Here are 20 hand-made wooden toy projects that are bright, cheerful, inexpensive and highly entertaining. Each toy jumps, spins, or moves along when pushed or pulled, in a number of comic ways. The moving parts are easily operated by small hands, and each will surprise and delight; the goose's wings flap, the helicopter's rotor spins and the goat and the farmer's wife have a tug-of- war with a shirt. Most importantly, they are gifts that will provide hours of fun and will be treasured for years to come.

Each project comes complete with full-size templates and step-by-step instructions to guide you through the construction process. There are also half-size side-views and cross-sections that show the assembly, with both metric and imperial dimensions given. Plenty of helpful tips are included, as well as full information on materials and on painting techniques. Despite the intriguing and imaginative ways in which these toys work, the mechanical parts are uncomplicated to construct, and the tools are those that most hobbyists have at home. There are toys for all age groups, and with some of the designs it is possible to scale down handle lengths to suit younger children. Colour photographs show you exactly how each project will look.

From the hobby-horse crocodile that snaps its jaws to the over-enthusiastic soccer player, and the skater puppet who spins on a cord, to the pivoting pogos on their pull-along trolley, these toys will be as much fun to make as to receive.