A book for ALL boys from 5 to 85 - and hardy girls too! James May is a man on a mission this Christmas. He wants to encourage children away from their Playstations and get them playing with their parents. Toy Stories covers the stories behind a number of classic toys - bringing them to life through accounts of the most unusual, weird and exciting versions built anywhere to date - and the adventures 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. Toy Stories also offers 12 simple but fun projects linked to these toys.

James May raids the Airfix archives to reveal how designers, graphic designers and production teams get a scale model from the drawing board concept to finished product. He also looks at the world of modellers and collectors.

Take a truly technicolour tour of one of the most remarkable construction projects of 2009 in all its architectural glory. British broadcaster, writer and toy 'nut-case' James May lived a childhood dream by designing, building and sleeping in a quite stunning full-size house inspired by and completely made from LEGO, one of the world's most favourite toys and a design icon in its own right. James May's Lego House provides a complete photographic record of this stunning creation which now proudly holds the Guinness World Record for the largest free-standing LEGO structure. However, this is not a simple recreation of a childhood vision of a house but is fully informed by the 'simple complexity' of LEGO's design philosophy centring around the basic 'eighter' brick. Indeed, 3.3 million LEGO elements were used exclusively to create the two-storey house and its incredible fittings that range from a washing machine, furniture, cat and mouse, bed and bedding and fully functioning shower and toilet.

A fascinating look at the history of Scalextric, from the earliest slot cars to the present day Tells the amazing story of the world's longest scalextric track, built by james May and a team of volunteers as part of the hit BBG2 television series Toy Stories James May's Toy Stories: The Scalextric Handbook examines the development and expansion of Scalextric over the course of half a century's innovation and improvement, outlining the history of this iconic brand from the first tinplate cars to modern digital control. It also gets to grips with the cutting-edge technology used to design the latest Scalextric cars, explains the elements of good track design and looks at what it takes to be a slot-car champion. Finally the book tells the complete story of James May's visit to Brooklands, the historic home of British motorsport, when James assembled a team of volunteers to build and race the world's longest Scalextric track. Book jacket.

The unforgettable life story of one amazing musician touring and playing with Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Reed, Marvin Gaye, and many more

The “enormously entertaining and wide-ranging” (Seattle Times) authorized, definitive, New York Times bestselling biography of Willie Mays, the most complete baseball player of all time. Willie Mays is arguably the greatest player in baseball history, still revered for the passion he brought to the game. He began as a teenager in the Negro Leagues, became a cult hero in New York, and was the headliner in Major League Baseball’s bold expansion to California. He was a blend of power, speed, and stylistic bravado that enraptured fans for more than two decades. Now James Hirsch reveals the man behind the player. Mays was a transcendent figure who received standing ovations in enemy stadiums and who, during the turbulent civil rights era, urged understanding and reconciliation. More than his records, his legacy is defined by the pure joy that he brought to fans and the loving memories that have been passed to future generations so they might know the magic and beauty of the game. With meticulous research and drawing on interviews with Mays himself as well as with close friends, family, and teammates, Hirsch presents a brilliant portrait of one of America’s most significant cultural icons.