From much-loved picture book creators to award-winning novelists, our roundup of free online author events for the first half of the autumn term has something for every age group. Whether your pupils enjoy gripping adventures, laugh-out-loud stories, poetry or graphic novels, these virtual sessions provide a fantastic opportunity to discover new books, hear directly from authors and illustrators and explore the creative process behind their work. Find an event to kickstart your reading for pleasure plans for the new academic year.

EYFS and Key Stage 1

• British Library: Meet the latest member of the Gruffalo family as Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler introduce Gruffalo Granny, their hugely anticipated new picture book and the first Gruffalo story to be published in more than 20 years.
  • 11 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 6-8
• Waterstones Virtual School Visit: Join best-selling picture book duo Rachel Bright and Jim Field for a storytelling and draw-along event based on their latest title The Turtle Who Turned the Tide, a heartwarming tale of adventure, bravery and one tiny turtle who changes her world for good.
  • 18 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 3-6
• Scholastic Book Club Live: Author/illustrator Nicola Kinnear reads A Little Bit Braver, the sequel to her bestselling picture book A Little Bit Brave in this interactive storytime and draw-along event.
  • 22 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 3-6
• Scholastic Book Club Live: Help young children navigate all sorts of changes as they grow up with author Helen Docherty and illustrator Brizida Magro as they lead a storytime and draw-along session based on their picture book Together We Grow.
  • 24 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 3+
• Scholastic Book Club Live: Explore the history of Partition with author Swapna Haddow and illustrator Farah Shah as they introduce The Line, a gentle picture book with a hopeful message at its heart.
  • 25 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 3+

Key Stage 2

• Reading Rocks: Inspired by his new graphic novel The Far-Out Five: Portal Loo Panic, author, illustrator and stand-up comedian Olaf Falafel leads an interactive workshop in which he will share tips on how to create funny comics and guide children through drawing one of his wonderfully weird characters.
  • 15 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 7–11
• Authors Live: Join award-winning cartoonist and author Neill Cameron to celebrate the release of Donut Squad: Destiny of the Donuts, the third title in his hilarious graphic novel series. Get exclusive insights into the world of the Donut Squad, learn how to draw some of the characters and find out how to make people laugh with your art in this online event for all young comic enthusiasts.
  • 16 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 7–11
• Waterstones Virtual School Event: Meet Hari Kumar, 75% Indian, 25% French and 100% going to be a superstar. Award-winning author Rashmi Sirdeshpande introduces her laugh-out loud, doodle-packed diary series Hari Kumar: Ultimate Superstar in this online event that includes an opportunity for pupils to put their own questions to the author.
  • 16 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 7–11
• National Literacy Trust: National Year of Reading Ambassador Nadia Shireen talks about her life as an author/illustrator and leads an interactive workshop based on her laugh-out-loud Grimwood series. Meet the crazy cast of Grimwood inhabitants, join in a live draw-along and listen to a reading from the latest title in the series, Grimwood: The Fast and the Furriest, in this Go All In event.
  • 17 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 7–11
• Reading Rocks: Join award-winning author Nadia Shireen for an interactive workshop based on her laugh-out-loud Grimwood series. Meet the crazy cast of Grimwood inhabitants, join in a live draw-along and listen to a reading from the latest title in the series, Grimwood: The Fast and the Furriest.
  • 18 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 7–11
• Scholastic Book Club Live: Author Bethany Walker and illustrator Katie Abey lead an interactive workshop based on Medusa Gorgon’s Deadly Side Eye, the second title in their Medusa Gorgon series, a funny 21st Century reimagining of the Medusa myth.
  • 21 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 9–12
• Scholastic Book Club Live: Join award-winning graphic novel duo John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs for an interactive workshop as they introduce their brand-new fantasy adventure Wilomina: The Land of Dreams and Nightmares and share how graphic novels are made.
  • 21 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 8–12
• Book Clubs in Schools, Coram Beanstalk and Chapter One: Celebrate the latest title in the fantastically funny Grimwood series with best-selling author Nadia Shireen as she reads from Grimwood: The Fast and the Furriest, shares some of her top illustration tips in a live draw-along and talks about her own journey as an author/illustrator.
  • 22 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 7–11
• Scholastic Book Club Live: When Sammie gets the chance to train at a prestigious K-pop bootcamp and earn a place in a new girl band, she jumps at the chance… Explore the world of K-pop and create your own K-pop characters with author Lucy Tandon Copp, as she introduces her new book K-Pop: Making the Band.
  • 22 September 2026 | Suitable for ages 8–12
• Scholastic Book Club Live: Explore the world of Japanese legend and have a go at creating your own yokai, a supernatural creature from Japanese folklore, with author William Yamaguchi Dobson. Learn how the author’s own childhood in Japan inspired his debut book Kamizen: Fortress of Lost Memories, a moving fantasy adventure about family, memory and the fear of losing someone you love.
  • 23 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 9+
• Waterstones Virtual School Event: Best-selling author and former children’s book editor Steve Cole introduces The Wild Ones, his latest action-packed adventure featuring a ragtag group of animals desperately looking for a new home in a strange new world. Get top tips on how to create believable characters and page-turning plots with the opportunity for pupils to put their own questions to the author.
  • 23 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 8–11
• Mr Dilly Meets: Help young readers find their next great read with this interactive event featuring five authors and five different genres. From the diary of a young Henry VIII and a boarding-school murder mystery to gripping fantasy adventures, explore different ways into reading with authors Nicola Penfold, Danny Wallace,  Christopher Galvin, Alison Weatherby and Genevieve Carver. Featuring short readings from all the featured titles, author interviews and fun author challenges.
  • Watch live on 24 September 2026 and on demand during the two-week catch-up window | Suitable for pupils aged 7–11
• Scholastic Book Club Live: Join author Steve Blackman as he introduces Zero Override, his new, action-packed techno thriller set in a near-future London where humans and humanoid bots live side by side.
  • 24 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 10+
• The Reading Agency: Hear how award-winning author Rashmi Sirdeshpande writes her books and how she created Hari Kumar and the characters in her hilarious new, doodle-packed series, Hari Kumar: Ultimate Superstar. With readings from the books and the chance for pupils to put their questions to the author.
  • 25 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 7–11
• Scholastic Book Club Live: Meet Shady, the sneaky squirrel super thief, and the cast of animal crime lords from Squirrel Shady, a hilarious, high-energy crime caper. Author/illustrator Nick East introduces his new illustrated series and shares some of his top drawing tips in this interactive workshop.
  • 25 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 7–9
• Mr Dilly Meets: Discover how poetry can tell a whole story, capture powerful feelings or help us notice the world differently with The Wonder of Poetry online event. Explore this year’s National Poetry Day theme through author conversations, readings, creative challenges and film. Featuring Jessica Mary Ellis, author of verse novel When the Birds Wake Up, Adam Bushnell & Frankie O’Reilly, authors of 100 Ideas for Primary Teachers: Poetry and Mr Dilly’s film inspired by Zaro Weil’s award-winning collection When Poems Fall From the Sky.
  • Watch live on 28 September 2026 and on demand during the week of National Poetry Day | Suitable for pupils aged 8–13
• National Literacy Trust: Join poet Alan (Kurly) McGeachie to explore the emotional and historical significance of Remembrance through poetry in one of two interactive workshops. Alan will share a brand-new poem and explore different poetry techniques to inspire young people to write their own Remembrance poetry.
  • 29 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 7–9
• National Literacy Trust: Join poet Alan (Kurly) McGeachie to explore the emotional and historical significance of Remembrance through poetry in one of two interactive workshops. Alan will share a brand-new poem and explore different poetry techniques to inspire young people to write their own Remembrance poetry.
  • 29 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 9–11
• The Reading Agency: Explore the hidden forces of physics that control our world with super science communicator and documentary maker Samantha Lewis as she introduces her latest book Forces of the Day with fascinating facts and clever tricks to dazzle friends and family.
  • 30 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 7–11
• Waterstones Virtual School Event: Celebrate the lives of some of the amazing women who have shaped our world with author Kate Pankhurst as she introduces her latest book Letters from Fantastically Great Women. Learn about six inspirational women and be inspired and empowered by their stories in this interactive event with the opportunity for pupils to put their own questions to the author.
  • 7 October 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 7–11
• BookTrust Represents: Join musician, performing artist and storyteller Love Ssega as he introduces his debut children’s book The Elementals: Wanzu Sets Sail, a magical environmental adventure about friendship and care of the natural world.
  • 7 October 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 7–9
• Waterstones Virtual School Event: Learn about the inspiration behind Rob Biddulph’s latest book The Last Wolf, a spine-tingling re-imagining of the werewolf legend, and take part in a live ‘Draw with Rob’ session, with the opportunity for pupils to put their own questions to one of the greats of the children’s book world.
  • 14 October 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 8–11
• National Literacy Trust: Sign up for a Go All In Together event for the National Year of Reading that invites pupils to help create The Never-Ending Comic. With a surprise comic superstar and members of the Beano team, this is an opportunity for pupils to explore one of the oldest forms of storytelling and help create a nationwide comic.
  • 22 October 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 8–14

• Key Stage 3

• Scholastic Book Club Live: Author Bethany Walker and illustrator Katie Abey lead an interactive workshop based on Medusa Gorgon’s Deadly Side Eye, the second title in their Medusa Gorgon series, a funny, 21st Century reimagining of the Medusa myth.
  • 21 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 9–12
• Scholastic Book Club Live: When Sammie gets the chance to train at a prestigious K-pop bootcamp and earn a place in a new girl band, she jumps at the chance… Explore the world of K-pop and create your own K-pop characters with author Lucy Tandon Copp, as she introduces her new book K-Pop: Making the Band.
  • 22 September 2026 | Suitable for ages 8–12
• British Library: Join prize-winning author and poet Richard Lambert for a Green Libraries Week masterclass as he talks about his critically acclaimed YA novel The Wolf Road and explores themes of climate change, nature and disinformation.
  • 23 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 13–16
• Scholastic Book Club Live: Join author Steve Blackman as he introduces Zero Override, his new, action-packed techno thriller set in a near-future London where humans and humanoid bots live side by side.
  • 24 September 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 10–13
• Mr Dilly Meets: Discover how poetry can tell a whole story, capture powerful feelings or help us notice the world differently with The Wonder of Poetry online event. Explore this year’s National Poetry Day theme of Wonder through author conversations, readings, creative challenges and film. Featuring Jessica Mary Ellis, author of verse novel When the Birds Wake Up, Adam Bushnell & Frankie O’Reilly, authors of 100 Ideas for Primary Teachers: Poetry and Mr Dilly’s film inspired by Zaro Weill’s award-winning collection When Poems Fall From the Sky.
  • Watch live on 28 September 2026 and on demand during the week of National Poetry Day | Suitable for pupils aged 8–13
• National Literacy Trust: Sign up for a Go All In Together event for the National Year of Reading that invites pupils to help create The Never-Ending Comic. With a surprise comic superstar and members of the Beano team, this is an opportunity for pupils to explore one of the oldest forms of storytelling and help create a nationwide comic.
  • 22 October 2026 | Suitable for pupils aged 8–14

If you are interested in hosting a bespoke event for your school with an author, poet, storyteller or illustrator there are a number of organisations that can help. Check out your options here.