MYTHS & STORIES Special with Mr Dilly & Guests

Discover more about the myths and stories, get inspiration to write your own, find out what it means to be a hero, as we talk gods, monsters, heroes and villains and ask what is mythology and why are these stories so important? Join Mr Dilly and brilliant guests from the world of children's books, illustration and education to learn and discover more. Interview, author panel, your questions answered, myth draw-along and classroom myth quiz! Perfect for creative writing, literacy, history and story telling.

The show will run for around 1hr 25 mins and is structured for you to be able to watch (using the same viewing link you will receive after registration) in two parts.

Meet and put your questions to...

ASH BOND - Peregrine Quinn and the Cosmic Realm (author & educator)

DISCOVER THE PORTAL TO AN INCREDIBLE NEW WORLD IN THIS EPIC MIDDLE-GRADE ADVENTURE.

Peregrine Quinn has always loved hearing her godfather Daedalus Bloom's stories about his life as an immortal, but that's all they were - stories. That is, until the portals that connect the Terran Realm with the Cosmic Realm mysteriously shut down and Daedalus, the only one who can fix them, is kidnapped.

Peregrine is then swept into a nail-biting adventure, racing through the streets of Oxford, down the riverways of London and into the Under-Underground. She soon realises that not only are the creatures from her godfather's stories real, but they're shooting at her with laser blasters.

Fortunately she has help from dryad librarian Rowan Strong and Olympus Inc. liaison (and faun) Callimachus Thorn. Together they must fix the portals and rescue Daedalus before an ancient evil rises and chaos takes over. Time is running out and the fate of all the realms is now in Peregrine's hands . . .

TAMSIN MORI - Gargoyles: Guardians of the Source (author)
A crumbling mansion. A magical source. A living gargoyle.

Callen’s Dad has always been secretive of his past but when the family have to move into his childhood home, the last thing Callen expects is a boarded-up mansion covered in gargoyles. It's enormous, the doors are nailed shut, the gardens are overgrown... and long-forgotten magic is returning. When a disgruntled gargoyle wakes up in his presence, Callen must befriend Zariel and earn her trust before it’s too late. A dark threat is growing in the shadows and only a Gargoyle Guardian can stop it.

Gargoyles: Guardians of the Source is a page-turning fantasy adventure about courage, friendship and protecting our planet, perfect for readers 9+ and for fans of Siobhan McDermott, Ash Bond, and Pari Thomson.

The first in an unmissable fantasy series by the author that brought you the award-winning THE WEATHER WEAVER trilogy.

LUCY STRANGE - The River Spirit (author)

Trapped within the oppresive warrens of the city’s chimneys, young sweeper Tom longs for fresh air and freedom in this atmospheric and ghostly tale from Lucy Strange.

Young chimney sweep Tom has started seeing strange, supernatural things – fairies in the flowers by the river, a soot monster crouching in the darkness of a chimney, and then the mysterious river spirit Elle. Elle joins Tom and the other children apprenticed to cruel master sweep Mister Crow. Together, they shimmy up the town's narrow, filthy chimneys. But Tom has an ominous feeling in his bones, and when he faces his most dangerous job of all, the reason for Elle's magical appearance becomes clear . . .

ASHLEY THORPE - The Boy to Beat the Gods (author and editor at Storymix)

Discover a fierce and fun story of one boy versus six gods, from a magical new voice in children's fiction...Kayode dreams of eating the forbidden fruit of the Orishas, so he can gain their power and stop those merciless beings who terrorise his people. So when a fruit mysteriously appears in his path after the Orishas snatch his sister, he leaps on it.
Surging with new and difficult-to-control powers, he joins forces with a shapeshifting trickster god and a vengeful princess to save his sister and put an end to the mighty Orishas. But each has more fearful powers than the last - and Kayode's stolen half-god strength won't last for ever...

MATT LANGDON - The Hero Handbook (creator of the Hero Round Table (the world's leading conference on heroism), and a board member of Dr. Philip Zimbardo's Heroic Imagination Project)

Heroes take chances, do hard things, and sometimes even change the world. To become a hero, kids can surround themselves with supportive people, boost their self-esteem and self-awareness, find their passion, and have the courage make things happen. This book shows them how to be the hero of their own story and discover their own hero journey.

What makes a hero? Activists. advocates, allies, and friends. Sometimes heroes are our parents, teachers, or siblings. The truth is, heroes are inside everyone, and kids can and discover their inner hero, too!

THIAGO DE MORAES - Old Gods New Tricks (author and illustrator) NB - Thiago will be pre-recorded and be doing a myth draw-along activity for all.

Trixie dos Santos is obsessed with trickster gods, so when the world is plunged into darkness, she knows who can bring back the light. Loki, Maui and the Monkey King join her on the hugest adventure, but can Trixie keep these maverick saviours in line?

Shining a light on epic myths from cultures across the world, Old Gods New Tricks is at once a heart-racing and fascinating read. Full of heart and humour, it has the potential to spark a lifelong interest in folklore and legends. Thiago's distinctive artwork brings these tricksy gods to life, creating a truly unique and unforgettable package.

This event is a live on-air webinar hosted on the Mr Dilly website.