Children's Book Suggestions | How To...

A selection of nonfiction "how to" books to match our 2025 Summer Reading theme, Level Up At Your Library! For more how to books, you can browse the online catalog or explore our nonfiction section, especially:

  • 001.5 | Coding
  • 507.8 | Science Experiments
  • 641.5 | Cooking & Baking
  • 736 | Origami
  • 745.5 | Crafts
  • 790s | Games (Including board games, video games, and sports)
Updated April 17, 2025
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
How to make a book (about my dog)
Barton, Chris
Paper Book
How do you make a picture book? Well, you need an author, an illustrator, and . . . a dog?! Acclaimed author Chris Barton and his trusty pooch Ernie show readers how to make a nonfiction picture book . . . about Ernie! From coming up with ideas, researching, and writing a first draft to...
How to bake a universe
Carvlin, Alec
Paper Book
To bake a universe, you'll need a heaping pile of nothing. That's right, not a single thing! Just make sure you have enough . . . Alec Carvlin breaks down the Big Bang into the steps of a recipe, from the formation of quarks and atoms (preheat your oven to Absolute Hot) to the...
How to build an insect
Gibson, Roberta Lynn
Paper Book
See what the buzz is about in this fresh, fun look at insect anatomy. Let's build an insect! In the pages of this book, you'll find a workshop filled with everything you need, including a head, a thorax, an abdomen, and much more. Written by entomologist Roberta Gibson and...
So embarrassing : awkward moments and how to get through them
Harper, Charise Mericle
Paper Book
A graphic novel that makes embarrassment into something hilarious - and normal.   You're not alone! No way are you the first kid who ever tripped and fell in public. Or spilled water on your pants so it looked like... you know! For those moments and more, here's...
How to draw cute stuff
Nguyen, Angela
Paper Book
Enter Planet Cute--where kids can make any drawing absolutely adorable! Draw anything and everything--people, animals, and things--and make it CUTE. It's easy! Budding artists just have to pick up their pencils, pens, crayons, or gel markers and follow these step-by...
How to be a coder
Prottsman, Kiki
Paper Book
Learn to think like a coder without a computer! Each of the fun craft activities included in this book will teach you about a key concept of computer programming and can be done completely offline. Then you can put your skills into practice by trying out the simple...
How to explain robotics to a grown-up
Spiro, Ruth
Paper Book
The best-selling author of the Baby Loves Science series levels up with this playful STEM picture book introducing kids-and grown-ups-to the robotics world. Do you want to know a secret? Sometimes grown-ups need YOU to explain things to THEM. Like robotics! In this...
How to eat in space
Taylor, Helen Springhetti
Paper Book
A kid-friendly, accessible, and humorous picture book about the sometimes complicated task of eating while in outer space--spoiler: it's not as simple as it seems! Without a kitchen, plates, or cups, eating in space isn't easy. When food floats (and so do you),...
How to build a human : in seven evolutionary steps
Turner, Pamela S.
Paper Book
The epic story of our evolution in seven big steps! How did we become who we are? With trademark wit, acclaimed science writer Pamela S. Turner breaks down human evolution into the seven most important steps leading to Homo sapiens. How, when, and why did we- ...
How to be a fashion designer
Ware, Lesley
Paper Book
"Highly recommended for any aspiring fashionistas." - School Library Journal Design, style, and accessorize clothes with this fun guide full of practical fashion design ideas for kids! Draw and color creations, choose materials, and learn to design...
The clock problem : how to tell time
Wise, Bill
Paper Book
A CBC Book's August Hot Off the Press title! "Speech bubbles provide a challenging vehicle for lengthy explanations about the positioning of clock hands, but Wise otherwise keeps the countdown moving with wordplay-filled banter. Against pale-colored backdrops, Lynch's panels amplify the...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.