Mr Dilly Meets
Mr Dilly Meets brings children’s authors, illustrators and poets into classrooms, libraries and homes through free live online events for schools.
Hosted by presenter, performer, writer and educator Mr Dilly, each event gives pupils the chance to discover the people behind the books they love—through conversation about stories, characters, writing, drawing, poetry, imagination and the ideas that inspire them.
Every event is different, but may include author chats, readings and read-alouds, illustrator draw-alongs, pupil questions, quizzes, creative challenges and plenty of moments that get children talking about books.
With more than 650,000 pupils reached, and more than 120 authors, illustrators and poets taken part so far, Mr Dilly Meets has grown into one of the UK’s largest free virtual author event programmes for schools.
Mr Dilly Meets at a glance
Free virtual author events for schools, hosted by Mr Dilly
Children’s authors, illustrators, poets, and stories beamed directly into classrooms and homes
Author chats, read-alouds, draw-alongs, pupil questions, quizzes and creative challenges
Reading-for-pleasure and themed events across science, history, poetry, myths, monsters, empathy, creativity, adventure and more
Simple viewing link: no downloads, sign-ins or special software needed
Watch live or on replay to suit, depending on the event
Mr Dilly Meets Events: Booking Now
Free virtual author visits for schools. Book a place below and watch live or on replay where available.
Frightfully Good Fiction - Spooky Stories & MG Horror | KS2 and Lower KS3
13th October · 1:30pm BST
KS2 & Lower Ks3 · Free · Live, with a two-week replay
Ghosts, monsters, mysteries and things that go bump in the night…
Join Mr Dilly and a frightfully good line-up of children’s authors for a free online celebration of spooky stories, featuring Phil Corbett, Guy Bass, Adam Murphy, Jennifer Killick, Christopher Edge and Jack Mackay.
Discover funny ghosts, creepy old houses, supernatural mysteries, comic-book history and full-on chills, with books including Ghost & Toast, The Worst Thing That Could Possibly Happen, Corpse Talk, Soul Feeder, Fear Files and Gloam.
Expect author chats and readings, Would You Rather? – Spooky Edition, pupil questions and a special Frights & Delights panel exploring fear, funny scares and what makes a great creepy story.
A fun way to support reading for pleasure, literacy and creativity – and introduce pupils to a brilliant range of authors, genres and possible next read.
Courage, Freedom, Change – A Black History Month Special | KS2
21st October · 1:30pm BST
KS2 · Free · Live, with a two-week replay
Queens, courage, friendship and the power to make change…
Join Mr Dilly and authors Onyinye Iwu, E.L. Norry and Gillian Rowe for a special Black History Month event bringing together history, fiction and picture books.
Travel through 2,000 years of African history in Onyinye Iwu’s African Queens, meet three unlikely friends standing up for others in E.L. Norry’s Outlaws, and journey through Barbados towards education and opportunity in Gillian Rowe’s Freedom March.
Expect author chats, readings, pupil questions and conversation exploring leadership, fairness, education, friendship and the courage to challenge what needs changing.
A powerful way to support Black History Month, reading for pleasure, literacy, history and PSHE.
Heroes & Villains – Magic, Mischief & Deadly Fates | Ks2 and lower KS3
Tuesday 3rd November · 1:30pm GMT
Ages 8–13 · KS2 & early KS3 · Free · Live + 14-day replay
Heroes. Villains. Magic. And some very difficult choices…
Join Mr Dilly and fantasy authors Helen Parry and Dhonielle Clayton for an adventure through magical worlds, hidden secrets and characters who may not be quite as heroic – or villainous – as they first appear.
Discover Helen’s A Scrap of Moss and Magick, where eleven-year-old Thirza must make an impossible choice, and Dhonielle’s The Deadly Fates, where a dark mystery leads into the Underworld and a prison filled with villains.
Expect author chats, readings, pupil questions, Would You Rather? – Heroes & Villains Edition and a panel asking:
What really makes someone a hero or a villain – and can they sometimes be both?
A fun way to support reading for pleasure, literacy and creativity while discovering two richly imagined fantasy worlds.
Stories, Rights & Our Future – World Children’s Day | Upper KS1 & Lower KS2
Friday 20th November · 9:15am GMT
Ages 6–9 · Upper KS1 & Lower KS2 · Free · Live + 14-day replay
Approx. 40 minutes
Every child has a story. Every child has rights. Every child deserves a future.
Join Mr Dilly and award-winning author Sita Brahmachari for a special World Children’s Day event inspired by her beautiful new book The Tale that Time Sews, illustrated by Jane Ray.
Through a story quilt filled with memories of family, migration, belonging and new beginnings, we’ll explore how stories connect generations – before opening out into a wider conversation about children’s rights, being heard and the kind of future young people deserve.
Expect a reading, author conversation, pupil questions and a simple activity encouraging children to think about their own hopes for the future.
A thoughtful way to support reading for pleasure, literacy, PSHE and citizenship.