Learn to Do Something New with Nonfiction

47 Things You Can Do for the Environment 47 Things You Can Do for the Environment / Lexi Petronis, with environmental consultant Jill Buck

 Sure, we all know the planet is in trouble. We hear talk all the time about climate change, air pollution from cars, oil spills into oceans, trash overflowing into waterways, and toxic chemicals leaking into our groundwater. Sigh. But the good news is there's a lot we can do to start cleaning up the Earth. And it starts with you! This book explores tons of small (and big) things that teens can do to make a positive difference in the environment such as: go on a green date with a new crush eat less meat learn to shop vintage create an environmental task force at school go on an eco-adventure and more!

The art of LEGO design : creative ways to build amazing models The art of LEGO design : creative ways to build amazing models / Jordan Schwartz

The most impressive LEGO models often take careful planning (and lots of pieces), but with some inspiration, a little imagination, and a number of tried-and-true techniques, you too can turn bricks into a masterpiece.  

Babysitting Basics: Caring for Kids Babysitting Basics: Caring for Kids / Leah Browning

Yeah! Babysitters here -- Keeping kids safe -- Entertaining everyone -- Time to eat -- Washing up -- It's potty time -- Curing the crying -- Misbehavior -- Putting kids to bed -- Checklist

Babysitting Skills: Traits and Training for Success Babysitting Skills: Traits and Training for Success / Wendy Ann Mattox

A guide for pre-teens and teens on the skills needed to babysit.

Cool Beaded Jewelry Cool Beaded Jewelry / Pam Scheunemann

background information, clear contents, step-by-step instructions for each process or activity presented, and excellent-quality full-color photos. The safety section encourages adult supervision when needed and provides tips for each project component or ingredient. Jewelry has an extensive section on bead history, sizes, shapes, types, and metal findings (clasps, etc.). Projects include a memory wire bracelet, a beaded necklace and bracelet, daisy chain necklace, and beaded rings. Clay explores polymer-clay conditioning, color mixing, millefiori, and bead making. It also includes clear directions for making a pen, a picture frame, and decorating a purchased clay pot.

Cool Cake and Cupcake Food Art: Easy Recipes that Make Food Fun to Eat! Cool Cake and Cupcake Food Art: Easy Recipes that Make Food Fun to Eat! / Nancy Tuminelly

Provides step-by-step instructions for creating cake and cupcake food art, such as a flower garden cake, a portly panda, and a hole in one cupcake; and includes tips on techniques.

Crazy-cool duct tape projects: fun and funky projects for fashion and flair Crazy-cool duct tape projects: fun and funky projects for fashion and flair / Marisa Pawelko

Marisa shares 24 of her best DIY Duct tape ideas, with step-by-step instructions and how-to pictures. You'll learn how to make fashionable wearables like gloves, leg warmers, a kilt and a halter top. You'll also find crafty ideas for functional items like a vase or night light. Projects cover a variety of skill levels, so you'll get plenty of creative inspiration whether you're just a beginner or an experienced Duct tape aficionado. 

Dazzling duct tape designs : fashionable accessories, adorable decor, and many more creative crafts you make at home Dazzling duct tape designs : fashionable accessories, adorable decor, and many more creative crafts you make at home / Tamara Boykins

Provides step-by-step instructions for creating such duct tape projects as bracelets, headbands, bookmarks, key chains, and banners. With eye-popping colors and exciting designs, duct tape is the most versatile and fun crafting material around. Just fold, cut and stick to make these amazing projects. 

Discover Beading Discover Beading / compiled by Lesley Weiss

All projects have appeared previously in BeadStyle magazine, except for Classic Knotted Pearls and Easy Macramé Necklace.

Drawing Words and Writing Pictures: Making Comics: Manga, Graphic Novels, and Beyond Drawing Words and Writing Pictures: Making Comics: Manga, Graphic Novels, and Beyond / Jessica Abel and Matt Madden

The passion for comics is surging worldwide, what with the popularity of manga and graphic novels and memoirs. Abel makes learning the art of comics fun and exciting in this exceptionally well designed and friendly how-to. Present on the page as comic figures, Abel and Madden present expertly configured sequences of skill-building exercises and assignments, and encourage both novices whose drawing skills may be minimal but whose story ideas are compelling, and those adept at visual art but shaky on narrative. Numerous examples of comics rendered in a broad spectrum of styles and perspectives, and exploring a wide array of subjects and genres, accompany and reinforce detailed instructions. Lively, sophisticated, and comprehensive, Abel and Madden's course in visual storytelling covers every narrative and graphic element, from drawing figures and character development to panel transitions, composition, lettering, depicting action, and penciling and inking techniques.

Fabulous Teen Hairstyles Fabulous Teen Hairstyles / Eric Mayost

 Whether prom is coming up, or a wedding, or a fancy party or even if you're just sick of ponytail days this how-to guide from Mayost, a styling pro, offers 34 ways to reinvent tired tresses. But before you get started, you'll need a few basic items, listed at the front of the book: hair spray, a blow-dryer, bobby pins ( the last thing you want to do is run out of bobby pins ), and so on. On the menu are styles with fun names like Fantastically Flirty, which involves a bow; Cinnamon Bun Sweetie; and Knotty & Nice. Each is accompanied by numbered step-by-step instructions that correspond to numbered full-color photos, plus a snapshot of the finished look. These are not simple styles, so prepare for some trial and error; each has 14 to 15 steps, and all will require an extra set of hands. 

The Fashion Book The Fashion Book / Alexandra Black

 A sassy style guide for teenage girls shares insight into the fashion world and how to personalize one's appearance for best results, chronicling fashion trends throughout history while sharing practical tips from top designers and models.

The Green Teen Cookbook: Recipes for All Seasons, Written by Teens, for Teens The Green Teen Cookbook: Recipes for All Seasons, Written by Teens, for Teens / edited by Laurane Marchive & Pam McElroy

A cookbook for beginners and for all those interested in pursuing an eco-friendly lifestyle, includes one hundred favorite recipes and tips for eating on a budget in a healthy and environmentally friendly way. 

Holy Spokes! A Biking Bible for Everyone Holy Spokes! A Biking Bible for Everyone / Rob Coppolillo

A journalist and biking enthusiast offers a practical guide to cycling and bike racing. One useful chapter analyzes types of bikes used for racing, transportation, and recreation, while another considers ways of purchasing bicycles, fitting them to the rider, and maintaining them. The brief chapter on cycling history praises Lance Armstrong's achievements and contributions. It notes the formal doping charges filed against him in June, 2012, but not the subsequent results, which presumably happened after the book went to press. Coppolillo discusses environmental and safety aspects of riding bicycles, as well as the experiences of racing and adventure cycling. Appearing at intervals, articles by a bike maker, a seller, a rider, and a racer add other informed, experienced voices to the presentation. Line drawings illustrate the text as needed, especially in the chapter on types of bikes. Clearly written and packed with useful information, this handbook will be helpful to novices and more experienced riders alike. (Booklist)

How to Cook How to Cook / consultant, Maggie Mayhew

 How to Cook gives teens the know-how and confidence to cook their own meals. Includes 100 easy-to-follow recipes and fascinating information on ingredients, origins, seasonality, healthy eating, and insights into food.

How to Feel Good: 20 Things Teens Can Do How to Feel Good: 20 Things Teens Can Do / Tricia Mangan

Sometimes, it can be really hard to feel good about yourself and your abilities. As a teen, new relationships and experiences are happening all around you, and can make you feel overwhelmed and stressed. Being confident and secure can seems miles away. How to Feel Good is here to help you slow down and pay attention to your emotions and feelings. This book provides interactive exercises and questions to help you recognize and understand why you feel the way you do and to change hurtful thought patterns and habits. With these 20 simple, feel-good steps you can use this book to learn how to feel confident and happy with yourself - so that feeling good can be just a simple step away!

Inkblot: drip, splat, and squish your way to creativity Inkblot: drip, splat, and squish your way to creativity / Margaret Peot

Teaches how to change inkblots into works of art and to use them as keys to creativity.

Junk Box Jewelry: 25 DIY Low Cost (or No Cost) Jewelry Projects Junk Box Jewelry: 25 DIY Low Cost (or No Cost) Jewelry Projects / Sarah Drew

Diamonds may be forever, but forever gets old sometimes--and whether you want to wear something cool or something classic, Junk-Box Jewelry has an easy, fun, and affordable answer. This do-it-yourself guide has the ability to make any teen crafty, and the wide range of project ideas ensures that once you get started it won't be long before you'll have a huge collection of unique, eco-friendly jewelry that you can wear, give as gifts, or even sell. Learn how to make pendants out of pebbles, sew a stylish cuff using scraps of fabric, and fashion a funky charm bracelet out of extra screws, for both beginner- and intermediate-level craftsters, and the book also provides stunning color illustrations, along with bonus tips on the tools you need to get started, and where to find materials. Happy junking!

The kids' guide to duct tape projects The kids' guide to duct tape projects / Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt

Duct tape isn't just for fixing things anymore! Wallets, phone covers, board games if you can imagine it, you can make it with duct tape. Get step by step instructions on how to make these projects and many more! 

Learn to program with Scratch: a visual introduction to programming with games, art, science, and math Learn to program with Scratch: a visual introduction to programming with games, art, science, and math / Majed Marji

 Introduces programming to beginners using Scratch, a programming environment where users connect blocks of code to build programs.

The LEGO Mindstorms EV3 discovery book: a beginner's guide to building and programming robots The LEGO Mindstorms EV3 discovery book: a beginner's guide to building and programming robots

This guide will give you basic information and instructions on how to build and a program a simple robot. 

Manga for the beginner: everything you need to know to get started right away! Manga for the beginner: everything you need to know to get started right away! / Christopher Hart

This guide for the aspiring manga artist uses a step-by-step format to take you through the entire drawing process, from basic head and figure work to dynamic action poses, fashion, special effects, lighting and shading, perspective, and popular manga types and characters. 

Penny chic: how to be stylish on a real girl's budget Penny chic: how to be stylish on a real girl's budget / Shauna Miller

A style guide for teen girls by the creator of the popular PennyChic.com blog explains how to discover one's personal style, shares budget-conscious tips for do-it-yourself projects and explains how to get the most out of shopping at mainstream economy stores. 

Rip the Page! Adventures in Creative Writing Rip the Page! Adventures in Creative Writing / Karen Benke

This is the everything-you-need guide to spark new poems and unstick old stories, with zany prompts to leap from ; dares and double dares to help you mash up truths and lies into outrageous paragraphs ; letters of encouragement written directly to you from famous authors. This is your journal for inward-bound adventures -- use it to write, brainstorm, explore, imagine -- and even rip!

Seize the Story: A Handbook for Teens Who Like to Write Seize the Story: A Handbook for Teens Who Like to Write / Victoria Hanley

Supplemented by interviews with successful authors of teen literature--including T. A. Barron, Jona Bauer, Chris Crutcher, and Lauren Myracle, among others--this book presents all the elements of fiction, from creating believable dialogue to executing an exciting plot, through real story excerpts. Packed with tips, tricks, and writing exercises from an award-winning author of teen fiction, the guide encourages teen writers to write creatively and explore all the elements and responsibilities of fiction. With the book's goal of building competent, satisfied young authors, young people are emboldened to write the stories that are theirs alone to tell.

Seventeen ultimate guide to beauty : the best hair, skin, nails & makeup ideas for you Seventeen ultimate guide to beauty : the best hair, skin, nails & makeup ideas for you / Ann Shoket

This handbook will help you to celebrate your natural beauty. It's packed with clear, customized information that helps make the most of your skin tone, face shape, hair texture, and style! 

Seventeen ultimate guide to style : how to find your perfect look Seventeen ultimate guide to style : how to find your perfect look / Ann Shoket

This guidebook all about teaching young women to cultivate their own unique style. The book draws advice from the magazine's editors, real-girl style experts, Hollywood stylists, and celebrity fashion icons. Its chapters explore seven timeless fashion vibes: Classic, Edgy, Girly, Glam, Sporty, Artsy, and Boho. Each section breaks down all a girl needs to know about mastering the look and giving it her personal twist. Throughout its beautifully illustrated pages, the book also provides young women with endless ideas to maximize their wardrobe, stretch their dollar, and make everyday basics work in hundreds of ways. This book is an indispensable resource for young fashionistas everywhere. 

Stan Lee's how to draw superheroes. Stan Lee's how to draw superheroes. / Stan Lee

Demonstrates how to draw superhero characters in the style of Marvel favorites, demystifying specific tools and techniques while sharing advice for also creating villains, sidekicks, and monsters. 

Steampunk-Style Jewelry: Victorian, Fantasy, and Mechanical Designs, Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings Steampunk-Style Jewelry: Victorian, Fantasy, and Mechanical Designs, Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings / Jean Campbell

"This how-to jewelry-making book features the work of an array of invited jewelry designers influenced by the growing Steampunk trend. In Steampunk circles, jewelry-makers are often master metalsmiths who combine found objects with fine metals to create elaborate pieces. In Steampunk-Style Jewelry, the projects focus on "no fire" techniques--like simple stringing, wirework, hammering, stamping, gluing, stitching, and off-loom beadwork--so that even a beginner can create pieces in the style" --Publisher description.

Stick it!: 99 D.I.Y. duct tape projects Stick it!: 99 D.I.Y. duct tape projects / T.L. Bonaddio

 Dream designer material or simple adhesive used for binding purposes? Thanks to Stick It!, duct tape will become a valuable commodity in your house now that it can be coaxed into wacked-out wallets, wild wearables, punked-out paper goods, and funky jewelry that will bedazzle any outfit fit for all occasions! This invaluable guide--complete with folders and step-by-step directions--will lead you through 99 different craft projects so you'll become your own "DT" aficionado. 

Trash to treasure : a kid's upcycling guide to crafts : fun, easy projects with paper, plastic, glass & ceramics, fabric, metal, and odds & ends Trash to treasure : a kid's upcycling guide to crafts : fun, easy projects with paper, plastic, glass & ceramics, fabric, metal, and odds & ends / Pam Scheunemann

With easy step-by-step instructions, this book will help you get creative while recycling and repurposing your trash into handmade treasures. All projects feature common everyday items to reuse in a fun new way. From bottle-top pop art to felted tin-can organizers, you will love making useful crafts and helping the environment. Great tips and advice on reusing, garage sales, and spotting treasures are also provided. So start your upcycling with these fabric, paper, metal, glass & ceramics, and odds & ends projects. This book includes visual supply & tool lists, step-by-step instructions and photos, fun advice & tips, and safety information. 

Write Your Own Article: Newspaper, Magazine, Online Write Your Own Article: Newspaper, Magazine, Online / Sara Gilbert

This book will help you learn how to find ideas and then find supporting evidence to write clearly about those ideas. It contains brainstorming and training activities to sharpen your writing skills. Tips and advice from news writers and examples from their own work will also help you.

Zombie Cupcakes Zombie Cupcakes / Zilly Rosen

"'Zombie Cupcakes' is a collection of some of the most original decorated cupcakes seen in this world or the next. Cooked up in the darkest of graveyards, it presents a ghoulish army of delicious creations that appear anything but sugar-coated..."--P. [4] of cover.