Synopsis coming soon.......

Carl Leckey is the youngest of three children. He grew up in wartime Britain and loved the excitement of having Italian prisoners of war in the area. His time as a kid was spent collecting shrapnel and clambering around the shipwrecks on the shore of the Mersey. One of his favourite places was his grandfathers allotment where old World War One comrades would meet in the garden shed to share a drink and a smoke. Carl served on the Mersey tugs for 15 years with a break for two years National Service from the age of 19 to 21. On returning to the tugs he rose to the rank of Mate, before being made redundant at the age of 30 in 1968 when the company was taken over. He then worked as a Leading Lock Keeper for British Waterways in Cheshire for 28 years until ill health brought premature retirement. He was a Union Steward Convenor, and Worker Representative on the Company Pension Fund Management Committee. In 1985 he was awarded a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship to study Ports and Harbour Services on the Mississippi and Yangtze Rivers in the USA and China. In 1995 he was awarded an MBE for services to British Waterways. After completing a writers course with the Open College of Art Carl began writing novels on a variety of subjects publishing in New Zealand. United Kingdom and United States of America. Until failing health due mainly to arthritis Carl and his wife Rose travelled the world extensively visiting friends and family in a number of countries. Pop up and Go is the second book the author has written for children. The story was inspired by a news item the author heard while travelling through the USA. Most of Carls books are also available as an E book. See his other books and reviews by visiting Carls website. www.carlleckey.co.uk

A fun pop-up celebration of royal animals through the ages, packed full of facts, flaps and surprising stories - the perfect gift for animal lovers and history fans of all ages! Dogs, cats, monkeys and rats - there's something for everyone in this fascinating pop-up history of royal animals. From the Royal Menagerie of the 1200s to Queen Elizabeth II's corgis, this beautifully illustrated interactive book is packed with fun facts and sensational stories. Did you know that William III died after an unfortunate meeting with a mischievous mole? And that Queen Victoria used to dress her dog, Dash up in a scarlet jacket and blue trousers? Published in conjunction with Historic Royal Palaces, this is a book to treasure for royal enthusiasts, animal fans and history lovers everywhere. Book Features: " Published in association with Historic Royal Palaces, in consultation with their experts. " An ideal gift format perfect for displays and windows - a brilliant souvenir. " With five fact-packed pop-up spreads, this follows on from previous titles Pop-Up Kings and Queens and Pop-Up Crown Jewels.

When it comes to the world of hip-hop, nothing shines brighter than glorious bling. A fascinating look in words and pictures at the stars of hip-hop and their fabulous jewelry. elcome to the rarified world of hip-hop royalty, where mega-stars from Jay-Z to J. Lo flash brilliant rocks to signify status and express personal style. In Bling Bling, writer and radio show host Minya Oh takes readers deep inside this star-studded world, exploring the wild appetite for flashy adornment that typifies the contemporary rap scene. See how the other half sparkles in this fascinating photo-filled book devoted to the history and culture of rappers and their jewelry from the last 25 years. Run DMC, Slick Rick, Ludacris, and Puff Daddy are just some of the rap legends who show and tell, as the author travels from East Coast to West to discover the world's most fabulous accoutrements and the stories behind them.

The book explores the origins of the word tiara which derives from the head ornaments of Persian kings. The term tiara encompasses the diadem, said to have been invented by Dionysos, god of wine, the Kokoshnik from early Russia, and the wreath of flowers, perhaps the most appealing source of inspiration for the modern jeweller. Tiaras are considered as emblems of love and marriage, as symbols of aristocratic heritage, and as works of art in their own right in a range of styles from the antique and neo-classical to art deco. The stunning array of contemporary designs indicates that tiaras are now most definitely items of high fashion. Many are shown alongside either their original designs or photographs of their owners from the Queen Mother to Madonna. Tiaras, Past and Present traces the history of these magnificent jewels from ancient time to their re-emergence in the First Empire, through the work of famous jewellers like Faberg , Cartier and Boucheron to the extravagant contemporary creations of Vivienne Westwood and Versace. Tiaras of all types glitter throughout the pages, breathtaking in the sumptuousness of their stones and the intricacy of their design. The tiara is indeed pre-eminent among jewels, and this book is a celebration of them.

An illustrated collection of the wild and outlandish jewels associated with hip-hop music showcases the cultural phenomenon of bling with an assortment of gold-and-diamond-studded pistols, platinum teeth, jewel-encrusted goblets, and more, accompanied by entertaining sidebars and facts.