The Bibliophile's Bookshelf

I know January is wrapping up, but it is National Hobby Month and I wanted to share some of my favorite books that feature some fun hobbies.

Cooking/Baking

Baking Yesteryear by B. Dylan Hollis

A decade-by-decade cookbook that highlights the best (and a few of the worst) baking recipes from the 20th century Friends of baking, are you sick and tired of making the same recipes again and again? Then look no further than this baking blast from the past, as B. Dylan Hollis highlights the most unique tasty treats of yesteryear. Travel back in time on a delicious decade-by-decade jaunt as Dylan shows you how to bake vintage forgotten greats. With a big pinch of fun and a full cup of humor, you’ll be baking everything from Chocolate Potato Cake from the 1910s to Avocado Pie from the 1960s. Dylan has baked hundreds of recipes from countless antique cookbooks and selected only the best for this bakebook, sharing the shining stars from each decade. And because some of the recipes Dylan shares on his wildly popular social media channels are spectacular failures, he’s thrown in a few of the most disastrously strange recipes for you to try if you dare.

Disney Princess Cookbook by Cynthia Littlefield

A delightful cookbook fit for a princess–featuring kid-friendly recipes complemented by photographs and colorful illustrations! From Rapunzel’s Frying Pan Eggs to Ariel’s Sea Turtle Cupcakes, this beautiful cookbook is filled with delicious recipes inspired by the Princesses’ many adventures. With simple step-by-step instructions, mouth-watering photos of each dish, and helpful tips from the Princesses themselves, this cookbook makes it easy to whip up some kitchen magic!

The How-To Cookbook For Teens by Julee Morrison

Fire up your curiosity to try new foods and impress your family and friends. The How-To Cookbook for Teens will help you learn the basics of cooking and baking, while having fun creating incredible meals (and memories) from scratch. The recipes in this cookbook for teens begin with the fundamentals, then take your skills to the next level. Start with perfect scrambled eggs, and then work your way up to fancy egg dishes like omelets and Cheesy Breakfast Bacon Muffins. There’s nothing like eating and sharing food you made yourself.

Writing

Dear Ally, How Do You Write a Book? by Ally Carter

In this book consisting of real writing questions from real teens, in-depth answers in Ally’s voice, and occasional, brief answers from guest authors, Ally Carter gives teens the definitive how-to guide on writing their first novel. From getting started, to creating conflict, all the way through to a guide to the publishing industry, Ally covers it all.

Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine

In Writing Magic , Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine shares her secrets of great writing. She shows how you, too, can get terrific ideas for stories, invent great beginnings and endings, write sparkling dialogue, develop memorable characters—and much, much more. She advises you about what to do when you feel stuck—and how to use helpful criticism. Best of all, she offers writing exercises that will set your imagination on fire. With humor, honesty, and wisdom, Gail Carson Levine shows you that you, too, can make magic with your writing.

Crafting

Stray Sock Sewing by Marcus Lewis Daniel

Making one-of-a-kind creatures from Socks.

Lazy Crafternoon by Stella Fields

This how-to book shows readers how to create a large number of craft projects (alone or with friends) using basic crafting supplies.

String Art by the Editors of Klutz

String Art was originally invented to make math concepts more accessible to kids, but it isn’t just for squares (or triangles or circles) any more. With our crystal-clear, step-by-step illustrated system you only need to learn three simple techniques to make all the kids art in this book, including a fun fox, a darling dandelion, a cute cat, an awesome owl — you can even spell your name.
The final results may look intricate, but we include an only-from-Klutz pin-pushing tool so even a string-art newbie can create awesome art with this classic craft. And our pin-pusher solves string art’s prickliest problems by making sure that every pin goes in straight and at the same height. With instructions for 20 projects and enough materials for six, kids will be making amazing art in no time.

Drawing

Drawing Fantasy Chibi by Tessa Creative Art

Learn how to draw adorable, step-by-step anime- and manga-inspired mythical creatures, including chibi mermaids, unicorns, fairies, and more with this easy-to-follow how-to-draw book! Crack open your sketchbook, grab your pens and pencils, and get ready to turn your fantasy illustrations into kawaii (cute) and chibi (small) creatures. With step-by-step instructions and easy-to-follow tips and tricks, this instructional handbook will help you bring a new level of anime style to your sketches. Start with a few familiar fantasy creatures, like a unicorn, mermaid, and dragon, before learning how to transform ancient, lesser-known creatures like the basilisk, oni (Japanese demon), and kraken into adorable chibi versions. Whether you’re a beginner or a drawing pro, Drawing Fantasy Chibi makes this fun, anime-style drawing easy, with workbook-style pages that provide a space for readers to try their hand at practicing each drawing multiple times before they master it!

Drawing Chibi Food by Tessa Creative Art

Learn step-by-step tutorials on how to draw a variety of anime- and manga-style foods, including chibi bentos, tacos, pancakes, boba, and more! It’s time to take your drawing skills to the next level with Drawing Chibi Food! A comprehensive guide with easy-to-follow instructions and handy practice pages, this latest installment in the Drawing Chibi series will make you want to grab a delicious snack along with your sketchbook and begin drawing the most adorable versions of your favorite foods. Whether you’re a budding artist or a drawing master, Drawing Chibi Food makes sketching foods from all around the world in an adorable anime-style fun and easy!

Drawing Spooky Chibi by Tessa Creative Art

Step-by-step tutorials on how to draw a variety of anime- and manga-style chibi monsters, including vampires, zombies, ghosts, and other cute and scary monsters! Get your sketchbook ready—it’s time to take your drawing skills to the next level with Drawing Spooky Chibi! A comprehensive guide with easy-to-follow instructions and tips and handy practice pages, this latest installment in the Drawing Chibi series will have you oohing and awwing at a number of creepy creatures and malicious monsters,
Black Cats Scary Dolls Witches and Wizards Killer Clowns Frankenstein’s Monster Cthulhu And many more!
Whether you’re a budding artist or a drawing master, Drawing Spooky Chibi makes drawing your favorite creatures of the night in anime-style fun and easy!

Kawaii Doggies by Olive Yong

Learn to draw all kinds of cute dogs doing all sorts of silly things through 75 step-by-step tutorials. Whether you are “team dog” or “team cat,” dogs have idiosyncrasies that we all find entertaining! In Kawaii Doggies, the follow-up and perfect companion to Kawaii Kitties , popular Instagram artist Olive Yong (@bichimao) perfectly captures these moments, including playing, sleeping, eating, digging, chasing their tails, being good buddies, wearing cute costumes, and more, along with how to draw your favorite breeds and puppies.  In addition to the easy-to-follow tutorials, Olive
So, get ready to perfect your drawing skills, as well as be inspired to create your own dog characters or illustrate the daily activities of your favorite pet.

Kawaii Birdies by Jen Budrock

Welcome back to the world of kawaii, with this new drawing class of  Kawaii Birdies ! These birdies are so cute they can fit right in your palm. From their chubby bodies to the anatomy of their feathers to the beautiful colors of their plumage, there is so much to learn and love about the frequent fliers of our world. Thanks to Jen Budrock, bird conservationist and extraordinaire, this guide will teach you how to create little birds with big personalities on the page, and even give you some tips on what to do if you’re thinking about bringing a real birdie home.  Alongside a wide variety of birds spanning the old world and the new world, as well as domestic and wild species , this drawing class comes with a no holds barred on fun, as you’ll discover in the chapters  Bird Activities, Bird Shenanigans, and Bird Dress Up . Learn to draw the cutest birdies doing all types of silly activities,
Find fun and helpful tips for creating your own birds with this easy-to-follow, step-by-step drawing class that beginners will love and experts can add to their resumes. Even after you’ve done all the tutorials, the back of the book is loaded with a Bird Order Directory and unique Inspiration and Coloring pages so that you can continue creating kawaii birdies. More than your standard how-to drawing guide, Kawaii Birdies will turn you into a certified bird lover. Grab your favorite art utensil, and explore the world of birds on the page today!

Other

Build It! by Jennifer Kemmeter

With simple, step-by-step directions and a visually rich design, this unique series of instruction books for LEGO® creations helps young children learn and have fun simultaneously. The Build It! series of visually rich instruction books for LEGO® models is perfect for children ages 5 and up. Inside Volume 1 you’ll find a range of creative models to put together–from animals to airplanes, street scenes to seascapes and much more, created using the LEGO® Classic set 10693, or bricks you already have at home. Each book in this interactive series contains 3-5 projects featuring a diverse range of models. Full color diagrams guide you through the process, enhancing the fun. Build hours of family fun with the Build It! instruction book series. 

Hopefully these books help you find a new hobby or reinspire your love for a current hobby!