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.
Heroes & Villains – Magic, Mischief & Deadly Fates | Ks2 and lower KS3
Tuesday 3rd November · 1:30pm
Ages 8–13 · KS2 & early KS3 · Free · Live + 14-day replay
What makes somebody a hero? What makes somebody a villain? And is it always that simple?
Join Mr Dilly and authors Helen Parry, Dhonielle Clayton and Iszi Lawrence for a free online event combining brilliant books with a strong English and reading focus.
Enter a world of folklore and dangerous magick in Helen Parry’s A Scrap of Moss and Magick, face an extraordinary magical competition in Dhonielle Clayton’s The Paragon Games, and travel back to 1086 for Anglo-Saxons, Normans and disappearing cattle in Iszi Lawrence’s The Domesday Cows.
Through author chats, readings, pupil questions and a live Heroes or Villains? discussion, pupils will explore character, motives, choices, viewpoint and inference – including why we root for some characters, mistrust others and sometimes change our minds about who the real hero or villain might be.
We’ll finish with The Ultimate Heroes & Villains Quiz, featuring books, myths, legends and history, with schools invited to play along.
A fun, ready-made way to support reading for pleasure, comprehension, characterisation, discussion and creative thinking while introducing pupils to three very different books.
Every Child Has a Story – World Children’s Day Livestream | Upper KS1 & KS2
Friday 20th November · 9:15am
Ages 6–11 · Upper KS1 & KS2 · Free · Live + 14-day replay
Approx. 40 minutes
Join Mr Dilly and award-winning author Sita Brahmachari for a special World Children’s Day event exploring stories, belonging, children’s voices and the world they are growing up in.
At the heart of the event is Sita’s beautiful picture book The Tale That Time Sews, illustrated by Jane Ray – a story of family, memory, migration and the stories carried from one generation to the next.
Through author chat, a reading, pupil questions and a simple creative activity, children will explore questions including:
What helps us feel that we belong?
Why does being listened to matter?
How can stories help us understand lives different from our own?
What would children like to change about the world they are growing up in?
A warm, story-led event connecting reading for pleasure, literacy, PSHE and citizenship, with plenty of opportunity for children to think about their own stories, voices and futures.
The Christmas Book Cracker | Upper KS1 & Lower KS2
Tuesday 8th December · 11:00am
Ages 7–11 · Late KS1 & KS2 · FREE · Live + 14-day replay
Snow leopards. Vengeful reindeer. Miserable monsters. A mouse orchestra. Naughty brothers. A camper van bookshop. And one VERY big red button…
Join Mr Dilly and eight brilliant children’s authors for a special 90-minute festive celebration of stories, snow, magic and mayhem.
Featuring Abi Elphinstone, The Brothers McLeod, Ella Risbridger, Wendy Meddour, Catherine Emmett, Harry Woodgate and Sam Usher, with books ranging from magical winter adventures and hilarious Christmas chaos to stories of friendship, generosity, courage and hope.
Expect author chats and readings, festive games, pupil questions, surprise Christmas messages from even more children’s authors and The Christmas Cracker Quiz, with schools invited to play along.
We’ll move between winter wonder, Christmas silliness and the heart of Christmas, before our guests come together to explore what makes a great festive story – from magic and mayhem to friendship, belonging and giving to others.
A huge end-of-term celebration supporting reading for pleasure, literacy, creativity and discovering new books, with plenty of festive fun along the way.