Mindfulness and Meditation by Whitney Stewart

“From hormones to homework, parents to peers, health issues to bad habits, life can be a pressure cooker leading to anxiety and even thoughts of suicide. How can we find relief? Author Whitney Stewart introduces readers to the practice of mindfulness. With its roots in ancient Buddhist teachings, mindfulness–the practice of purposefully focusing attention on the present moment–can change a person’s approach to stress, develop skills to handle anxiety and depression, and provide a sense of awareness and belonging. Stewart guides readers through how to get started with meditation as well as provides specific exercises for examining emotions, managing stress, checking social media habits and wellness routines, and setting intentions to increase happiness.”

-Provided by Publisher

Stop, Breathe, Chill: Meditations For A Less Stressful, More Awesome Life by Beth Stebner

“How are You Feeling Today? Stressed? Worried? Anxious? Stop. Breathe. Chill. These mindfulness exercises will teach you how to focus on the present and stop freaking out about the future. Each entry tackles the sort of stuff life throws at you every day. Whether it’s a situation with friends, issues with family, or the pressures of school, you’ll learn how to live in the moment and stop stressing out. It’s going to be okay. Armed with these meditation skills and mantras, worrying will be a thing of the past. Now take a breath, relax, and start feeling better about today!”

-Provided by Publisher

This Moment Is Your Life (And So Is This One): A Fun And Easy Guide To Mindfulness, Meditation, And Yoga by Mariam Gates

“This lively, hands-on guide to meditation, mindfulness, and yoga is a perfect introduction for tweens and teens. Don’t just do something, be here. The key to happiness is being able to find comfort in this moment, here and now. When you are completely present and not distracted by regrets, worries, and plans, even for a little while, you begin to feel more confident and can deal more easily with everything you experience. This is mindfulness: paying attention to this very moment, on purpose and without judgment–simply being present with curiosity. This engaging guide, packed with simple exercises and endearing full-color artwork, provides a handy starting point for bringing mindfulness into your daily life. Chapters on meditation, yoga, and mindful breathing explain the benefits of these practices, and you are free to pick and choose what to try. There are quick exercises throughout, and a more extensive tool kit at the end of each chapter. The final chapter offers satisfying five-day challenges that map out ways to pull all of the book’s mindfulness techniques together in your day-to-day life. With the appeal of a workbook or guided journal, and full of examples relevant to tweens and teens today, this book will be your trusted companion as you begin the valuable, stress-relieving work of being still with skill”

-Provided by Publisher

If you’ve already played all the video games you have, why not learn to code your own? Whether you’re making mods to existing games or starting from scratch, this creative hobby will keep you engaged.

Code A Minecraft Mod In Javascript Step By Step by Joshua Romphf

Minecraft is a global phenomenon, adored by millions of gamers, but what if Minecraft could teach vital computer literacy and programming skills? Simply put: It can. This engaging and informative resource is designed to guide coders on a journey to enjoy their favorite game while they learn the basics of JavaScript, which is one of the world’s most popular programming languages. Starting off with brainteasers and working up to real coding, these fun and exciting activities will teach everything needed to know how to write a brand new mod.

Visual C# Game Programming For Teens by Jonathan S. Harbour

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Your library offers books and information on all kinds of art! Whether you’re looking to learn the history of some of your favorite pieces or create some on your own, we’ve got you covered. 

History Of Art For Young People by H.W. Janson

A history of Western art features definitions of terms, sections on the history of music and theater, a chapter on postmodernism, and information on major artistic movements and artists.

The Complete Guide To Drawing Anime And Manga: A Comprehensive 13-Week “Art Course” With 65 Clear And Easy Daily Lessons by Date Naoto

The Complete Guide to Drawing Manga & Anime offers a structured 13-week lesson plan that is typically found in professional drawing classes. With 65 detailed lessons arranged into 13 weekly topics, it’s simple to learn the essentials and then progress to higher levels. You can create your own personalized learning experience as the structured lessons can be followed in sequence on a strict daily schedule or as an easy learn-at-your-own-pace course. With a hybrid focus this book offers skills for both digital and traditional artists learning to create manga and anime.

Have you already completed all your summer reading? Why not try writing a book yourself? These guides will help you get started on your very own novel. Maybe one day, the library will have a copy in the local author’s collection! 

Just Write: Here’s How by Walter Dean Myers

An award-winning author guides readers through the writing process, and includes examples from his own works, outlines for writing fiction and nonfiction, and excerpted pages from the author’s writing notebooks.

Neon Words: 10 Brilliant Ways To Light Up Your Writing by Marge Pellegrino

Neon Words is a book that will illuminate the writer in you. By using the tools and activities here, you’ll connect the word-organizing part of your brain with your free-ranging imagination—and you’ll love what you’ve captured on the page! It’s an exciting, confidence-boosting, and deeply satisfying experience. Whether you want to be a writer, or just want to explore what it’s like to create with language, you’ll discover that playing with words can help you be more present in your life and, best of all, it’s lots of fun. Who knew writing could be so enlightening?

If you’ve spent the summer watching cooking TV shows, why not try cooking on your own? This is a great life skill to have, as well as a super fun hobby to enjoy!

Teen Chef Cooks: 80 Scrumptious, Family-Friendly Recipes by Eliana de Las Casas

The How-To Cookbook For Teens: 100 Easy Recipes To Learn The Basic by Julee Morrison

“Fire up your curiosity to try new foods and impress your family and friends. [This book] will help you learn the basics of cooking and baking while having fun and creating incredible meals (and memories) from scratch. The recipes begin with the fundamentals, then take your skills to the next level. Start with the perfect scrambled eggs and 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.”

-Back Cover

Reconnect with the outdoors! Whether you’re going out during the day or at night, nature has something to offer you. Some hobbies you can try out while you’re out there include hiking, bird-watching, and camping!

The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide by Creek Stewart

Wild Nights Out: The Magic Of Exploring The Outdoors After Dark by Chris Salisbury

“Take a walk into the wild darkness. Learn how to call for owls, walk like a fox and expand your sensory perceptions. Wild Nights Out is a hands-on guide for those who wish to take kids (of all ages) outdoors for an adventurous, fun, even slightly scary nighttime nature experience. Parents, grandparents, teachers and nature educators alike will find here a wealth of unique activities to explore the natural world from dusk till dawn. Alongside games, walks and sensory experiences, talented storyteller Chris Salisbury will bring this forgotten dimension to life with some wild narratives about nocturnal creatures, as well as heavenly tales of constellations and planets, to share around the campfire. Nature offers so much after the sun has set. Allow Chris to become your guide to the night’s enchantments and not only will this instill a lifelong love of the dark, it will also boost the resilience and self-confidence of children and adults alike. The fun doesn’t have to stop just because it got dark…!

-Provided by Publisher

You might be seeing a lot of news about comic-con this summer, but did you know you can make a cosplay by yourself? Bonus: the Waldorf West Library has sewing machines that are free to use in the library!

The Hero’s Closet: Sewing For Cosplay And Costuming by Gillian Conahan

Cosplay Basics: A Beginner’s Guide To The Art Of Costume Play by Yuki Takaso

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Lastly, if you’re looking for a fulfilling hobby, try volunteering! This is an excellent way to engage with your community and a helpful way to spend your free time. 

Volunteering: Insights And Tips For Teenagers by Jean Rawitt

Teen Guide to Volunteering by Stuart A. Kallen

“One of those benefits is that volunteers make peoples’ lives better. And a second benefit is self-directed: people who help others help themselves. Volunteers feel personal satisfaction when they see how their efforts are making the world a better place. This is a powerful tool for reducing stress, combating depression, and providing a sense of purpose. Volunteer work can be challenging but those who tackle problems or aid strangers meet like-minded people of all ages from a wide variety of backgrounds. This reduces feelings of loneliness. It can also help you widen your social circle beyond you immediate family while forming bonds that last a lifetime.”

-Provided by Publisher