John Newbery Medal for Literature, Kate DiCamillo’s novel has now been animated for the silver screen. A young mouse, Despereaux, is different from his fellows. It’s not just that he’s very small and has very large ears. He refuses to scurry and cower

think you are having entirely to much fun”. Turn everything into a little adventure. What are the best places to go to with children once they are no longer a toddler, say five or six? Animals – anytime you can take children to some place where

for an illustrator and asked me. It’s great working with Julia, she’s a brilliant writer. She puts together the words first and then I come along and do the pictures.Which of your books are your favourites? I always find it easier to do the quirkier and more

, the acidity of the bark changes after 250 years and attracts other creatures,” Jill explains. ‘you then find some exceptionally rare fungi and different species of insect; creatures that have adapted to those conditions are very special. The biodiversity

shows who’s boss. Indeed, the welfare of the animals is a top priority and the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has been supporting wildlife conservation around the globe for 40 years.By mid-afternoon, it was really hot and we took refuge

in the muddiest river in Africa is out to find as many juicy little children to eat as he can, but the wild animals he boasts to have other ideas, until elephant finally gets rid of him for good. 82Funnybones by Janet and Allan Ahlberg Puffin, £4

, NottinghamshireApril 18–May 1Crack the clues to find the eggs the Easter Bunny has hidden around Rufford Abbey Country Park. Successful hunters will be rewarded. Barnsdale Gardens, RutlandApril 22–25Seek out the tokens lurking among the flowers in the gardens

in the shape of cardboard benches and trees. Children's interior design company, Gegant, complimented the cardboard finery with funky beanbag chairs and stools in a variety of abstract animal shapes. FIMI, the largest childrenswear tradeshow in Spain

looking for the animals, the machines, the monsters and the people in the cloud shapes. Before you’re faced with any questions by your budding meteorologist, you might want to know your cirrus from your cumulus, so visit www.42explore.com/clouds.htm, where

, ensuring a good night’s sleep.There’s an old legend that you can communicate with the animals at midnight on Christmas Eve. Encourage the chances of a chat by making ornamental seed balls for birds using pinecones, peanut butter and bird seed, and supply