Spark your pupils’ imaginations and boost their creativity with one of the FREE author events taking place this summer term. From books inspired by historical events to imaginary worlds full of magical creatures, there is an event to cater for all reading ages and interests in our roundup.

Events for Pupils

June

• National Literacy Trust: Celebrate Refugee Week with authors A. M. Dassu and Amir Darwish as they explore this year’s theme, Community as a Superpower, and share their own stories. This live event is accompanied by free teaching resources.
  • Date: 17th June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 8-11
• Scholastic Schools Live: Join Axel Scheffler and author Alison Green for an online event all about kindness and friendship as they introduce their brand new book Welcome.
  • Date: 20th June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 3+
• National Literacy Trust: Megan Babakar introduces her book The Bicycle and explores its themes and message in this online event to help schools celebrate Refugee Week with younger children. This live event is accompanied by free teaching resources.
  • Date: 20th June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 5-8
• National Literacy Trust: Explore the experiences of people seeking refuge and the way refugees are represented in fiction, the media and everyday conversations with this online workshop for Refugee Week led by author Sita Brahmachari and Lina Fadel, editor of literary magazine The Other Side of Hope.
  • Date: 20th June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 11-14
• British Library: Encourage younger pupils to get involved with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge with this interactive event featuring storytelling and sing-alongs led by authors Trish Cooke and Alex Wharton.
  • Date: 23rd June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 5-7
• Scholastic Schools Live: Test your knowledge of Greek myths and get top tips on how to write funny diary entries with author Tom Vaughn in this interactive event inspired by his latest title Hercules: Hero to Zero.
  • Date 23rd June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 8+
• Scholastic Schools Live: Author Bethany Walker and illustrator Sophie Kent introduce their lighthearted new picture book about starting school, How to Train Your Teacher. Find out how to help your teacher have a great first day at school and join in with some hands-on drawing fun.
  • Date: 23rd June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 3+
• Mr Dilly Meets: Sign up for a Super Summer Storyfest complete with draw-along, classroom quiz and readings from seven inspiring authors. Patrick Ness, Andy Shepherd, Lindsay Galvin, Sophy Henn, Jennifer Claessen, Truly Johnston and Gabby Dawnay introduce their latest fiction, non-fiction and graphic novel titles in this fast-paced celebration of reading, stories and imagination. The event will also be available as a recording to watch on demand.
  • Date: 24th June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 7-11
• Scholastic Schools Live: Best-selling picture book duo Alice Hemming and Nicola Slater introduce their latest picture book The Sun Thief that explores the changing seasons with the help of the irrepressible Squirrel.
  • Date: 24th June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 3+
• Scholastic Schools Live: Award-winning author Lisa Thompson will be answering pupils’ questions about story writing, talking about her bestselling books The Goldfish Boy and The Magpie Riddle and sharing a sneak preview of her soon-to-be-published title The Skeleton Puzzle in this interactive event.
  • Date: 24th June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 8+
• BookTrust Represents: Keisha Jones may only be eight but she is brimming with ideas and determined to stamp out injustices. Find out more about this feisty heroine and standing up for your beliefs in this online event with author and activist Natalie Denny.
  • Date: 25th June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 8-10
• National Literacy Trust:  Join award-winning author Matt Goodfellow for an interactive, transition-themed event as he introduces his latest verse novel The First Year and picks up Nate’s story as he starts at secondary school.
  • Date: 25th June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 10-12
• Scholastic Schools Live: Celebrate the joys of becoming independent and being able to do things ‘by myself’ at this online event with author Caryl Hunt and illustrator Zoe Waring as they introduce their latest picture book I Can Do It By Myself.
  • Date: 25th June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 3+
• Waterstones Virtual School Visit: Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third is back in a brand-new How to Train Your Dragon spin-off series. Join former Waterstones Children’s Laureate and best-selling author Cressida Cowell to hear more about Hiccup’s latest adventures at Dragon School with some top drawing and writing tips thrown in for good measure.
  • Date: 25th June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 7-10
• Scholastic Schools Live: Hear master storyteller Alex Latimer read Dragon Dave, the (Not-So) Brave, his brand-new picture about being brave and daring to be different and get some top drawing tips from illustrator Philip Cullen at this interactive event with an important message.
  • Date: 26th June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 3+
• Scholastic Schools Live: Join bestselling US author Lynn Painter as she talks about her own writing journey, shares some of her top writing tips and introduces her latest book The Wish Switch, a laugh-out-loud story of friendship, family, a new school year – and a dash of magic.
• National Literacy Trust: Joseph Coelho leads an interactive workshop exploring themes of masculinity based on his award-winning verse novel The Boy Lost in the Maze.
  • Date: 26th June
  • Suitable for pupils aged 14+

July

• National Literacy Trust: Award-winning author and performance poet Sophie Thakur leads an online, pre-recorded workshop that focuses on the theme of reflection, celebration and aspiration. During the workshop, pupils will have the opportunity to practise their speaking and listening skills and participate in reflective writing activities designed to help them celebrate their achievements of the past year and think about their aspirations and goals.
  • Date: The recording will be available from 30th June to 31st July.
  • Suitable for pupils aged 12-18
• Waterstones Virtual School Visit: Internationally acclaimed author and broadcaster Bettany Hughes shares her passion for the history of the Ancient World as she introduces her debut children’s book There Was a Roman in Your Garden, exploring some of the fascinating stories behind ancient artefacts and answering pupils’ questions.
  • Date: 4th July,
  • Suitable for pupils aged 8+
• Mr Dilly Meets: Celebrate the start of this year’s Women’s Euro Championship with Mr Dilly and award-winning author Tom Palmer as he talks about his own journey from football-mad reader to bestselling writer, shares his top five books about women’s football and answers pupils’ questions. Join in the Euro 2025 Predictions Challenge for the chance to win a virtual author visit with Tom.
  • Date 4th July
  • Suitable for pupils aged 7-11
• Waterstones Virtual School Visit: Discover what it is like to live on a cruise ship with actress Emma Swan as she introduces the first title in her new mystery series Cruise Ship Kid: Thief at Sea! Like Silver, the book’s heroine, Swan spent her childhood on cruise ships and was ‘ship-schooled’ while travelling the globe. With quizzes, drama games and the chance to put your own questions to the author.
  • Date: 9th July
  • Suitable for pupils aged 8-12
• National Literacy Trust/Premier League Reading Stars: Learn all about the art of persuasion at this online workshop that connects football and literacy. Matt Oldfield and Seth Burkett – authors of The Football GOAT series – join sports broadcaster Kenzie Benali to share their top tips on how to bring people round to your point of view as they explore footballing GOATs (Greatest Of All Time).
  • Date 15th July
  • Suitable for pupils aged 7-11

Events for Teachers and Librarians

• Owning It – Our disabled childhoods in our own words: James and Lucy Catchpole, Nina Tame, Sophie Kamlish and Sora J. Kasuga join Nikki Gamble to celebrate the publication of Owning It, a new anthology of 22 autobiographical stories capturing the highs and lows of growing up with a disability.
  • Date: 17th July

If you are interested in hosting an in-person author event in the new academic year, 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 young people and authors together.