James May's Toy Stories

Using some of the nation’s best-loved toys James May brings children and parents together to make his childhood fantasies come true.

James May is a man on a mission. He wants to encourage children out of their bedrooms and away from their Playstations and get them playing with their parents. To do this he takes some of the nation’s traditional toys and puts generations of families at the heart of some ludicrously ambitious adventures and challenges.

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 team of helpers, children and adults of all ages, build and recreate a range of toys in a series of Top Gear style escapades.

Each adventure includes details of how the projects were constructed, with diagrams, illustrations and informal photography taken during the filming. The book also offers 12 simple but fun projects linked to these toys to carry out in your own home, accompanied by step-by-step instructions, illustrations and diagrams.