Welcome to the amazing world of flags! Did you know that each flag is actually a picture that sends a message to everyone who sees it?

In The Flag Book, Lonely Planet Kids introduces you to the flags of every country in the world, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and tells you what their design, colours, and images represent, along with lots of other incredible facts.

What's the only country that doesn't have a rectangular flag? Why does Hawaii's state flag feature the UK's Union Jack in one corner? And what do the 13 stripes of the USA's Star Spangled Banner represent? You'll find out the answer to all these and much, much more.

We'll then show you the other fascinating ways flags are used throughout the world. Learn the International Code of Flag Symbols to communicate with ships at sea; read about flags used in sports, like Formula 1's chequered flag; marvel at flags commemorating world records and incredible human achievements; and peer with a microscope at the planet's smallest flag, which is no wider than a human hair.

But that's not all! Travel back in time to the Golden Age of Piracy and have your timbers shivered by the bloodthirsty flags of 'Black Bart' Roberts and his fellow pirates sailing the Caribbean.

Chapters include:

• What are flags for?
• Speaking in flag
• Flag designs
• Coats of arms
• Pirate flags
• Ships and aeroplane flags
• The world's oldest flags
• Semaphore flags
• Flag record breakers
• Flag tales
• Sports flags
• International flags