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 16, 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 draw epic fantasy art
Beaumont, Steve
Paper Book
Epic fantasy art is all the rage now, and what better way to engage fans than by enabling them to draw their favorite characters on their own? This book offers readers of all skill levels detailed instructions on how to draw their favorite epic worlds. Readers learn specific techniques such as...
Your Money and the World : How to Spend, Save, Donate and Invest Sustainably
Lacolomb, Naiade
Paper Book
Winner of the SKBI Prize for Sustainable Finance Literacy as part of the Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (MAIA). Nominated for the De Rives en Pages Environmental Literature Award. A sustainable investment expert helps young readers understand how money works-...
How to create animation in 10 easy lessons
Bishop-Stephens, Will
Paper Book
Learn 10 key skills to create your own 2-D and 3-D animations! In this new addition to the Super Skills series, children will master animation in 10 easy lessons! A professional animator teaches children 10 key skills to start creating their own 2-D and 3-D animations. ...
How to Be a Super Awesome Artist: 20 Art Projects Inspired by the Masters
Carroll, Henry
Paper Book
Take inspiration from some of the world's greatest creators and become a SUPER AWESOME ARTIST! With real works of art to spark your creativity, this great book features 20 art challenges for you to try, as well as helpful 'know-how' features on how to shade with pencils, get creative with collage,...
How to bake a universe
Carvlin, Alec
Paper Book
This whimsical and informed debut picture book takes a leaf from a cookbook to show readers how the universe came into being. 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...
How to play chess
Paper Book
Learn chess the fun way and add firepower to your chess strategies with this beginner's guide to the world's most popular game of skill.  From the opening move to checkmate, How to Play Chess is an easy-to-follow guide to achieve grandmaster greatness....
How not to kill your plant
Garguláková, Magda
Paper Book
A comprehensive guidebook for kids on proper houseplant care, featuring bold illustrations and engaging infographics.  Houseplants can add a touch of green to any living space, and caring for them can be a relaxing and rewarding hobby. For kids interested in learning more about plant...
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...
Killer underwear invasion! : how to spot fake news, disinformation & conspiracy theories
Gravel, Elise
Paper Book
Can peanuts give you super strength? Were unicorns discovered on the moon? Did Martians really invade New Jersey? For anyone who has ever encountered outrageous stories like these and wondered whether they were true, this funny, yet informative book breaks down what fake news is, why people...
How to pray : a guide for young explorers
Greig, Pete
Paper Book
Encourage your kids to develop life-changing prayer habits with this ECPA Book of the Year!It's never too early to instill a passion for prayer in your child. Pete Greig is a worldwide authority and the face of a generation when it comes to prayer. While you might expect him to be lofty and...
How to build a hug : Temple Grandin and her amazing squeeze machine
Guglielmo, Amy
Paper Book
Amy Guglielmo, Jacqueline Tourville, and Giselle Potter come together to tell the inspiring story of autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin and her brilliant invention: the hug machine. As a young girl, Temple Grandin loved folding paper kites, making obstacle courses, and building...
How to bird
Hamid, Rasha
Paper Book
Birding for everyone, everywhere. Birding is a joyful, wonder-filled activity that anyone can do. Featuring the skyline and natural spaces of New York City, How to Bird invites children to explore birdwatching, with each page featuring a new birding strategy. A growing...
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 be a color wizard : forage and experiment with natural art making
Logan, Jason
Paper Book
In a bountiful book combining art and chemistry, a celebrated ink maker invites kids to become color wizards--by foraging and transforming natural materials to make their own paint and artistic creations. In this book you will find secret recipes, magic formulas, and wild...
How to speak cat : a guide to decoding cat language
Newman, Aline Alexander
Paper Book
We know cats are beautiful, secretive, and independent ... but even the most loyal cat owners are often baffled by their own pet's behavior. With veterinarian expert Dr. Gary Weitzman as guide, this fun book helps kids understand what cats are trying to communicate by their body language and...
How to be a person
Newman, Catherine
Paper Book
For the kid who leaves a wet towel wadded up on the floor or forgets to put a new roll on the toilet-paper thingy, witty parenting writer and etiquette columnist Catherine Newman provides the ultimate guidebook of essential life skills for kids.  Jam-packed...
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...
Forest Magic for Kids: How to Find Fairies, Make a Secret Fort, and Cook Up an Elfin Picnic
Spikol, Susie
Paper Book
Your enchanted guide to 50+ magical activities for everything from finding hidden flower fairies in your own backyard and making a special wizard staff to creating a tiny woodland village and making your own forest potions. Come discover the wild magic tucked into the...
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...

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