It’s more than 25 years since your first book, Old Bear, came out. Do you still feel pre-publication nerves?“Of course. My new book, Ruby, Blue and Blanket, is a complete departure from before - new characters and text in verse. It’s nerve-wracking waiting to see what people say....

as they do it more and more is that they begin to talk with their children more and more about what’s coming up and the conversations are really enlightening – both to the parents and the kids. The kids will totally accept something that the parents

the fact that they were eating food that look liked the food we were eating. They often talk about that meal. What would you do if your child had a tantrum in a restaurant?I would definitely try not make a big scene. Keep calm and try to calm the child down

Could it be that bright and bubbly Myleene Klass is even more bright and bubbly than usual? There have been rumours that she and long-term partner Gray are planning another baby – they already have a daughter, Ava, three. A couple of days after our interview, she posts an ecstati...

What would be your perfect family dinner? Now we’re talking. When I have my mum and dad round, I like a fruit de mer. A seafood dish like this is a communal affair and gets everybody talking. Then an Eton mess for dessert. But when it is just my

You must be very proud having your book turned into such a successful film?Yes, I am so pleased with this film. The first time I saw it I got incredibly emotional. It's very true to the spirit of the book, exciting and yet meaningful and moving, and I loved seeing Hiccup and Stoi...

It was when the jaguar escaped that it hit Benjamin Mee exactly how much was at stake. The self-styled zookeeper and father of Milo, 11 and Ella, 9 whose story has inspired the film We Bought A Zoo, had only four days previously moved into a dilapidated zoo, the realities of whic...

How important is it for families to cook and eat together? “I was lucky as a child because we had big family meals all the time. Eating together is important, not just for developing your child’s cooking skills, but also for the fun and sense of community this time brings.”Did yo...

. There's no need to feel anxious about preparing "the talk" - it shouldn't be a one-off lesson but a gradual process. Young chldren need short, honest answers, but by age seven, you can use more technical words, like sperm and conception.If you're struggling, grab

Beetle Drive £8.99 by Gibson from Mulberry Bush