How did teddies get their name? When were yo-yos first made? What were the Teletubbies? From toy cars to Barbies, Rubik's cubes to Fortnite, the toys children play with have changed a lot over the past century. But some of the toys that your grandparents played with in their youth may not be that different to the ones you play with now! Find out all about the history of toys, what has changed and what hasn't, and what children have loved to play with through the decades.

A fresh, intriguing look at the stories behind great toy inventions, by Don Wulffson and illustrated by Laurie Keller. "Originally, Play-Doh only came in white. There's a good reason for this. You see, Play-Doh didn't start out as a toy. It started out as a product for cleaning wallpaper." Have you ever wondered who invented Lego, Mr. Potato Head, or toy trains? In Toys! are the fascinating stories behind these toy inventions and many others. Learn why the see-saw was popular with the Romans, how the Slinky was used during the Vietnam War, and the reason Raggedy Ann has a red heart on her chest that says "I love you." From dolls and checkers to pinball and the modern video game, there's a wide selection here for boys and girls alike. With humor and wit, this intriguing book serves up slices of cultural history that will inspire young readers to start thinking up their own toy inventions.

An illustrated chronicle of toy history includes coverage of objects that have remained popular throughout the ages whose designs have been shaped by progressive technologies, new materials, and the advent of mass production.

How did teddies get their name? When were yo-yos first made? What were the Teletubbies? From toy cars to Barbies, Rubik's cubes to Fortnite, the toys children play with have changed a lot over the past century. But some of the toys that your grandparents played with in their youth may not be that different to the ones you play with now! Find out all about the history of toys, what has changed and what hasn't, and what children have loved to play with through the decades.

Takes the reader on a chronological & nostalgic journey through 20th-cent. Brit. toy mfg. Pre-WW1, Frank Hornby's system of ÔMechanics Made Easy' -- a tin box full of nuts, bolts & flexible strips of metal, had young boys attempting to build models of the Eiffel tower. In the 1920s, kids zoomed around in handcarts & scooters. The 1930s saw jigsaw puzzles & playing Escalado, Ôthe racecourse on a table'. The 1950s & 1960s saw battery-powered toys, street marbles, & Airfix kits. The 1970s belonged to Subbuteo, Mastermind, & Lego, & the 1980s to Space Invaders, Cabbage Patch Dolls & PlayStation 2. The present day is made up of Pokemon cards & media fueled crazes. A witty & irreverent cultural history with an eye for hidden, obscure detail. Illustrated.