Schools Author Events

Monday 14 September 2026 at Burntwood School

On Monday 14th September in partnership with MacMillan and Waterstones we invite Year 5 or 6 pupils from Wandsworth primary schools to join celebrated authors Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell at Burntwood School for an inspiring event to encourage a love of reading. Featuring spectacular live drawing during the session, pupils will hear Paul and Chris speak about their books in The Edge Chronicles series.

Chris Riddell is a writer, illustrator and cartoonist and was appointed Waterstones’ Children’s Laureate 2015-2017. As well known for his own fiction for children, including the Ottoline, Goth Girl and The Edge Chronicles series, and for his many successful collaborative works, Chris Riddell is a tireless champion of reading and illustration in the modern age. He has won many awards for his work, including the Nestlé Gold Award, the UNESCO Award for Something Else and the rare honour of three Kate Greenaway Medals.

Paul Stewart is a bestselling English author of children’s books, science fiction, fantasy, and young adult novels. He is particularly famous for writing The Edge Chronicles series in collaboration with the renowned illustrator named Chris Riddell. Stewart is also famous for writing the Far Flung Adventures series, the Football Mad series, the Blobheads series, the Muddle Earth series, the Barnaby Grimes series, the Scavenger series, and the Free Lance books. He resides in Brighton along with his beloved wife and kids.

This event is exclusive to Wandsworth Primary Schools (non fee-paying) and is free to attend. Schools can book one year group into their choice of talk which will last for approximately 45 minutes. Pupils will be given the opportunity to pre-order a copy of one of their books which will be signed in advance of the event.

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Monday 15th September 2025 at ARK Putney Academy

In partnership with MacMillan and Waterstones we invited Year 3, 4 or 5 pupils from Wandsworth primary schools to join celebrated children’s author Chris Riddell at Ark Putney Academy for an inspiring event to encourage a love of reading. Featuring spectacular live drawing during the session, pupils heard Chris speak about his wide range of work including his new book A Mermaid's Diary as well as what it means to be an author.

Chris Riddell is a writer, illustrator and cartoonist and was appointed Waterstones’ Children’s Laureate 2015-2017. As well known for his own fiction for children, including the Ottoline, Goth Girl and The Edge Chronicles series, and for his many successful collaborative works, Chris Riddell is a tireless champion of reading and illustration in the modern age. He has won many awards for his work, including the Nestlé Gold Award, the UNESCO Award for Something Else and the rare honour of three Kate Greenaway Medals.

Thursday 18 September 2025 at Wandsworth Civic Suite

In partnership with Quarto Publishing and Waterstones, Poet and former Children’s Laureate (2022-24) Joseph Coelho hosted 3 interactive poetry events for Wandsworth’s younger readers in years Reception – Year 2 at Wandsworth Civic Suite in September 2025 to celebrate his new book Children of the Throne - a gentle, poetic story about climate change, working together, building communities and living in tune with nature. A spectacular living throne was also installed in Southside Shopping Centre for the public to engage with alongside a public book signing event at Waterstones.

Joseph Coelho, who grew up in Wandsworth, is a performance poet, children’s author and winner of the Children’s Laureate (2022-24). He is the winner of countless poetry and literary prizes, including having twice won ‘best picture book of the year’, as voted for by independent bookshops (If All The World Were and My Beautiful Voice). He has written plays for the Polka Theatre, Soho Theatre and Unicorn Theatre, and performs with the UK’s top performance poetry organisation, Apples and Snakes.

Friday 17 October 2025 at Burntwood School

In partnership with Waterstones and Hachette Children's Group we invited Year 4, 5 or 6 pupils from Wandsworth primary schools to join celebrated author Cressida Cowell at Burntwood Academy for 3 inspiring events to encourage a love of reading. Pupils heard Cressida speak about her wide range of work including her new book 'Which Way to the Future'., as well as what it means to be an author.

Cressida Cowell is the author and illustrator of the bestselling How to Train Your Dragon, The Wizards of Once and Which Way to Anywhere books series, and the author of the Emily Brown picture books, illustrated by Neal Layton. She was the Waterstones Children’s Laureate from 2019 – 2022. The Wizards of Once series has been translated into 37 languages and has been signed by DreamWorks Animation. How to Train Your Dragon has sold over 11 million books worldwide in 38 languages and is a major DreamWorks Animation film franchise, as well as being made into a TV series on Netflix and CBBC.