettering with a pen or brush--has been around for thousands of years. In this fun calligraphy-for-kids book, readers will follow along with Mimi, an eigh- year-old, who takes her first steps towards learning this magical art. Dive in, and explore:

• The Evolution of Chinese Writing--how Chinese characters first began, thousands of years ago, and how they have evolved
• The Order of the Strokes--learn how to write the strokes in the correct order
• The Radicals--what are they, and how to unlock their secrets
• The Four Treasures of Calligraphy-- the four essential tools to get started
• Movements and Position--how to master your mind's focus, your breathing and even how to move
• The Five Styles of Calligraphy--Zhuan Shu (seal), Li Shu (clerical), Kai Shu (regular), Cao Shu (cursive), and Xing Shu (running)
• The Eight Strokes-- how to draw the eight strokes; with them, you can write anything
• Writing a Character in Calligraphy--create an entire character in calligraphy

The included interactive CD-ROM enables learners to play creative games to see, hear and try Chinese writing; listen to the pronunciation of the Chinese characters; observe calligraphers in action and print the characters to create practice pages.