From D&D Games to Drawing: The Best Books for Tweens and Teens To Explore New Hobbies

Kids love making sweet treats in the kitchen, and this kid-friendly cookbook gives young chefs 80 dessert recipes to try! Tweens and teens can complete each recipe independently in under an hour. It’s the perfect screen-free hobby for after school or on the weekends.

When your teen is ready to move to the next level, give them this cookbook geared toward young chefs. From simple breakfast sandwiches to complex main dishes, this book has easy-to-follow recipes for beginners and more experienced cooks alike.

If your tween or teen loves calming hobbies they can do while bingeing their favorite Netflix show, give them this coloring book of wildflowers. Colorists will find several magical flowers sprinkled throughout the designs featuring florals, bees, and birds.

Tweens who love cute, cozy, and comforting things will eagerly tackle this adorable coloring book from Coco Wyo. The kawaii-style illustrations and positive messages in each design make this an ideal coloring book for tweens and teens wanting a relaxing hobby.

Tweens and teens who want to learn how to draw unique, eye-popping artwork will love this step-by-step instructional book. Jonathan Stephen Harris guides young artists through 40 tutorials, offering tips and tricks for achieving the best results. If your artist wants to learn to draw 3-D images, optical illusions, or anamorphic illustrations, give them this book!

Tap into your creative side with this workbook from the queen of coloring books: Johanna Basford! With coloring pages, drawing guides, doodle prompts, and patterns to finish, budding artists will find plenty of creative inspiration in this book.

This instructional book teaches kids how to use simple shapes and lines to draw almost anything. From ballet shoes and butterflies to pickup trucks and dogs, this book contains oodles of step-by-step tutorials. Young artists will love the simple instructions and fun ideas!

This workshop-in-a-book is an excellent resource for teenage artists who want to dive into calligraphy. The convenient spiral binding allows the book to lie flat as they learn various hand-lettering styles, practice lettering drills, work on flourishes and illustrations, and complete hand-lettering projects.

Tweens will love improving their handwriting and exploring the possibilities of hand-lettering with this workbook. They’ll learn uppercase and lowercase letters in different styles, how to connect letters, add flourishes, and express themselves. This book is perfect for tweens who love making cards, journaling, and crafting!

Young watercolor artists will love the leveled lessons in this instructional book. Starting with simple projects like clouds and wild poppies, the lessons progress to intermediate and advanced projects like sunsets and songbirds. It’s an excellent resource for artists looking to relax and improve their watercolor skills.

Knitting is extremely popular among teens, and this book teaches them everything they need to get started. They’ll learn about yarns, stitches, and techniques, as well as tips and tricks for making their favorite projects. If your teen has been eyeing the yarn at the craft store, this book is a must-have.

Have a budding photographer on your hands? They’ll love this guide that explores the basics of photography, complete with tutorials, equipment recommendations, and techniques. Whether your tween or teen is using a digital camera or a mobile phone, this book is an invaluable resource!

If your tween or teen wants to learn how to sew, this book offers several beginner-friendly projects. From super simple items like pin cushions and pillows to more complex projects like wall organizers and backpacks, it offers something for every skill level.

Master the game of chess with this comprehensive how-to guide for beginners and intermediate players! Learn International Master Levy Rozman’s best strategies and easy-to-follow tips to improve your game.

Break the ice and start conversations with your teen with the help of this hilarious game book. With over 160 funny and thought-provoking questions geared towards teens, this book is an excellent choice for family game nights, sleepovers, birthdays, and campouts.

Fill in the blanks and then laugh out loud as your tween reads the zany and bizarre stories you’ve invented! This Mad Libs book features 21 road trip-themed stories that will keep kids entertained for hours. It’s the perfect screen-free way to pass the time during your next vacation.

Kids who love video games will have a blast making their own! With this book, kids will learn to use the popular programming language Scratch to create games and customize them. It’s perfect for beginners of all ages!

Tweens and teens who want to master essential coding skills will find everything they need in this book. They will learn the basics of the most popular programming languages, including Scratch, JavaScript, Python, and HTML. With bite-sized steps and plenty of guidance, this book will have teens coding their own program in no time.

Kids obsessed with computers will love traveling through history with this fascinating nonfiction book. It takes readers through the many iterations of the computer, from the earliest counting machines to artificial intelligence. Fun facts, discussion starters, and spotlights on their inventors make it a must-have for every computer enthusiast.

Help your tween or teen tap into the power of gratitude with this guided journal from the bestselling author of Tomorrow I’ll Be Kind and Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave. Heartfelt anecdotes from the author, inspirational quotes, and plenty of space to write and reflect make this an ideal journal for young people.

Instagram lovers will enjoy this unique journal from viral balloon artist Michael James Schneider. Inside, journalers will find writing prompts, thought-provoking questions, quotes, and coloring pages to get their creative juices flowing.

Kids who want to explore their emotions and reduce stress will appreciate this journal filled with writing prompts, craft ideas, and meditations. As kids work through the book, they’ll learn more about themselves and how to manage the big feelings they experience.

If your kid loves writing stories, this book of creative writing prompts will give them a boost. It’s filled with story starters and questions to get their imagination fired up and ready to write.

Teens can create a time capsule of their most memorable moments by filling out this 3-year journal. With one-sentence prompts about everything from what makes them laugh to music preferences, teens will write down what makes them unique.

Minecrafters interested in simple projects will love this book of bite-sized builds. Along with building tips, tricks, and challenges, kids will learn how to create items like a magic mirror and a spellbook shop. It’s perfect for beginners!

If your teen loves the socialization, creativity, and escapism that role-playing games (RPGs) offer, they’ll enjoy this X-Men expansion book. With new character profiles, powers, adventure hooks, and tools to create your own mutant, this book is a must-have for Marvel fans.

Feed your teen’s World of Warcraft obsession with this book about the universe’s history. With legends and stories, paintings and maps, this book offers fans an immersive exploration of the Warcraft universe.

Teens can plan their next Dungeons & Dragons quest and liven up their storylines with this campaign journal. With templates, prompts, worksheets, and a pocket for keeping extra papers organized, this book is an ideal gift for any Dungeon Master.