Introduce your pupils to new authors, spark their curiosity and inspire their creativity with one of the FREE online author events coming up in the first half of this spring term. From animal adventures to science fiction; stories that help us make sense of the world around us to adventures set in magical realms – there’s an event to engage every young reader and help you build excitement around books and reading.

Events in February

• National Literacy Trust: Join author and musician Annemarie Anang for an interactive workshop exploring the magic of storytelling through sound and rhythm to celebrate the first Go All in Together event of the National Year of Reading. Free supporting resources available to download.
  • Date: 3rd February
  • Suitable for pupils aged 5-7.
• National Literacy Trust: Go All In Together for the National Year of Reading with storyteller and rapper Alim Kamara in this interactive workshop exploring stories through music and lyrics. Free supporting resources available to download.
  • Date: 3rd February.
  • Suitable for pupils aged 7-11.
• National Literacy Trust: Explore what stories can tell us about ourselves and the world around us with author, speaker and educator Jeffrey Boakye.  This interactive workshop is A Go All In Together event for the National Year of Reading with free supporting resources available to download.
  • Date: 4th February.
  • Suitable for pupils aged 11-14.
• Mr Dilly Meets: Tom Moorhouse, author of Where the Dragon Waits, and Lucy Strange, author of The Storm and the Minotaur, join Mr Dilly for an interactive event to celebrate the power of stories for National Storytelling Week. Find out what books the authors loved to read as children and where they get their ideas and inspiration from as they share some top world-building tips and storytelling prompts to inspire young writers’ own stories.
  • Date: 4th February
  • Suitable for pupils aged 7-11.
• Stepping into Stories: Join award-winning author and poet Joseph Coelho for an interactive poetry workshop where he will share some of his own poems and co-create some new poems with the audience. Part of the Stepping into Stories Festival in London.
  • Date: 3rd February
  • Suitable for pupils aged 7-11.
• Stepping into Stories: Acclaimed author A.M. Dassu shares the inspiration for her latest book Wild Journey, a collection of five linked adventure stories that follow the migratory journey of the starling. Part of the Stepping into Stories Festival in London.
  • Date: 3rd February
  • Suitable for pupils aged 8-11.
• Friday Book Club: Join Jenny McLachlan, author of the best-selling Land of Roar series, for half an hour of bookish fun every Friday afternoon for the rest of this half term. Explore a different element of storytelling each week, join in with some creative activities and meet some special guest authors. All the sessions are recorded and can be watched at any time.
  • Date: Every Friday afternoon from 9th January until 13th February.
  • Suitable for pupils aged 6-11.
• Mr Dilly Meets: Explore themes of belonging, connection and inclusion with authors Joanna Nadin and Stewart Foster. Learn how stories can help us navigate strong emotions, explore what it means to ‘fit in’ and submit your questions for a pupil Q&A at this special Mr Dilly Meets event to celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week.
  • Date: 10th February
  • Suitable for pupils aged 9-13.
• Reading Rocks Virtual Author Events: Former teacher and award-winning author Ian Eagleton introduces his latest book The Dad Trap and talks about his own journey to becoming a writer in an interactive event with quizzes and lots of laughter. Register for free credits to access the full programme of events for the National Year of Reading.
  • Date: 10th February
  • Suitable for pupils aged 7-11.
• Reading Rocks Virtual Author Events: Explore the process of writing and illustrating a book with author/illustrator Emma Chinnery as she reads her latest picture book We Grew a Dragon. Then draw your own dragon and brainstorm ideas for your very own story in this interactive session. Register for free credits to access Reading Rocks’ full programme of events to help schools celebrate the National Year of Reading.
  • Date: 10th February
  • Suitable for pupils aged 5-7.
• Reading Rocks Virtual Author Events: While change can seem scary, it also offers us space to grow. Former teacher and award-winning author Clare Helen Welsh reads her latest picture book The Space Between and encourages young listeners to reflect on times of change in their own lives as they take part in a special draw-along with illustrator Fiona Lumbers. Register for free credits to access the full programme of events for the National Year of Reading.
  • Date: 12th February
  • Suitable for pupils aged 5-7.
• Children’s Authors Live: Celebrate Lunar New Year with author Eric Huang as he introduces his action-packed adventure series Guardians of the New Moon and explores the Chinese myth of The Great Race.
  • Date: 13th February
  • Suitable for pupils aged 6-9.
• Children’s Authors Live: Join debut author James Davis as he introduces his laugh-out-loud, science fiction adventure series Scarlet: Defender of the Universe. 
  • Date: 13th February
  • Suitable for pupils aged 8-11.

If you are interested in hosting a live author event this term, don’t forget that Authors Aloud, Authors Abroad and Speaking of Books are all organisations dedicated to helping schools spark a love of reading by bringing children and authors together.