-you-can’t-beat-’em-join-’em attitude, he flits off to the other enclosures in search of greener grass.    Author and illustrator Sarah Dyer has a soft spot for unconventional characters. Her previous books, such as Clementine And Mungo and Monster Day At Work, feature quirky, pointy

and handcrafted greetings cards.Jam JamboreeOctober 1–2Enjoy the remnants of a late summer glut and bring the whole family along to Plas Newydd Country House And Gardens for a celebration of jam. Work up an appetite exploring the elegant 18th century house

storytelling, pumpkin carving demonstrations, potion mixing and wand making lessons. The Little Monster’s Disco on Friday and Saturday evening will have the whole family shaking their skeleton to the Monster Mash – after which you can sink your fangs into some

1. Write your name or funny messages in the sand with shells2. Decorate sand-pies and sandcastles with different shaped shells3. Have a rock-pool ramble  Learn about the food chain of this natural aquarium so your child understands how it works

Depot in North Finchley for a fun play day dedicated to drawing – contribute to a large-scale artwork, watch a musical production of Draw Me A Bird and take part in other fun creative workshops throughout the day.Family PortraitsOctober 28Pick up a paintbrush

-The-Pooh and Goldilocks And The Three Bears are spot on).5. Go on a National Parks day event Visit www.nationalparks.gov.uk and search Events for a date and location that suits you.6. Cloudwatching  Pick a shady tree, roll out your rug, then watch the sky go by. Try

PonyGuaranteed entry to the rarefied world of gymkhanas and pony clubs (eek!) but beware the time (they need to exercise every day), money (they are among the most expensive animals you can own), and work (mucking out – and believe me, you’ll end up

July 23–September 4Saddle up for fun at Eureka! in West Yorkshire. Children can pitch Cowboy Camps, take part in Cherokee Challenges and join in with arts and crafts.Dragons’ DayJuly 24A ‘dragonish’ day of fun activities for all the family – mask making

because Miller drew a couple of the monsters for the T-shirt design, so I got him involved with all that. There is only me and one other girl in the company who worked on the project creatively. She’s got two little kids as well, so her son did a drawing

, the lovely botanical gardens at Port Louis, or a working sugar mill. But essentially, Mauritius offers a lazy, pampering beach holiday.And with the array of upscale hotels available here, you can sit back and relax whilst your children develop their outdoor