It would be quite a feat to find a child (or indeed adult) who doesn’t have a soft spot for cheeky monkeys and affable apes. Lithe and lively, they simply love to lark around, but they also need our help and protection. Monkey World in Dorset helps

Longleat Safari Park, WiltshireMillets Farm Centre, OxfordshireMonkey World, DorsetNational Media Museum, BradfordNational Museum Of ScotlandNational Showcaves Centre for WalesNational Space Centre, LeicesterPorthcurno Telegraph Museum, CornwallRoald Dahl Museum

Name George (and he's very curious, you know)Born New York, 1941Defining moment "This is George. He lived in Africa. He was a good little monkey, and always very curious."Why we love Curious George* He's the original cheeky monkey, whose relentless

to The Seychelles, Madagascar and Kenya. The cruise includes two stops in Madagascar, at Nosy Be and Diego Suarez, where children can see a variety of lemurs and cheeky monkeys, aka King Julien and Maurice, at the National Park of the Amber Mountains. Prices start

Leech. “The grey opening chapters didn’t seem very promising at first, but when the cyclone came and whisked Dorothy off to the Land Of Oz, I was blown away with her. Plucky Dorothy enthralled me, the jolly Munchkins make me laugh, the Winged Monkeys

.BanaramaAugust 27–29Children who bring along a banana for the cheeky residents of Monkey World in Dorset will earn themselves a free badge.Isle Of WightCowes weekAugust 6-13 As one of the oldest and largest annual sailing regattas in the world, Cowes Week

between being topsy-turvy and the right way up. “I wanted readers to get a sense of what it’s like to be a bat, to experience the world through Batty’s eyes,” says Sarah. All those changing perspectives make for some dizzying, page-flipping fun. And savvy

in 1970, Woburn Safari Park is one of the UK’s oldest wild animal parks and offers the chance to come face to face with all manner of exotic beasts hailing from every corner of the world. Established by the 13th Duke of Bedford on the grounds of his family

, children can monkey around in Lincolnshire’s largest adventure playground whilst you enjoy some local seasonal fare in the restaurant.Toys For The BoysSeptember 15–October 30Boys, girls and young-at-heart parents can indulge their playful side

before a child hits one. The reason for this is the basis of all humour: incongruity. Your child knows your voice and your habits, so putting a nappy on your head or chattering like a monkey is a violation of her expectations, causing a physical reaction