Now learning non-Roman-alphabet languages is as easy as A-B-C! Readers wanting to learn the basics of reading and writing a new language that employs script will find all they need in the Teach Yourself Beginner's Script series. Each book includes a step-by-step introduction to reading and writing in a new language as well as tips and practice exercises to build learners' skills. Thanks to the experts at Teach Yourself, script will no longer be all "Greek" to language learners--unless of course, it is Greek script! Teach Yourself Beginner's Script series books
TEACH YOURSELF BEGINNER'S RUSSIAN SCRIPT, by Dr. Daphne West, is a concise introduction to the cyrillic alphabet as used in the Russian language. It begins by teaching the letters a few at a time, then introduces the cursive form of the alphabet, and finally gives practice on reading common words.
I read the book to prepare for a vacation in Kyiv and was a bit disappointed that the book was written much more for future students of the Russian language than for tourists. While there are sections that deal with vocabulary of town and transport, much of the book introduces vocabulary that is not everyday. My other complaint is that cyrillic letters found in other former-soviet languages are not taught in the book. I understand that this is beginner's *Russian* script, but a two-page appendix that shows other cyrillic letters and their sounds would have been most helpful.
Also, for those hoping to finally master the difficult cursive form of the alphabet, you may be disappointed to see that there are only four pages dedicated to it.
All in all, if you are looking to learn just the alphabet for whatever reason, TEACH YOURSELF BEGINNER'S RUSSIAN SCRIPT is probably the best value, as it is less expensive than buying a full-fledged Russian textbook. It does have its flaws, however.