Carbonel

This is the story of a cat, a broomstick and an ordinary schoolgirl called Rosemary. She bought them both in the market, quite cheaply. Of course, neither the cat nor the broomstick were just what they seemed, and they turned up just when Rosemary badly needed something nice to happen to her. A good cat is apt to be independent, so she did not have things all her own way, and as Carbonel proved to be a Royal cat in a very special sense, that was understandable. Between the cat and the broomstick, Rosemary picked up some useful spells and magic, and the adventures they brought about turned a dull-looking holiday into one long to be remembered for its unexpected excitements and rewards.

'A delightful story for those who like impossible things to happen in a humdrum world...The children are lively, the grown-ups (including the witch) colourful and the mingling of magic and reality is most effective' New York Times A perfect blend of magic and everyday life, this delightful sequel to Carbonel has delighted children for generations. Rosemary and John are proud to be entrusted with Carbonel's royal kittens while he is away from his kingdom, but it is a task that leads them into all sorts of unexpected and exciting magical adventures.

Now in paperback, the third and final entry in Barbara Sleigh's enchanting Carbonel trilogy. “There are many kinds of magic. . . And once magic is in your blood it attracts more magic,” says the royal cat Carbonel at the start of Carbonel and Calidor. Sure enough, Carbonel’s human friends Rosemary and John soon encounter magic in the form of a ring set with a fiery red stone that grants wishes to whoever wears it. And it’s a lucky thing, too, because Carbonel needs Rosemary and John’s help. It seems that his son Calidor has rejected his princely status for the love of a streetwise cat named Wellingtonia (also known as Dumpsie). Even worse, Calidor has apprenticed himself to the witch-in-training Mrs. Dibdin. With all this going on, it’s just a matter of time before Carbonel’s old nemesis Grisana—accompanied by her slyboots daughter Melissa—hatches a plan to take control of Carbonel’s kingdom once and for all. This third and final volume of the Carbonel series is as full of enchantment and adventure as its predecessors, Carbonel and The Kingdom of Carbonel. Read individually, or in sequence, Barbara Sleigh’s fantastic and fantastical trilogy casts an unforgettable spell.

"Based on pre-war research and captured German wartime technology, a number of French jet, ramjet and rocket-powered aircraft reached at least prototype form. Vertical take-off, variable geometry wings and even flying boat concepts were among some of the most radical aircraft designs, studies and projects ever produced anywhere in the world. Driven by the need to equip its air forces, compete in export markets and catch-up with its international competitors, French companies gave free reign to their designers to come up with radical and unconventional airctaft."--Jacket.

According to Spanish tradition, the bullfighter should never wear his costume outside the bullring. Each of their elaborately embroidered costumes is hand sewn, takes over one month of work, and requires numerous fittings, as these pictures reveal.

Airfix was founded in 1939, initially manufacturing inflatable rubber toys. Now, they are synonymous with the modeling hobby. This book covers 50 years of the famous Airfix plastic soldier, from its production beginnings in 1958 through to the present day, detailing every figure Airfix has ever produced.

Who can ever forget the aircraft kits with the multicolored plastic parts? Unlike other makes, Matchbox just didn't suddenly appear one day on the plastic scale models scene. Matchbox came from the well-known range of die-cast vehicles of the same name. The Lesney company which used the brand name "Matchbox" was founded in 1953 by Mr Leslie Smith (who remained on the board of the company throughout his career - he died in 2005) and Mr Rodney Smith. It was this company that thought up these little "pocket money" vehicles and the ingenious packaging which gave them their name. The name came from the box which was the shape, size and color of a match box. The firm brought out scale models of planes, tanks, boats, motorbikes and cars but also little soldiers which all brightened the childhood days of today's forty-year olds... This book retraces the forty glorious years of a firm, of a brand of kits intended for beginners just as much as it was for the most demanding buffs. More than just a kit, a state of mind. Jean-Christophe Carbonel is a world renowned specialist of French model kits. His 20-years of experience with the European and Japanese model kit markets has enabled him to deal in depth with the French "model craze."

'A thrilling, original, evocative and eerie tale - I adored it!’ Michelle Harrison, author of A Pinch of Magic 'A thrilling page-turner. Madame Pinchbeck is a gloriously Dickensian villain’ Abi Elphinstone, author of Sky Song 'Ghosts, gadgets, likeable villains and unlikely heroes: The Vanishing Trick is a dark and dazzling adventure’ Emma Carroll, author of Letters from the Lighthouse 'A completely enthralling tale, oozing with atmosphere and originality’ Catherine Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper's Island 'Jenni Spangler is the next big voice in children’s magical history novels’ Lucy Powrie, author of The Paper & Hearts Society 'Deliciously dark and atmospheric … I couldn’t get enough' Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole An Elephant 'A spectacular heart-stopping adventure in a dark and dangerous Victorian world' Tamsin Winter, author of Jemima Small Versus the Universe 'An eventful gothic adventure full of secrets and surprises' Sunday Times Book of The Week? Step into a world of secrets, folklore and illusions, where nothing is as it seems and magic is at play… Madame Augustina Pinchbeck, travels the country conjuring the spirits of dearly departed loved ones... for a price. Whilst her ability to contact ghosts is a game of smoke and mirrors, there is real magic behind her tricks too - if you know where to look. Through a magical trade, she persuades children to part with precious objects, promising to use her powers to help them. But Pinchbeck is a deceiver, instead turning their items into enchanted Cabinets that bind the children to her and into which she can vanish and summon them at will. When Pinchbeck captures orphan Leander, events are set into motion that see him and his new friends Charlotte and Felix, in a race against time to break Pinchbeck’s spell, before one of them vanishes forever… #TheVanishingTrick A historical adventure with a magical twist from an outstanding debut talent. Perfect for fans of Michelle Harrison, Sophie Anderson and Emma Carroll.