School Events

Hugh Bonneville

Years 3-6

Thursday 24 September 2026 – 10.30-11.30am

Join Paddington and Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville as he shares his first children’s book Rory Sparkes and the Elephant in the Room.

A story packed with friendship and adventure, you’ll hear more about the real-life events that inspired Rory’s story. Find out how a true British acting legend found inspiration in everything from playing Roald Dahl, to spending so much time with a very rare sort of bear.

Lord of the Flies

Years 8-9

Thursday 24 September 2026 – 1.30-3pm

Includes Young Writers Competition Senior Prizegiving with Wimbledon BookFest’s Children’s Laureate Nathanael (Nate) Lessore.

Onjali Q. Raúf

Years 4-6

Friday 25 September 2026- 10.30-12noon

Multi-award-winning author Onjali Q. Raúf joins us for this very special event in which she takes us on a journey of her books, often inspired by real-life encounters.

Onjali’s books speak to the importance of friendship and understanding, showing how compassion and kindness can make the world a better place. Join Onjali for a delve into story writing where she’ll share how personal experiences have shaped her writing.

Includes Young Writers Competition 2026 Junior Prizegiving

Philip Reeve & Sarah McIntyre

Years 2-3

Tuesday 20 October 2026- 10.30-11.30am

Join storytelling superstars Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre for a wildly fun event inspired by Mini Mice Mayhem – the brand-new (and ninth!) book in their hugely popular, bestselling Adventuremice series.

Expect laugh-out-loud storytelling, games, live draw-alongs, and an unforgettable whirlwind of mouse-sized mayhem as the Adventuremice take on a class of very mischievous mouselets!

Athena Kugblenu

Years 3-6

Tuesday 20 October 2026 – 1.30-2.30pm

Get ready for the kind of history you’ve never heard of before!

Join comedian and CBBC’s Horrible Histories writer Athena Kugblenu for a mind-boggling event based on her book History’s Most Epic Fails! From ridiculous rulers to ludicrous inventions and totally terrible disasters, Athena reveals the moments when history went hilariously wrong.

Think you know everything about history? Think again! 

RAMZEE

Years 4-6

Wednesday 21 October 2026- 10.30-11.30am

RAMZEE explains the creative process behind his brand-new middle-grade series, what a cheat book actually is and how he developed the distinctive voice of Kamal.

Drawing on his experiences as a cartoonist, storyteller and coming to the UK as a refugee, RAMZEE’s inspiring session engages children’s creativity whether they are avid readers, budding young writers and illustrators or reluctant readers.

Iqbal Hussain

Years 4-6

Wednesday 21 October 2026 – 1.30-2.30pm

Join Iqbal Hussain as he introduces his children’s debut The Night I Borrowed Time.

Learn about the Pakistani history and culture that has inspired the book, including an introduction to the Partition of India and Pakistan, as well as how Iqbal’s family has inspired the character of Zuibar and his six brothers, and how old photographs can be just like time travel! There will be also be interactive sections with volunteers from the audience.

A. F. Steadman

Years 4-7

Thursday 22 October 2026- 10.30-11.30am

Internationally bestselling author AF Steadman comes to Wimbledon BookFest to share all about her blockbuster series, Skandar, including the adventurer who first discovered the Island in the new thrilling novella prequel. 

Get ready for unlikely heroes, elemental magic, sky battles, ancient secrets and ferocious unicorns. Find out about her original inspirations for the Skandar series, which has been translated into over 45 languages and is set to hit the big screen with Sony Pictures. Come prepared to create your own bloodthirsty unicorn and discover elemental magic! 

Zak Simmonds-Hurn

Years 5-7

Thursday 22 October 2026- 1.30-2.30pm

Dive into a world of wondrous magic and dark gods with Zak Simmonds-Hurn, illustrator of  Legacy: The Shadow Rises. Learn to draw magical worlds and action-packed comics like a pro, as you discover the world of  Legacy – a stunning new comic book series.

When Scarlett Thawn, heir to the great city of Hightown, learns that her family has been attacked, she is forced to give up her dreams of becoming a mage and return home. But proving her legacy will be far from simple, as sinister forces have taken hold of the city. Can Scarlett, with the help of mysterious new arrival Rex, defeat these evil powers and claim what is rightfully hers?