World Book Day 2022 is just around the corner. You may already have an author visit booked for the Big Day but, if you haven’t, there is still time to sign up for one of the many live events that are taking place online over World Book Day week. Many of the events are free, so browse our schedule and add a sprinkle of author magic to your World Book Day celebrations.

Monday 28th February

• World Book Day Live with Matilda and Friends. Launch World Book Day week with this special event featuring all this year’s World Book Day authors and some special guests, including live drawing from Chris Riddell and a performance from the cast of Matilda the Musical.
  • Free
  • Suitable for Emerging-Independent Readers (approx 6+).
• Awesome Authorfest: Jasbinder Bilan. The award-winning author of Asha and the Spirit Bird, Tamarind and the Star of Ishta and Aarti and the Blue Gods will talk about the inspiration behind her books and her experiences growing up.
  • Registration is required and the cost is £150 per school.
  • Suitable for Years 5, 6 and 7.
• Awesome Authorfest: Storyteller Lucy Walters will explore a magical world where letters from storybook characters are sorted and sent.
  • Registration is required and the cost is £150 per school.
  • Suitable for EYFS and Year 1.
• Bournville Bookfest: Dinosaurs in Space and Creating Great Story Ideas with Steve Cole.
  •  Free.
  • Suitable for Years, 3, 4 and 5.
  • Teacher resources also available.
• Scholastic Schools Live: Julia Donaldson Presents a Pocketful of Songs. Enjoy a medley of songs and stories based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s award-winning books.
  • Free with registration
  • Suitable for ages 3+.
• Scholastic Schools Live: Explore the Aquanaut. Join Caldecott Medal-winning author and illustrator Dan Santat to learn about his new graphic novel about saving the ocean and finding friendship in unexpected places.
  • Free with registration
  • Suitable for ages 7+.

Tuesday 1^st March

• Join Steve Antony, award-winning author and illustrator of over 20 books, including Please Mr Panda and You Can for an Awesome Authorfest session full of warmth and humour.
  • Registration is required and the cost is £150 per school.
  • Suitable for EYFS and KS1.
• Bournville Bookfest: Poetry Masterclass with award-winning spoken word poet Zohab Zee Khan.
  • Free.
  • Suitable for Years, 3, 4 and 5.
  • Teacher resources also available.
• Scholastic Schools Live: It’s a Party Parade with Sara Miller. Count the animals as you explore deep blue waters, tropical jungles and dry desert sands.
  • Free with registration.
  • Suitable for ages 3+.
• Scholastic Schools Live: Letter Writing with Bethany Walker. Inspired by her new book, How to Steal the Mona Lisa, Bethany Walker’s letter-writing workshop will explore how to write a letter in character.
  • Free with registration.
  • Suitable for ages 7+.
• Mr Dilly will be chatting to a host of authors, illustrators and poets in a Mr Dilly Meets… World Book Day special. Authors include the creators of The Worst Class in the World series – Joanna Nadin and Rikin Parekh; Christopher Edge; AF Harold; Jenny Pearson; Zaro Weil and more.
  • Free with registration.
  • Suitable for KS2.

Wednesday 2^nd March

• World Book Day Live: Reality Check – Books as a Portal into Life Today. Join authors Ben Bailey Smith, Sharna Jackson and Rashmi Sirdeshpande as they talk about writing realist fiction and writing non-fiction on topical issues.
  • Free.
  • Suitable for Fluent – Independent Readers (approx 8+).
• Awesome Authorfest: bestselling author, Robert Muchamore, talks about his new series about a young Robin Hood living in a modern Sherwood Forest.
  • Registration is required and the cost is £150 per school.
  • Suitable for Years 7, 8 and 9.
• Bournville Bookfest: Fantasy Maps and Story Tips with Vashti Hardy, author of Wildspark, Brightstorm and Harley Hitch.
  •  Free.
  • Suitable for KS2.
  • Teacher resources also available.
• Scholastic Schools Live: Drawing Super Silly Museums with Nick Sharratt. Enjoy lots of drawing activities as you stroll around eight magnificently silly museums.
  • Free with registration
  • Suitable for ages 5+.
• Scholastic Schools Live: Make a Wish with Helen Rutter. Join the critically-acclaimed author of The Boy Whose Wishes Came True to find out how you can be inspired to achieve your dreams.
  • Free with registration.
  • Suitable for ages 8+.

Thursday 3^rd March

• World Book Day Live: Using your Imagination – Books as a Way to Imagine the Impossible. Join a host of World Book Day £1 book authors as they talk about creating fantastical worlds for their stories.
  • Free.
  • Suitable for Emerging – Fluent Readers (approx. 6-11).
• Awesome Authorfest: Dame Jacqueline Wilson will be sharing some tips on how she creates characters that live on in the mind of readers long after they have finished reading the book.
  • Registration is required and the cost is £150 per school.
  • Suitable for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.
• Bournville Bookfest: Rumble with the Romans! with Gary Northfield, the creator of Julius Zebra and regular contributor to the Beano, The Phoenix and Horrible Histories magazines.
  • Free.
  • Suitable for KS2.
  • Teacher resources also available.
• The Children’s Bookshow: Catherine Rayner, award-winning author and illustrator will be sharing some of her stories and drawing live.
  • £10 per log in.
  • Suitable for Years 1 and 2.
• The Children’s Bookshow: Michael Rosen. The much-loved and award-winning poet and author will be performing his poems and sharing some top tips on how to write your own.
  • £10 per log in.
  • Suitable for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.
• Puffin StoryMakers Show: Imaginative Story Making Missions with Greg James, Chris Smith, Priscilla Mante, Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola.
  • Free with registration.
  • Suitable for KS 1 and 2.
  • Teacher resources also available.
• Scholastic Schools Live: Fairy Tales and Animal Stories with Axel Scheffler. Join the UK’s number one picture book illustrator for some live drawing and a celebration of fairy and animal tales.
  • Free with registration.
  • Suitable for ages 3+.
• Scholastic Schools Live: Creating Manga-inspired Graphic Novels with Amy Kim Kibuishi. Find out how the creator of The Rema Chronicles creates her graphic novels, and join her in a draw-along inspired by her book.
  • Free with registration.
  • Suitable for ages 7+.

Friday 4^th March

• Awesome Authorfest: poet and author Laura Mucha will be performing her poetry and encouraging her viewers to play with language and ideas in this energetic workshop.
  • Registration is required and the cost is £150 per school.
  • Suitable for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.
• Awesome Authorfest: Manjeet Mann will be talking about her critically-acclaimed books Run Rebel and The Crossing.
  • Registration is required and the cost is £150 per school.
  • Suitable for Years 8, 9, and 10.
• Bournville Bookfest: Storyboarding with Tor Freeman. Step-by-step tips on how create your own storyboards and comics.
  • Free.
  • Suitable for KS2.
  • Teacher resources available.
• Bournville Bookfest: Storyclues with storyteller Lucy Walters.
  • Free.
  • Suitable for Years 1 and 2.
  • Teacher resources available.
• Seven Stories: Digital Authors into School. Award-winning author Elle McNicoll introduces her latest book Like a Charm.
  • The event is free but schools are asked to buy a set of the author’s books to the value of £70. Registration required.
  • Suitable for Years 5, 6, 7 and 8.
• Scholastic Schools Live: Doodle with the Doodle Boy! Find out about 12-year-old Joe Whale’s journey to fame as the Doodle Boy, and be inspired by his new book series, Bad Food: Game of Scones.
  • Free with registration.
  • Suitable for ages 5+.
• Scholastic Schools Live: Draw-along with Onyinye Iwu. Find out how the illustrator of upcoming picture book We Sang Across the Sea: The Empire Windrush and Me creates character and scene as she shares some top tips for aspiring artists.
  • Free with registration.
  • Suitable for ages 3+.

If none of the scheduled live events are what you are looking for, don’t forget that Authors Live, Authorfy and ReadingZone all have libraries of recorded events and author interviews that you can access for free. The Really Big Pants Theatre Company have also produced two online shows – The Really Big Love Book Day Play and Suddenly – that can be used to celebrate World Book Day in primary schools.

Happy World Book Day 2022!