In our BC (Before Covid) days, World Book Day would quite possibly have meant an author visit. While in-school events won’t be happening this year, there are lots of online events planned across the whole of World Book Day week – and many of them are free. So, whether you want to focus on one particular author or would like to use this opportunity to introduce pupils to a range of different writers, use our schedule to help you plan.

Monday 1^st March

• Puffin Live Virtual Visits: Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of How to Change the World. Free but registration required. Sign up by Thursday 25^th to submit a question. (Suitable for KS1.)
• Bournville Bookfest: Poetry with Michael Rosen and Benjamin Zephaniah. Free. Teacher resources also available.  (Suitable for KS2.)
• Bournville Bookfest: Drawing Dobbie with award-winning picture book creator Jonny Duddle. Free. (Suitable for KS1 and KS2.)
• Authors Live: Holly Bourne discusses her latest novel, The Places I’ve Cried in Public and the issues it raises around mental health, relationships and feminism. Free but registration is required. (Suitable for KS3 and KS4.)
• The Really Big Pants Theatre Company have produced three online shows that can be used to celebrate World Book Day. The price for each show is per school so you can play them to different classes at different times during World Book Day week. Teacher resources also available.
  • The Really Big Love Book Day Play is a 20-minute show to encourage young children to pick up a book. Cost £30. (Suitable for EYFS and KS1.)
  • Suddenly is a fast, fun storytelling quest twisting traditional tales. Cost £60. (Suitable for KS1 and KS2.)
  • Wonky tackles bullying and helps children celebrate their differences. Cost £60. (Suitable for KS1 and KS2.)
• Authors Aloud UK Awesome Authorfest: Live draw-along with Tony de Saulles, illustrator of the Horrible Science books and the author/illustrator of the Bee Boy series. Registration is required, places are limited, and the cost to schools is £150. (Suitable for KS2.)

Tuesday 2^nd March

• Join David Walliams as he chats to Blue Peter presenter Lindsey Russell for his Amaaaaazing World Book Day Assembly. Register for free by Thursday 25th February to be able to submit a question. (Suitable for KS2.)
• Puffin Live Virtual Visits: Jion Sheibani talks about her book The Worries: Sohal Finds a Friend. Free but registration required. Sign up by Thursday 25^th to submit a question. (Suitable for KS1 and LKS2.)
• Bournville Bookfest: Writing Adventure Stories with Katherine Rundell. Free. Teacher resources also available. (Suitable for KS2.)
• Bournville Bookfest: Poetry Writing for Beginners with former Birmingham laureate Matt Windle. Free (Suitable for KS1 and KS2.)
• Authors Aloud UK Awesome Authorfest: Join Carnegie Medal winning author Sally Gardner as she talks about her books, her experiences as a dyslexic pupil at school, and how they shaped her as a writer. Registration is required, places are limited, and the cost to schools is £150. (Suitable for KS3.)

Wednesday 3^rd March

• World Book Day Share a Story: Books that Make You LOL! Free. (Suitable for KS2.)
• Puffin Live Virtual Visits: Struan Murray talks about Shipwreck Island, the latest title in his Orphans of the Tide series. Free but registration required. Sign up by Thursday 25^th to submit a question. (Suitable for KS2.)
• Bournville Bookfest: Making up Hilarious Stories with Serena Patel, author of the Anisha, Accidental Detective stories. Free. (Suitable for KS2.)
• Bournville Bookfest: Funny Stories Draw Along with Steven Lenton and Steven Butler. Free. Teacher resources also available. (Suitable for KS1 and KS2.)
• Authors Aloud UK Awesome Authorfest: Join award-winning poet and author Joseph Coelho for some poetry, language and reading inspiration. Registration is required, places are limited, and the cost to schools is £150. (Suitable for KS1 and KS2.)

Thursday 4^th March

• World Book Day Share a Story: Words and Pictures – Bringing Books to Life. Free. (Suitable for KS1.)
• Puffin Live Virtual Visits: Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola talk about their picture books Look Up! And Clean Up! Free but registration required. Sign up by Thursday 25^th to submit a question.
• Bournville Bookfest: Reading and Writing Stories about What You Love with Tom Palmer. Free. Teacher resources also available. (Suitable for KS2.)
• Bournville Bookfest: Storytelling with Anna O’Brien. Free. (Suitable for KS1.)
• Seven Stories Digital Authors into Schools: Writing (Extra-)Ordinary Stories with Sarah Hagger-Holt. Schools must register and are asked to buy a set of the author’s books worth £70 to participate. (Suitable for UKS2 and KS3.)
• The Anne Frank Trust UK: Tom Palmer talks about his book After the War, set in the summer of 1945. Free but registration required. (Suitable for KS2 and KS3.)

Friday 5^th March

• World Book Day Share a Story: Books and the Real World. Free. (Suitable for KS2 and KS3.)
• Bournville Bookfest: Dragons and Magic with Cressida Cowell. Free. Teacher resources available. (Suitable for KS2.)
• Bournville Bookfest: Draw-along with Nick Sharratt. Free. (Suitable for KS1 and KS2.)

If you still can’t find the right event for you, head over to our Access to Authors in Lockdown blog to see a selection of online events from last year’s literature festivals, author websites, and more.

Happy World Book Day 2021!