My First Book Of Tracing (Kumon Workbooks) [Paperback]

Shinobu Akaishi (Author, Editor), Eno Sarris (Editor)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

This is the first Kumon Workbook in our series. Within, children have the opportunity to practice basic pencil-control skills. All the exercises include colorful, pleasing pictures that children will enjoy drawing. Children start by tracing straight vertical lines, and gradually move to drawing more challenging curved, zigzag, and diagonal lines. Through these exercises children will acquire the ability to use a pencil easily.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Kumon workbooks are based on the "Kumon Method", an educational philosophy that aims at unlocking the full learning potential of each individual child. The Kumon Method introduces learning concepts in an incremental, step-by-step approach, allowing children to master new skills easily and without anxiety or frustration. As a result, children gain confidence in their abilities and are motivated to learn on their own.

Over 3.5 million children around the world use the Kumon Method to develop their math and reading skills. Kumon Math and Reading Centers help students become successful, confident and self-motivated learners.

But it’s not just the Kumon Method that makes our workbooks special. It’s also the care and research that goes into the editorial content, design and quality of the books. Our editorial experts have more than two decades of experience in producing books that are both fun and educational. Our designers create illustrations that attract and delight children. And the quality of our books is the best of any workbook on the market, with extra thick paper and the best available print quality. From pedagogy to paper, every one of our workbooks has been carefully crafted with your child’s best interests in mind.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Kumon Publishing North America; Original edition (February 5, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4774307076
• ISBN-13: 978-4774307077
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,535 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Education > Preschool & Kindergarten
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Arts & Music > Crafts & Hobbies
  • #4 in Books > Children's Books > Arts, Crafts & Music > Crafts & Hobbies

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful quality - builds a great foundation, January 4, 2006

By 

M. Beyer "mom of two" (MA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My First Book Of Tracing (Kumon Workbooks) (Paperback)

I looked at many workbooks in the book store before settling on this one, and I'm glad I did! It starts out with basics - connecting pictures and drawing straight lines horizontally and vertically - using very cute, clear graphics. It then progresses to diagonal lines, curved lines, zig zags, more complex curves, lines that cross over each other, etc. In this way, it gradually builds writing skills in a way that is fun for children. I also love that the paper is thick and high quality, the colors are vibrant, and the accompanying pictures are detailed and well-done.

My 3 year old son loves this workbook and asks to do it almost every day. I have a hard time keeping him to 2-3 pages each day - he'd sit and do the entire book if I let him! If I try to have him draw lines on paper, he loses interest quickly, but he loves drawing lines in this book to make a train get to the end of it's route or to show an ant how to get to his friend around several pieces of fruit. I can see a definite improvement in his pencil skills as a result of this book.

The only improvements I'd make is to have it bound with a spiral binding or to have the pages be designed to rip out. My son had trouble at first holding the book open and drawing at the same time. Other than that, the material itself was wonderful! I definitely recommend it!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Skill Builder, February 15, 2006

By 

Syd - See all my reviews

This review is from: My First Book Of Tracing (Kumon Workbooks) (Paperback)

I recommend this book for anyone who would like to help their child develop pencil skills. Do not worry if your child does not immediately excel with this book, just remember all children develop differently and reach the point where they can follow instructions and do workbook skills at different times. Hold off for a while if needed and re-introduce once in a while until the child is ready. Once the child is ready - you will be surprised how interested in the book they become and how quickly their skills improve. I advise following the workbook instructions that you not let the child do more than 2 pages per session because if they are left wanted to do more they will eagerly come back to it the next time.

I bought this book for my daughter when she was almost 3 but discovered she was not quite ready for it. She would follow the instructions sometimes, struggling to follow the paths, but many other times she was not interested in trying to follow the lines and would start scribbling on the pages, perhaps out of frustration that she was not quite ready for it. We continued to provide plain paper, coloring books, pens, pencils, markers, and crayons for her to work on her skills individually. Meanwhile we worked very slowly in the book only working in it every once in a while until recently (around 3 ½) when her interest and ability clicked with the book and now it is her second favorite "project book". (See the Kumon cutting book for the favorite!) I am very happy with the progressive nature of the book and even thought it took my child some time to work through the first half of the book, she is cruising along and we are only a couple of pages from the certificate of achievement at the end. I have the next books ready to go, Uppercase Letters, Number 1 - 30, and Mazes, and she was really excited when they were delivered. She can't wait to get her certificate and start in on the new ones.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My 26 month old loves this book!!!!!!!, August 10, 2005

By 

T. Santilli (Gainesville, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My First Book Of Tracing (Kumon Workbooks) (Paperback)

Every day my 2 year old says, "Book, book." We sit down and I show him how to hold the pencil, I steady his hand and he pulls the pencil in the proper direction (90% of the time). It's exciting for both of us. The pictures are beautiful and he loves looking at them. Also the pages are very thick, which keeps them from being easily destroyed.