Clever Eli handwriting books help children form letters correctly and confidently. This skill is essential, because handwriting, reading and spelling all work together. When children form letters easily, cognitive overload is reduced and they have more attention left for the learning that matters.
At Sensory Learning Services, we use explicit, multi-sensory graphomotor instruction in our 1:1 sessions. This teaches the movements needed to form letters. That’s why we’ve partnered with Clever Eli, an Australian business, to offer their grooved handwriting books to local families. The books let your child practise those movements at home, as part of the daily homework routine.
Right habits from the start. Peace of mind for you!
What makes Clever Eli different?
Occupational therapists and teachers helped design these Australian, multi-sensory books, which is why we love them.
- Grooved pages let children feel the path of the pen, making tracing easier and building confidence.
- Fading ink disappears on its own, so children can practise again and again, mess-free.
- Tinted yellow pages reduce glare and visual stress, helping children stay calm and focused.
- Sturdy cardboard pages and steel ring binding make each book durable.
- A pen grip supports a comfortable hold.
The Handwriting Pathway: 2 books, for one journey
We recommend you purchase both Clever Eli handwriting books together. Strong letter formation must come first, and then children can begin joining letters once they feel ready to make the next step.
Clever Eli Book Set (VIC/WA/NT)
This set uses Victorian Modern Cursive, the font most WA schools use. It builds handwriting skills in four stages:
- Lines: simple tracing lines develop basic pen control
- Shapes and patterns: tracing shapes and interesting patterns builds fine motor skills
- Letters and numbers: children trace the whole alphabet in upper and lower case, plus numbers 1–10, and learn to place letters correctly between guide lines
- Sight words: children trace common words
Best for: younger children, beginning writers, and older children who need to revise and consolidate correct letter formation.
Clever Eli Cursive Book Set
This set moves children on to joined (cursive) handwriting. It covers:
- the whole alphabet in upper and lower case
- sight words
- sentences
Best for: children ready to join their letters, or those who need extra support to make their joined writing neat and fluent in preparation for longer writing tasks for essay writing in tests and exams.
From tracing to independent writing
The grooved books are the first step, not the last:
- Guided tracing. Your child traces letters in the Clever Eli books. The grooves guide the correct movement and build muscle memory.
- Independent practice. Next, we recommend your child forms the same letters in a dotted thirds exercise book. The dotted thirds help them size letters and sit them on the baseline.
- Free writing. Finally, your child uses their new letter formations whenever they write. This is how the skill becomes their own.
A few minutes a day works better than one long session a week. Because the ink fades, children can repeat pages as often as they need, without the frustration of rubbing out mistakes.
Is Clever Eli right for my child?
During our initial screening assessment, we check whether your child needs handwriting revision or explicit instruction. If they do, we include it in our recommendations.
Clever Eli can help children who:
- form letters incorrectly or inconsistently
- struggle with fine motor skills or pencil control
- find handwriting tiring or frustrating
- lack confidence when writing
Buy Clever Eli handwriting books in Perth
We stock Clever Eli sets locally, so Perth families can buy directly from us, with no waiting for delivery.
Each set includes 12 grooved pages, a Clever Eli pen, 3 ink refills and a right-handed pen grip. Left-handed grips, replacement pens and refills are also available.
Questions parents often ask
Which font does my child’s school use?
Most WA schools use Victorian Modern Cursive, and we align our instruction with it. However, some schools use a different font, so please check with your school first.
Can we reuse the books?
Yes. The ink fades on its own, so your child can practise the same pages many times.
Can we use a normal pencil?
No. The books only work with the Clever Eli pen.
Find out whether Clever Eli could help your child as part of a holistic, individualised intervention program.