Best Calligraphy Books 2024 [Beginners, Kids + More]
You’re all excited about your calligraphy and lettering hobby, but you’ve found that there are no workshops or classes near you. No problem, you’ll just find the best calligraphy books and learn on your own…
But a quick search shows an absolutely overwhelming number of books to choose from. Amazon alone has hundreds of options.
Pause now to pin! ↓
You obviously can’t buy every one of them, so where do you even start?
*cue us waving enthusiastically*
We’re Jillian and Jordan, the calligraphers behind Loveleigh Loops and we’re SO glad that you’re here. Let’s look together at some of the most popular calligraphy books and give you an overview of what we think are the best resources on the market today.
Disclosure: as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Let’s get started!
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Table of Contents
What To Look For In Calligraphy Books
Before we get into the nibs and ink of this post, let’s first look at what *exactly* makes a calligraphy book a quality resource.
When you’re first starting out, it can be hard to differentiate between all the different calligraphy books. There are so many books on the market and a lot of them look very similar.
Some of our best calligraphy book recommendations
The best calligraphy book for you is determined by calligraphy styles and type of instruction.
Here are some characteristics to pay attention to:
Education. Educational calligraphy books focus on teaching the theory, history, math and art of calligraphy and lettering. For example, an educational book may talk about animal flourishes without necessarily teaching you how to write one yourself.
Instruction. Instructional books focus on you implementing the advice into your own work. This pairs well with…
Practice. Since so much of calligraphy for beginners is tracing and copying letters and strokes, having a book with included calligraphy workbook pages for practice is high-value (but not a deal breaker because you can print your own free practice sheets).
Increasing difficulty. As an independent learner, you need exercises that are more and more challenging in order to keep progressing.
Inspiration. Calligraphy is an artform so we expect to find exciting suggestions for projects that inspire you to apply what you’ve learned.
Best Traditional Calligraphy Books
A book can really help you learn traditional calligraphy, whether you're a beginner or looking for more advanced resources.
Whether you want to learn pointed pen or have set your eyes on traditional Gothic calligraphy, a book is a fantastic resource for understanding the art of calligraphy and the history behind the technique.
We’ll get to modern tools in a minute, but first we’re going to start at calligraphy’s roots: pointed pen
Let’s look at some of the most popular calligraphy books and see how they hold up.
Not sure which style to pick? Read our traditional versus modern calligraphy guide to help choose.
Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy
Let’s start this calligraphy book list with an absolute classic: Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy: A Step-by-Step Manual by Eleanor Winters.
This calligraphy book is standard work for anyone that wants to learn the traditional Copperplate scripts, and for good reason!
The book starts with an introduction that gives nice background history of the Copperplate script (also referred to as pointed pen calligraphy) followed by an instructional chapter. We loved the level of detail we saw in these early chapters!
As expected from a book named Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy, the book starts with a detailed overview of the basic strokes of calligraphy.
Practicing the basic calligraphy strokes and building the required muscle memory is a huge part of learning traditional calligraphy.
All of the strokes are discussed at length which provides a solid foundation for your calligraphy efforts.
Besides detailed instructions on how to do them, this book also contains tips on critically analyzing your own work. For each of the basic strokes, Eleanor Winters provides detailed examples of what not to do and what to watch out for when working on your craft.
The book ends with a couple of inspiring suggestions for different projects and quotes in which you can put your newfound calligraphy into practice. We think that the writing prompts are fun and provide an excellent springboard for launching your new hobby.
A look inside Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy
While we personally love this book, it might not be for everyone. Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy comes with a lot of text that you'll have to read if you want to get the most out of this book.
Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy summary:
Traditional styles of calligraphy
A lot of information and background history
Detailed instructions throughout the book
Tips on how to critique your own work
A bit on the heavy side when it comes to text
You may also like: Finding Your Best Calligraphy Nib
Learn Calligraphy: The Complete Book Of Lettering And Design
Next up is Learn Calligraphy by Margaret Shepherd. Here we have another fantastic calligraphy book for anyone who is curious about learning the broad edge calligraphy script:
A look inside Learn Calligraphy
We love the way the book starts out. Using a dip pen is something that not everybody will be familiar with and we appreciate that Margaret Shepherd takes the time to discuss how to properly use one, even if you’re left-handed.
After talking about the tools of the trade, broad edge nibs and ink, the author briefly discusses the history of many of the different scripts in broad edge calligraphy.
To us, Margaret Shepherd is able to strike that perfect balance between being informative without being overly wordy.
It’s this combination of depth and user-friendliness that makes this book such an invaluable resource for this style of calligraphy. Each of the scripts comes with a well-written set of instructions and plenty of examples to help you on your way.
Learn Calligraphy summary:
Traditional styles of calligraphy
Excellent information on using an unusual instrument, the broad edge nib
Lots of background to broad edge calligraphy and its main scripts
Thorough instruction throughout the book
Unique style and design
You may also like: How To Practice Pointed Pen Calligraphy
Copperplate Script: A Yin and Yang Approach
This book is an in-depth manual by the calligraphy expert Paul Antonio. He shares his unique process of teaching Copperplate.
Through lots of diagrams, he teaches how to use geometry and principles of physics to construct the letters of the Copperplate alphabet.
To us, the large number of images in this book are its main appeal. Copperplate Script is literally overflowing with examples and easy-to-follow diagrams.
Paul Antonio explains everything in detail, from basics such as hand placement to tips on position and posture to more advanced calligraphy tips on Copperplate flourishing and capital letters.
A look inside Copperplate Script
We think that the thoroughness on display is both it’s main appeal and the factor that makes this less than ideal for some calligraphers.
The volume of information and images can make getting started with calligraphy intimidating for absolute beginners. Copperplate Script is an absolutely amazing resource, and it deserves to be put into the category of more advanced calligraphy books.
Copperplate Script summary:
Traditional styles of calligraphy
Very visual guide to Copperplate
Paul Antonio has a unique approach to Copperplate that’s really valuable to learn
Goes from complete basics to more advanced concepts
Not as beginner-friendly as some of the others
You may also like: Online Calligraphy Class Directory
The Universal Penman
Any fan of traditional calligraphy should get to know this book. The Universal Penman by George Bickham is nothing short of an absolute classic.
Written in the 18th century, The Universal Penman is filled with examples of Copperplate and English Roundhand calligraphy. Back in the day, it was a popular book that was used by calligraphy masters to instruct their students. Its popularity continues to this day.
Although The Universal Penman is a much-beloved calligraphy book, it isn’t particularly beginner-friendly. George Bickham created a book that’s rich in history but not ideal for self-study as it’s filled with examples yet doesn’t contain any instruction.
That detail aside, it’s the number of examples that makes this book a valuable resource. Once you have the basics down, The Universal Penman is an absolute treasure trove of inspiration.
You’ll find inspiring illustrations that are guaranteed to lead to new ideas for letter shapes and flourishes.
A look inside The Universal Penman
The Universal Penman summary:
Traditional styles of calligraphy
Rich in history
A classic calligraphy book for a good reason
The illustrations can yield some creative ideas
Not for absolute beginners
Best used in tandem with other learning materials
You may also like: How To Learn Spencerian Script
Ornate Pictorial Calligraphy
Here we have a calligraphy book that really embodies the creative art of calligraphy. In Ornate Pictorial Calligraphy: Instructions and Over 150 Examples, E.A. Lupfer gives you an idea of how far you can take your calligraphy flourishing.
The first chapters contain some instructions and exercises to prepare you for what is to come. After this introduction, E.A. Lupfer moves on to examples of what you can do with flourishing and how you can create the beautiful shapes found in this book.
Although Ornate Pictorial Calligraphy contains a little bit of instruction, we wouldn’t classify it as a book that’s beginner-friendly. The introductory exercises alone aren’t enough to teach you how to make the advanced shapes found in this book.
Personally, I found the exercises helpful for developing my own flourishes but Ornate Pictorial Calligraphy is really more an advanced calligraphy book.
A look inside Ornate Pictorial Calligraphy
Ornate Pictorial Calligraphy summary:
Different styles of calligraphy, all in the traditional vein
Highly specialized in flourishes
Inspiring examples
Not ideal for absolute beginners
You may also like: Beginner’s Guide To Calligraphy Flourishes
Modern Calligraphy And Hand Lettering Books
The art of calligraphy extends far beyond just the traditional calligraphy styles.
A quick look at the greeting card aisle at Target or Hallmark gives you an idea of how popular modern calligraphy remains to this day.
Modern calligraphy and hand lettering examples show that the strict rules of traditional calligraphy styles have given way to more playful variations.
Brightly colored, bouncy lettering on equally colorful backgrounds are all part of what’s known as modern calligraphy and hand lettering.
Want to learn more about the different calligraphy tools and styles? Click for instant access to our free guide
Modern calligraphy books should teach you the basics of calligraphy and hand lettering but should also inspire you to practice and improve your writing and perfect your individual style.
Creative Lettering And Beyond
Creative Lettering and Beyond by Gabri Joy Kirkendall, Laura Lavender, Julie Manwaring and Shauna Lynn Panczyszyn is a great resource for absolute hand lettering beginners.
It begins with easy-to-understand instructions on the different types of calligraphy pens and supplies and moves into styles and execution. The book begins talking about ink and nibs, but expands to talk about alternative hand lettering mediums and styles such as chalk lettering.
Practice space in this book is plentiful, making it more of a calligraphy workbook than just an educational text. The project ideas section, specifically when it came to chalk, was extensive and full of creative prompts.
It’s a great resource for traditional calligraphers who want to transition into modern styles and projects.
A look inside Creative Lettering and Beyond
Creative Lettering and Beyond summary:
Covers different styles, including traditional calligraphy, hand lettering and chalk lettering
Introduction to using the calligraphy materials
Practice exercises
Cute lettering styles
Practical project ideas
Excellent for getting started with modern calligraphy
You may also like: Hand Lettering Faux Calligraphy Tutorial
Modern Calligraphy & Hand Lettering
Up next is a very beginner-friendly hand lettering book, The Ultimate Guide to Modern Calligraphy & Hand Lettering for Beginners by June & Lucy.
This is a great resource for beginners who want to get started from zero. It’s a mix of instructional text and practice exercises.
There are plenty of different styles of alphabets, accompanied with practice space so that you can begin writing and experimenting with different scripts right away.
Later sections of the book even include pages of different line drawings and other decorative creative elements that can enhance your writing.
Important note about practicing in this book: the paper is a little thin and your brush pens may bleed through the page.
Consider practicing on separate pieces of calligraphy paper to avoid running your work.
A look inside Modern Calligraphy & Hand Lettering
Modern Calligraphy & Hand Lettering summary:
Styles include modern calligraphy, bounce lettering and hand lettering
Beginner friendly
Teaches different alphabet styles
Great ideas for decorations and designs
More of a calligraphy workbook/book hybrid
You may also like: Beginner’s Guide To Brush Pen Hand Lettering
The Lettering Workbook For Absolute Beginners
As the name suggests, The Lettering Workbook for Absolute Beginners by Ricca's Garden is a great resource for beginners.
This book has a unique start by offering a reference chart of different tools that you can use for hand lettering. Very high-value when you’re just getting to know the different calligraphy tools.
While the focus of this book is lettering, it does touch on traditional calligraphy and even introduces flourishing.
Overall this is a great resource for beginners who want to explore different scripts and calligraphy styles.
A look inside The Lettering Workbook
The Lettering Workbook summary:
Styles include traditional calligraphy, flourishing, modern calligraphy, bounce lettering and hand lettering
Teaches multiple alphabet styles
Hand lettering tool reference chart
Plenty of tips and posture recommendations
Lots of room to trace and practice, both letters and words
Touches on flourishing
Alphabets that are complementary to hand lettering alphabets
You may also like: Beginner’s Guide To Basic Calligraphy
Brush Lettering Made Simple
Special mention: Jillian’s favorite lettering book!
This book has seen a lot of love in the Loveleigh Loops library. Brush Lettering Made Simple by Chrystal Elizabeth is easily one of the absolute best hand lettering books on the market.
Beyond the easy-to-follow instructions, there is just a very high book quality in every way. The length, paper quality, ease of use and level of instruction are really exemplary.
Going beyond the basics, Brush Lettering Made Simple pays extra attention to the different lettering styles you can achieve with brush pens.
The sections on blending brush pens and using watercolors go way beyond the basics and offer more of a complete guide to hand lettering.
This is a perfect resource for calligraphers who want to learn everything you need to know about brush lettering, really find their style and experiment with the technical abilities of brush pens.
A look inside Brush Lettering Made Simple
Brush Lettering Made Simple summary:
Easy to understand
High-quality paper, illustrations and instructions
Lots of brush pen instruction and style exploration such as blending
Covers the alphabet, numbers, composition and flourishing
#1 recommendation for brush lettering
You may also like: Beginner’s Guide To Easy Calligraphy
A Beginners Guide To Lettering And Modern Calligraphy
Lettering and Modern Calligraphy: A Beginner's Guide by Paper Peony Press is an extremely popular choice on Amazon, but it’s not really an educational resource as much as a form of guided practice.
The contents cover multiple different alphabet styles, whole words and then some phrases and small lettering projects.
A calligraphy workbook like this is fun to use for tracing and simple practice, but it won’t teach you much about the history or art of calligraphy.
A practical workbook alternative is printing out your own free practice sheets and making your own DIY workbook.
A look inside Lettering and Modern Calligraphy
Lettering and Modern Calligraphy summary:
Loose and modern calligraphy style
Pages and pages of practice sheets
Focuses on writing the alphabet in different lettering styles
Light on the instruction
Suitable for beginners, but not for those really looking to learn about the entire art of calligraphy
You may also like: Beginner’s Guide To Pencil Calligraphy
Calligraphy Books For Kids
Calligraphy books come in all shapes and sizes, and so do calligraphers!
Calligraphy is a great hobby for kids:
It improves handwriting and fine motor skills
Following instructions is good for cognitive development
It’s screen-free (parenting win!)
Learning and practicing build confidence
Fun fact: the Loveleigh Loops team has 5 “interns,” all under the age of 5!
Want to see more of what goes on behind the scenes? Come see on Instagram!
Here are our top recommendations for young or budding calligraphers.
P.s. While all of these calligraphy books are good for kids, none of them are limited to kids.
What makes calligraphy books kid-friendly are easy-to-understand instructions, basic techniques that are easy to replicate and practical writing prompts. Don’t be afraid to buy this for a calligrapher of any age.
You may also like: Calligraphy Tutorial For Kids
Hand Lettering And Modern Calligraphy For Kids
Hand Lettering and Modern Calligraphy for Kids by Modern Kid Press starts at the very beginning with the basic calligraphy terminology and tools.
It lays a nice foundation but isn’t overly heavy on the instruction.
Kids are keen to get started practicing right away, and this book leans right into that enthusiasm with some basic pointers and lots of pages for practice.
For young calligraphers looking to learn calligraphy, this book is a great place to get started and will teach the foundation of this art.
A look inside Hand Lettering and Modern Calligraphy for Kids
Hand Lettering and Modern Calligraphy for Kids summary:
Modern hand lettering styles
Introduction to tools and lingo
Pages and pages of practice sheets
Calligraphy For Kids
One of our favorite authors is back, this time with a book for kids! It’s no surprise that Calligraphy for Kids by Eleanor Winters is an incredible resource for budding calligraphers.
Focusing on fountain pens and broad edge pens, this book teaches kids the basic terminology and techniques for using their pen, plus how to practice effectively.
Something that makes this book shine is the side-by-side examples of right and wrong writing techniques. That level of instruction is prized for calligraphers of all levels, and teaches a very high-value skill of being able to analyze your own work.
The pages walk you through different techniques and then give kids practical ideas for how to apply the lettering process to things in their everyday lives, such as birthday cards and party invitations.
A look inside Calligraphy for Kids
Calligraphy for Kids summary:
Starts with basic instructions on how to use the pen
Slowly introduces all the rules of calligraphy
Examples of right and wrong
Simple and easy-to-follow instructions
Writing prompts that show how to apply what you’ve learned
You may also like: Cursive Writing Versus Calligraphy
Beginner Calligraphy Workbook For Kids
Beginner Calligraphy Workbook for Kids by Jade Scarlett starts with a heavier focus on the basic strokes, which follows the traditional calligraphy path.
It walks young calligraphers through creating each stroke and then writing letters piece by piece.
That’s exactly how adults learn, too! This is a great book to work through in tandem with a budding calligrapher in your life.
We love the focus on the traditional process and the emphasis on the basic calligraphy strokes.
The mix of tracing and freehand writing practice will help guide in muscle memory and kids should see themselves improve page by page.
A look inside Beginner Calligraphy Workbook
Beginner Calligraphy Workbook summary:
A mix of traditional and modern calligraphy styles
Teaches the basic strokes
Pages and pages of writing space
Ages 8-12
Detailed instructions on how to form the letters
The Beginner's Guide To Modern Calligraphy And Hand Lettering For Kids
Our last young calligrapher’s book is The Beginner's Guide to Modern Calligraphy and Hand Lettering for Kids by June & Lucy Kids.
This book provides a lot of practice space for writing letters and walks young calligraphers through creating their own writing projects by the end of the book.
The tools section at the beginning is a nice touch and explores pencils, pens, brush pens, markers, crayons and paper.
Similar to the last book, this focuses on writing and creating. However, it’s less into technique and spends less time explaining skills.
It’s easy to follow and will certainly inspire instant practice and creation.
A look inside the Beginner’s Guide
The Beginner’s Guide summary:
Introduction to different pens and utensils
Pages and pages of writing space
Multiple different alphabet styles to practice
Ends will fun writing projects
Our Book! Lettering for Planners
This list of the best calligraphy books wouldn’t be complete without our book: Lettering for Planners: A Step-By-Step Guide to Hand Lettering and Modern Calligraphy for Bullet Journals and Beyond by (yours truly) Jillian Reece and Jordan Truster.
As the title suggests, this helps beginners achieve more beautiful writing in their planners and bullet journals.
The style, skills and writing instruction is actually perfect for anyone looking to learn and practice hand lettering and faux calligraphy.
Our book starts with teaching basic techniques for building letters, and expands into a full faux calligraphy masterclass.
It’s bursting with details and tips, but also has tons of lettering examples and room to practice so you can create the same letters and styles along with us.
You can get started writing in your own style right away with a brush pen or a monoline pen.
A look inside Lettering for Planners
Lettering for Planners summary:
Faux calligraphy and hand lettering style
Covers different skills such as the process of writing letters piece by piece all the way to advanced composition
Lots of detailed instructions
Specifically designed for bullet journals and planners
Experiments with styles
Balances lots of instructions with being fun and beginner friendly
Want to see inside our book before buying? Get a free chapter here!
Our book has something for hand letterers of all levels and abilities
Honorable Mentions
There are dozens of incredible resources on the market, which is what makes the search for the best calligraphy books so fun.
Our mission was to review the most common books in the categories of pointed pen calligraphy, modern hand lettering and books for young calligraphers.
Since it was so hard to decide between all of the great books, we wanted to through in a few honorable mentions on the list.
Which calligraphy book calls to you most??
If you’re still eager for more suggestions, here are honorable mentions for you to explore:
In Progress: See Inside a Lettering Artist's Sketchbook and Process, from Pencil to Vector by Jessica Hische
Mastering Modern Calligraphy: Beyond the Basics: 2,700+ Pointed Pen Exemplars and Exercises for Developing Your Style by Molly Suber Thorpe
The Art of Calligraphy: A Practical Guide to the Skills and Techniques by David Harris
The Golden Secrets of Lettering: Letter Design from First Sketch to Final Artwork by Martina Flor
Next Steps
When it comes to calligraphy books for beginners, there’s no shortage of options. Whether you want to learn brush pen calligraphy, hand lettering, pointed pen, or faux calligraphy, the calligraphy books we’ve shared are invaluable learning resources.
This hobby is SO much fun. You’re going to love it
If you’re really interested in calligraphy, finding the best calligraphy books for beginners is actually just a starting point.
Take these next steps to move beyond the reading materials and into creating the calligraphy and hand lettering projects of your dreams:
Join our Facebook group and meet your new lettering calligraphy friends
Download your practice sheets for pointed pen calligraphy or brush pen lettering
Watch calligraphy and hand lettering tutorials on our YouTube channel
If you’re ready to invest in learning calligraphy with step-by-step instructions, video tutorials and easy-to-follow road maps, the best investment you can make is in one of our calligraphy courses.
The art of calligraphy is a wonderful hobby, and we’d be honored to be your teachers!
We’ve had more than 20,000 students from all of the world. We’d be honored to have you, too!