Starting School by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (Puffin, £5.99)First published in 1990, this classic picture book by well-loved husband and wife team Janet and Allan Ahlberg is filled with eager young pupils learning all the new and exciting rituals and routines associated with Big Sc...

. The Cat in the Hat!"Why we love The Cat in the Hat* His sartorial elegance - that quirky hat and neatly tied neckbow.* His exuberant confidence and sense of fun have endless appeal for young children (and nostalgic parents), especially his incorrigible

children’s again. A lot of young men’s first suit is Paul Smith, and it really pleases me that wearing a Paul Smith suit is giving them that confidence. A young man recently sent me a painting (an homage to the Paul Smith stripe) as a gift. He said he

, coordination and confidence – it’s really fun and can become a lovely festive family tradition with the number of seasonal open-air ice rinks around the country growing every year.Follow our handy guide to make if fun for all the familyDress the part A nice

Katinka. “But she doesn't know her name,” confides Judith, “becuase I just call her Pusscat.” We also chatted about another Junior favourite The Tiger Who Came To Tea, which was Judith debut picture book. Her next The Crocodile Under The Bed was never

, such as friendship, loyalty, jealousy and betrayal – even if the characters in the film are, say, dancing penguins (Happy Feet explores the notion of being different and finding the confidence to be yourself) or cowboys and spacemen (the Toy Story trilogy explores

they are certain they'll be winners). Winning builds confidence; losing builds character. If girls are to be successful and take risks in a competitive society, they will have to experience both winning and losing.8. Travel with your family Try to include special

confidence in the fact that is not too difficult to trigger big imagination with a group of children that is fun and educational with such copious amounts of energy. What are the benefits and challenges of doing a book without words?I wanted to try to "speak

was looking through some of the habitat catalogues from the Sixties and there was lots of Hula-Hoop playing in the garden, and I wanted to reintroduce that confident outdoorsy feel. And of course Terence had a young family so there was lots of interest

is supremely diplomatic in her reply. “It always looks good on people and I love seeing it worn with joy and confidence,” she says.  It clearly still thrills Orla to see her designs in everyday life. “I saw a couple with a baby, and the man was carrying one of