Crafts & Hobbies - Exodus Books

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These days, the word "hobby" evokes a sense of blase interest. Children have hobbies; bored housewives might have a hobby or two; the rest of us can scarcely be bothered. The original connotation was much different, however—a person's hobby was their avocation, not a primary sense of income, but certainly the focus of passion and interest.

To put it in perspective: Rene Descartes was a mathemetician by trade, but his hobby or avocation was philosophy. Not everyone with a hobby is going to change the course of Western civilization, but the point is that Descartes' hobby wasn't a mere back-drawer doodad he pulled out when he was bored and lonely, it was a motivating force in his life.

We're not suggesting hobbies need to take over your life, like robots in some creepy sci-fi movie. Just the opposite, in fact—hobbies should keep us from surrendering to the doldrums of existence, make us excited, provide an opportunity to exercise our creative talents and explore our interests. They shouldn't be simply a way to pass the time, because that's just another name for boredom.

At the same time, making your hobbies (whether they include cooking, weaving, woodworking, book-binding, or origami) the focus of all your attention is just as harmful. If you find yourself only working to fuel your interests, your hobbies (however harmless they were to begin with) have become your idols and you need to put them aside and learn to prioritize. Still, you need to have interests outside of work, and they need to be cultivated and not just casually dabbled in from time to time.

Why do we take hobbies so seriously? Because what we spend our free time doing reveals a great deal about who we are. If your primary activity when you aren't at work or cleaning the house or whatever is buying clothes, then clothes are what's important to you. The same is true for playing video games, watching reality TV, and bare-knuckle boxing.

It's important to choose hobbies that are constructive. As Christians, we're to do everything to the glory of God, and while some activities done in moderation might be fun, doing them all the time is more a sign of selfish addiction than simple enjoyment. Hobbies should be relaxing, of course, but they should be good for something, and good for other people.

The books you'll find below won't tell you what your hobby should be. They will, however, help you develop the skills related to certain hobbies so you can pursue them to the best of your ability. In a world that excuses lack of excellence and even defends poor quality, we need to work even harder to do our best, whether in our vocations or our avocations.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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Parent Categories

Just for Fun

Crafts & Hobbies

Subcategories

Brain Teasers & Puzzlers

Hiking & Outdoor Adventures

Kids Can! Series

Optical Illusions and Magic Tricks

Paper Crafts & Origami

- Paper Cut-Out Models

Sewing, Knitting & Crocheting

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3rd grade (Ages 8-9)

	American Boy's Book of Sports and Games from Lyons Press for 3rd-8th grade in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Anna's Garden Songs by Lena Anderson from Scholastic Reference for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Belle & Boo Book of Crafts 25 enchanting projects to make for children by Mandy Sutcliffe; photography by from Roost Books for 3rd-6th grade in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Bible Puzzles to Solve by Keith and Rosanna Heatwole from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc. for 3rd-6th grade in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Big Book of Geometric Designs and Illusions to Color 4 books in 1 by Koichi Sato, Spyros Horemis illustrated edition from Dover Publications for 2nd-Adult in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS) $7.95
	Botanical Gardens - Coloring Book Dover Coloring Books by Dot Barlowe from Dover Publications for 2nd-6th grade in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT) $4.99
	Boys' Book of Model Railroading by Raymond F. Yates from Harper & Brothers for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Bumper Book of Nature A User's Guide to the Great Outdoors by Stephen Moss 1^st edition from Crown Trade Paperbacks for 1st-Adult in Hiking & Outdoor Adventures (Location: NAT-HIKE)
	Carving for Kids by Robin Trudel for 2nd-6th grade in Carpentry for Kids (Location: SS-CARP) $8.50 (1 in stock)
	Cat's Cradle A Book of String Figures by Anne Akers Johnson from Klutz for 3rd-6th grade in Games & Toys (Location: FUN-GAME) $12.99
	Christmas Crafts Things to make the 24 days before Christmas from HarperCrest for 3rd-6th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Civil War Paper Soldiers in Full Color 100 Authentic Union and Confederate Soldiers by A. G. Smith from Dover Publications for 2nd-5th grade in American Civil War (1860-1865) (Location: HISA-19CW)
	Claymation Sensation: Underwater Claymation by Emily Reid from Windmill Books for 3rd-8th grade in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Common Weeds - Coloring Book Dover Coloring Books by Stefen Bernath from Dover Publications for 2nd-6th grade in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT) $4.99
	Concoct it from Walter Foster for 2nd-5th grade in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Contest (Everest 1) by Gordon Korman from Scholastic Inc. for 3rd-6th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.99
	Cork & Wood Crafts by Arden J. Newsome, illustrated by Nancy Coner from The Lion Press for 2nd-6th grade in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Creating with Fimo Acrylic Clay by Libby Nicholson & Yvonne Lau from Kids Can Press for 3rd-6th grade in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Creative Shellcraft by Katherine N. Cutler, illustrated by Giulio Maestro from Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC) $5.00 (2 in stock)
	Cut, Crease, Create Snowflakes from Melissa & Doug Toys for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
	Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn & Hal Iggulden from William Morrow & Company for 3rd-Adult in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN) $22.99
	Dazzling Designs - Coloring Book by Koichi Sato from Dover Publications for 2nd-Adult in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS) $3.99
	DK Ready Set Grow! Quick and Easy Gardening Projects from DK Publishing for 3rd-6th grade in Gardening for Kids (Location: SS-GAR) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Do People Grow On Family Trees? Genealogy for Kids and Other Beginners by Ira Wolfman from Workman Publishing in Genealogy (Location: XFA-GEN) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Double Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn & Hal Iggulden from HarperCollins for 3rd-Adult in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN) $24.99
	Easy Carpentry Projects for Children by Jerome E. Leavitt from Dover Publications for 1st-6th grade in Carpentry for Kids (Location: SS-CARP) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Everyday Mysteries by Jerome Wexler from Dutton Children's Books for 3rd-5th grade in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Famous Figures of the Early Modern Era Articulated Paper Dolls to Cut, Color, and Assemble by Cathy Diez-Luckie from Figures in Motion for 1st-7th grade in Modern History (Location: HISW-MOD) $19.95
	Famous Figures of the Middle Ages & Renaissance Articulated Paper Dolls to Cut, Color, and Assemble by Cathy Diez-Luckie from Figures in Motion for Kindergarten-6th grade in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID) $19.95
	Favorite Roses - Coloring Book Dover Coloring Books by Ilil Arbel from Dover Publications for 2nd-6th grade in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT) $4.99
	Favorite Wildflowers - Coloring Book Dover Coloring Books by Ilil Arbel from Dover Publications for 2nd-6th grade in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT) $4.99
	First Word Search: Reading for Beginners by Gary LaCoste, Illustrator from Sterling Publishing Co. Word Search Puzzles for 1st-3rd grade in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ)
	Fizz, Bubble & Flash! Element Explorations & Atom Adventures for Hands-On Science Fun! by Anita Brandolini from Williamson Publishing Company for 3rd-8th grade in Chemistry (Location: SCI-CHEM)
	Floral Bouquets - Coloring Book Dover Coloring Books by Charlene Tarbox from Dover Publications for 2nd-6th grade in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT) $3.99
	Flower Garden - Coloring Book Dover Coloring Books by Ruth Soffer from Dover Publications for 2nd-6th grade in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT) $4.99
	Fun with Easy Origami 32 Projects and 24 Sheets of Origami Paper by Dover from Dover Publications for 3rd-6th grade in Paper Crafts & Origami (Location: ELE-ORI) $9.95
	Fun with Next to Nothing Handicraft Projects for Boys and Girls by Wesley F. Arnold and Wayne C. Cardy from Harper & Row for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Garden Flowers - Coloring Book Dover Coloring Books by Stefen Bernath from Dover Publications for 2nd-6th grade in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT) $5.99
	Garden in the City by Gerda Muller from Dutton Children's Books for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Gardener by Sarah Stewart & David Small from Sunburst Book Realistic fiction for Kindergarten-4th grade 1998 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	Gardening With Children from Brooklyn Botanic Garden for 3rd-8th grade in Gardening for Kids (Location: SS-GAR) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Gifts to Make for Father and Mother 10 Gift Ideas with Illustrated Instructions and Reproducible Patterns for 1st-3rd grade in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Gizmos & Gadgets Creating Science Contraptions That Work by Jill Frankel Hauser from Williamson Publishing Company for 1st-8th grade in Science Experiments & Activities (Location: SCI-EXP) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	God's Special Tent by Jean Stapleton from Christian Focus Publications for 3rd-6th grade in Bible Activities for Kids (Location: BIBR-ACT)
	Graph Grapplers by Evelyn B. Christensen from Mindware for 3rd-6th grade in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Great Animal Search by Caroline Young from Usborne for 3rd-7th grade in Zoology (Location: SCI-ZOOL) $6.30 (1 in stock)
	Green Thumbs A Kid's Activity Guide to Indoor and Outdoor Gardening by Laurie Carlson from Chicago Review Press for Preschool-3rd grade in Gardening for Kids (Location: SS-GAR) $10.00 (2 in stock)
	Kate Greenaway's Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway from Gramercy Books for all ages in Poetry Anthologies (Location: POET-ANTH)
	Kids' Multicultural Art Book Arts & Craft Experiences from Around the World by Alexandra M. Terzian from Williamson Publishing Company for Preschool-3rd grade in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway from Dover Publications for all ages in Poetry Anthologies (Location: POET-ANTH) $6.95
	Language of Flowers - Coloring Book Dover Coloring Books by John Green from Dover Publications for 2nd-6th grade in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT) $3.99
	Let's Make More Presents Easy and Inexpensive Gifts for Every Occasion by Esther Hautzig, illustrated by Ray Skibinski from Macmillan for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Look What You Can Make With Boxes Over 90 Pictured Crafts and Dozens of Other Ideas from Boyds Mill Press for 2nd-6th grade in Paper Crafts & Origami (Location: ELE-ORI) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Look What You Can Make With Paper Bags Over 90 Pictured Crafts and Dozens of Other Ideas from Boyds Mill Press for 2nd-6th grade in Paper Crafts & Origami (Location: ELE-ORI) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Look What You Can Make With Paper Plates Over 90 Pictured Crafts and Dozens of Other Ideas from Boyds Mill Press for 2nd-6th grade in Paper Crafts & Origami (Location: ELE-ORI)
	Magic Made Easy by Larry Kettelkamp from William Morrow & Company for 2nd-5th grade in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Make it with Felt An Art and Craft Book by Arden J. Newsome from Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC) $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Mary Frances Garden Book by Jane E. Fryer from Lacis Publications for 3rd-6th grade in Purposeful Homemaking (Location: SS-HOM)
	Maze Solve the World's Most Challenging Puzzle by Christopher Manson from Henry Holt and Company for 3rd-6th grade in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ)
	Me and My Family Tree by Joan Sweeney, Illustrated by Annette Cable from Dragonfly Books for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Genealogy (Location: XFA-GEN) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	More Sewing Machine Fun! by Lynda Milligan, Nancy J. Smith from Possibilities for 1st-6th grade in Sewing, Knitting & Crocheting (Location: SS-SEW) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	More Two-Minute Mysteries by Donald J. Sobol from Scholastic Inc. for 3rd-7th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
	My Book of Little House Paper Dolls The Big Woods Collection by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperFestival for 2nd-6th grade in Little House Materials (Location: LIR-LHM) $12.99
	My Little House Crafts Book 18 Projects from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House Stories by Carolyn Strom Collins & Christina Wyss Eriksson from HarperCollins Arts and Crafts for 3rd-6th grade in Little House Materials (Location: LIR-LHM) $13.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	National Geographic Kids Brain Games by Jennifer Swanson from National Geographic for 3rd-6th grade in Human Anatomy & Physiology (Location: SCI-ANA) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Optical Illusions - Coloring Book by Koichi Sato from Dover Publications for 2nd-Adult in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS) $3.99
	Optical Tricks by Walter Wick 1^st edition from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool- 3rd Grade in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Outdoor Handy Book For Playground, Field, and Forest by Daniel Carter Beard from Skyhorse Publishing for 3rd-6th grade in Hiking & Outdoor Adventures (Location: NAT-HIKE) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Paper Modelling by Mildred Swannell from Yesterday's Classics for 3rd-6th grade in Paper Crafts & Origami (Location: ELE-ORI) $16.95
	Paper Sloyd for Primary Grades A Handbook for Primary Grades by Ednah Anne Rich Facsimile Edition from Repressed Publishing for 3rd-6th grade in Charlotte Mason Education (Location: HSR-METCM)
	Paper Sloyd for Primary Grades A Handbook for Primary Grades by Ednah Anne Rich Facsimile Edition from Yesterday's Classics for 3rd-6th grade in Charlotte Mason Education (Location: HSR-METCM)
	Paper, Ink and Roller Print-Making for Beginners by Harvey Weiss from Young Scott Books for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Quilt-Block History of Pioneer Days by Mary Cobb, Illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis from Millbrook Press for 3rd-6th grade in Pioneer & Frontier Life (Location: HISA-19PIO) $6.00 (2 in stock)
	Quilting Bee by Gail Gibbons from HarperCollins for 1st-3rd grade in Sewing, Knitting & Crocheting (Location: SS-SEW) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Real Book About Magic from Garden City Books for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
	Real Book About Real Crafts by Catherine Roberts from Garden City Books for 3rd-6th grade in Real Books series (Location: VIN-RBA) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Recycling Things to Make and Do by Emily Bone and Leonie Pratt from Usborne for 2nd-5th grade in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA) $3.15 (1 in stock)
	Redoute Flowers - Coloring Book Dover Coloring Books by Charlene Tarbox from Dover Publications for 2nd-6th grade in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT) $3.99
	Rose in My Garden by Arnold & Anita Lobel from William Morrow & Company Rhyming Stories for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Sewing School 21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make by Amie Petronis Plumley and Andria Lisle, Photography by Justin Fox Burks from Storey Publishing for 3rd-6th grade in Sewing, Knitting & Crocheting (Location: SS-SEW) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Sleeping in a Sack Camping Activities for Kids by Linda White, illustrated by Fran Lee from Gibbs M. Smith for 3rd-6th grade in Hiking & Outdoor Adventures (Location: NAT-HIKE) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Sneakiest Uses for Everyday Things How to Make a Boomerang with a Business Card, Convert a Pencil Into a Microphone, Make Animated Origami, Turn a TV Tray into a Giant Robot, and Create Alternative Energy Science Projects from Andrews McMeel in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN)
	Spoolcraft by Arden J. Newsome, illustrated by Arden J. Newsome and Kathleen McGee from Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Starting Chess by Harriet Castor from Usborne for Preschool- 3rd Grade in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ) $2.25 (1 in stock)
	Steve Caney's Toy Book Turtle Racers, Moustaches, and More Than 50 Other Good Toys to Make With Children by Steven Caney from Workman Publishing for 3rd-6th grade in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Sticks, Spools and Feathers How to Make: Stick Towers, Totem Poles, A Naval Cannon, Spool People, A Tightrope Walker, & Other Fanciful Projects by Harvey Weiss from Young Scott Books for 3rd-8th grade in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
	Sunflower Houses Garden Discoveries for Children of All Ages from Workman Publishing for Kindergarten-6th grade in Gardening for Kids (Location: SS-GAR) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Super Science Concoctions by Jill Frankel Hauser from Williamson Publishing Company for 1st-6th grade in Science Experiments & Activities (Location: SCI-EXP) $12.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Survival Usborne Beginners Plus by Henry Brook from Usborne for 3rd-6th grade in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
	Tropical Flowers of the World - Coloring Book Dover Coloring Books by Lynda E. Chandler from Dover Publications for 2nd-6th grade in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT) $4.99
	Two-Minute Mysteries by Donald J. Sobol Reprint from Scholastic Inc. for 3rd-7th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $6.99
	Usborne Starting Gardening Usborne Internet-Linked by Cheryl Evans, Sue Johnson from Usborne for 3rd-6th grade in Gardening for Kids (Location: SS-GAR) $2.70 (1 in stock)
	Walter Potter's Curious World of Taxidermy by Pat Morris with Joanna Ebenstein from Constable & Robinson for 3rd-Adult in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA) $15.00 (1 in stock)
	What Shall I Do Today? by Ray Gibson from Usborne for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA) $5.40 (1 in stock)
	Woodworking A Son and Father Activity Book by Roger Lewis from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC) $5.00 (1 in stock)

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