Toys, Games & Models Books

For the first time ever, Transformers Vault reveals the complete story of the Transformers, everyone's favorite robots in disguise. Loaded with never-before-seen images, this book is a guide to the epic battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, as it began with toys and television, and contin...

Reveal, explore, and celebrate the fascinating LEGO® story in The LEGO® Book. From its beginnings in a carpenter's workshop and the development of the first plastic brick, to the group's current position as an international brand, a timeline highlights key moments in LEGO® history. F...

Complete with an exclusive Star Wars mini-figure. Find out all about Star Wars LEGO weapons, battle stations and even the Death Star through amazing photos and incredible details. Come face-to-face with LEGO versions of Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Yoda, Luke Skywalker and more and discover hundreds ...

James May's Toy Stories is much more than just a TV tie-in. Inspired by James's exploits, the book covers both the stories behind a number of classic toys and the adventures in summer 2009 as James and his helpers, children and adults of all ages, build and recreate a range of toys in a series of To...

With the aid of stringy glue and scalpel-sliced fingers, young and old have turned display cabinets and bedrooms into mini-museums, or tiny battlefields. This book looks at the fascinating tale of this British company - a pioneer in the world of modelling - as well as its products, its changing fort...

After his ambitious project to create a 1/1 scale Spitfire, James May returns to the brand synonymous with model kits to learn more about the history of Airfix. Over the years Airfix's range has included figures, trains, trackside accessories, military vehicles, engines, rockets, sailing ships, wars...

Explore and celebrate the fascinating story of LEGO and its much-loved toys and games and find out all about their cult mini-figures with this fantastic slipcase containing two extraordinary books. From manufacturing wooden toys to blockbuster video games, go behind the scenes and discover fascin...

In 2009, Airfix, the most famous plastic model construction kit company in the world, celebrates its 70th birthday. Founded in 1939 by Hungarian Nicholas Kove, Airfix holds a unique appeal for boys (and girls) of all ages and has been part of the fabric of childhood for generations. Packed with phot...

The essential guide for the collector of model railways with a listing of every known British engine, coach, and freight wagon produced, with details of what price to pay for each. Updated to September 2008, and with over 2800 new entries, also included are tips for collectors and historical backgro...

It's all here! Fifty-four years of toys! The toys pictured and listed in this book represent the immense volume of items produced from 1947, when the Matchbox company was founded, to mid-2001, including their popular diecast vehicles along with playsets, dolls, plastic kits, robots, and ephemera all...

Transformers "A toy that through a series of changes can alter its form from a vehicle to a robot." This ground-breaking book, now in its bigger, better second edition, presents these incredible changing figures of the 1980s and '90s in over 500 color photos with descriptions and an up-to-...

A complete history of Rupert Bear, this beautifully presented book is the fascinating story of how one little bear became a national treasure. It begins with Rupert's first appearance in "The Express" newspaper and charts his journey to the present day, paying particular attention to t...

Fresh from his world record attempt at the legendary Brooklands motor racing circuit, in which the Toy Stories team built a 2.7-mile circuit entirely out of Scalextric track, James May re-enters the world of Scalextric, Britain's leading slot-car racing brand. Remembering many childhood hours spent ...

HOT WHEELS PROTOTYPES is an insightful new book for all ages. Readers will enjoy the narrative history of Hot Wheels prototypes from the moment Mattel founder, Elliot Handler first said, "Why not we try?" to the research and development department's lively competition to bring the coolest cars to th...

This bold, colorful book collects fifty years' worth of advice from Ken(R), the undisputed expert when it comes to dating. In his own humorously honest voice, Ken tells readers how to be the perfect red-carpet escort, give the most fabulous gifts, and squeeze in some "me time" at the gym between gal...

A reasonably priced paperback re-issue of a luxury lifestyle classic Insider access to an exclusive world of opulence, beauty and craftsmanship-- sure to inspire and bedazzle Size: 22.8 x 28.8 cm / 9 x 111/3 in. 220 pp. Paperback with flaps 212 color photographs Text in English, German, French, Span...

'The New Great Book of Corgi' chronicles the entire period of Corgi production from its inception at the British Industries Fair in 1956 to the present day. The company owes its great success to the constant introduction of new gimmicks and technical innovation, leaving its numerous competitors play...

With over 5,500 listings, 3,100 color images, and up-to-date market pricing, "Hot Wheels" Variations: The Ultimate Guide", is the largest and most comprehensive identification and price guide on "Hot Wheels" Variations" found in blister packs from 1989-2008. This updated edition contains accurate li...

"Barbie and Ruth" is the entwined story of two exceptional women. There's Barbie: the diminutive yet arrestingly voluptuous doll unveiled at the 1959 Toy Fair who became the treasure of 90 per cent of American girls and their counterparts in 140 countries. She went on to become an Olympic athlete, a...

Combining candy-colored paint jobs with muscle car attitudes and southern California coo, Hot Wheels cars changed the toy world forever in 1968. For the next 10 years as millions of kids discovered the joy of these miniature marvels, one small characteristic came to define this radical die-cast era:...

Merrythought was one of Britain's longest running British-made teddy bear firms with a dedicated international following for their quality, highly collectable bears whose life-size models used to dominate stores such as Harrods and Hamleys. This book, with its quality color illustrations and use of ...

Officially licensed through "Mattel", this book provides collectors with history, insight and values to the entire world of Hot Wheels cars, including Redlines (1968-1977), Blackwall era (1977-1989) and Collector Numbers. Both informative and portable, and with more than 500 colour photographs, "Hot...

A complete illustrated history of the British wheeled baby carrier, from the eighteenth century to the end of the classic pram era, this book is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, and an invaluable resource for any owner or collector of historic prams. Examining and illustrating the design and devel...

Dinky Toys must be one of the most successful and collectable toys ever made. These delightfully stylish photographs feature models from the golden age of the Dinky toy - an era that will be remembered fondly by every post-war baby-boomer, both men and women. Now the subject of serious interest from...

This is a book that in the first stages was created by a young girl with a vivid imagination. Who is better to know what children like than a child? The variety of animals and a Robot are inviting to the minds of children. The animals on this ranch in Wyoming are all live animals and include horses,...

From modest beginnings in a disused London woodworking factory after the First World War, Walter, William and Arthur Lines built their company by 1950 into the world's first multinational toy making business. The core of Lines Brothers Ltd's extensive manufacturing enterprise was always Tri-ang Toys...

Eagerly anticipated, this update of the highly regarded third book from pinball author Michael Shalhoub includes over 900 color photos and covers the most recent period in pinball history, from 1982 through 2011. Each chapter is devoted to a specific year and features descriptions, release dates, an...

Queen Mary's dolls' house is the largest, most beautiful and most famous dolls' house in the world. It is on permanent display at Windsor Castle and is one of the castle's most popular attractions. Built for Queen Mary by the leading British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens between 1921 and 1924, the Dol...

This is the one handy pocket guide that collectors need before buying, selling, or trading any Lionel toy train or accessory. The latest edition of the famous Greenberg's Guide lists current prices and other invaluable reference info for prewar, postwar, and modern trains as well as collectible boxe...

This new edition features updated information for Marx trains and related toys. This compact book is the perfect pocket companion for train shows and auctions.

In this book, highly recognised doll costumer Louise Hedrick offers a collection of 56 patterns, authentically adapted from those presented in La Poupee Modele between 1864 and 1874, for creating an entire wardrobe to fit both the classic 18-inch and 12-inch dolls of the period, and today's popular ...

This fascinating book covers one hundred classic toys that have enchanted, captivated and enthralled generations of children. From the simplest building blocks to the most sophisticated robots, each toy included is still being manufactured or is easily available through sites like eBay. Why do some ...

This serves as an update of the author's successful Collecting Toy Soldiers (Collins, 1987; pbk edition, New Cavendish, 1991). In it James Opie gives the collector the benefit of thirty years' experience as the world's leading authority on traditional toy soldiers (as opposed to model soldiers used ...

Toy boats, especially those designed to sail on the local pond, have always had a fascination for boys and girls of all ages. This book celebrates these boats, which many will remember purchasing with their pocket money. Before the 1914-1918 war many toy boats were of German origin, but when hostil...