Primary School Days

Joining us at the Primary School Days is none other than award winning author and illustrator Dav Pilkey.

When Dav Pilkey was a kid, he was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. Dav was so disruptive in class that his teachers made him sit out in the hall every day. Luckily, Dav loved to draw and make up stories and in the second grade, he made a comic book about a superhero named Captain Underpants. Since then, he has been creating books that explore universally positive themes celebrating the triumph of the good-hearted. And now he’s on a mission to get kids reading. 

R.A. Spratt loves to tell stories, and she especially loves to retell stories with her own fresh take. Recently she has dived into Shakespearean classics with Romeo V Juliet and Hamlet is Not OK, she has retold Epically Good Greek Myths, and her popular detective creation, Friday Barnes, has returned for her 13th outing. On top of all that, R.A. is the creator of the enormously popular Bedtime Stories with R.A. Spratt podcast series. Come be entertained by a storyteller extraordinaire! 

Yxavel Magno Diño’s childhood was spent daydreaming about fantasy worlds filled with characters who had more unusual names than she did. Now, she writes stories about her Filipino heritage and its fantastical folklore, including her latest The Firefly Crown. Learn about the inspiration and worldbuilding skills Yxavel uses to bring these stories to life. 

For years, Mick Elliott has been entertaining kids of all ages with his hilarious and action-packed books, including the popular Squidge Dibley series. In 2026 he is unveiling his first ever graphic novel series Uranus FC. Just how hard are graphic novels to make? Super hard! And in this interactive presentation, Mick will tell you all about it. 

Solve mysteries with Freddie Jones, the brilliant main character in a new series from award-winning author Kate Foster. Be it troublesome trees, ghostly gardens or cryptic creatures, join in the fun and look for the clues. It’s time to travel the world and learn more about Freddie and his loyal assistant dog Hobnob. 

Dav Pilkey has written and illustrated a number of bestselling and award-winning children’s books, including the Caldecott Honor book The Paperboy. His Captain Underpants series and Dog Man graphic novels have sold millions of copies worldwide and have been translated into many languages. Dav lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, but his writing is inspired by children and adults around the world. His stories explore universally positive themes that celebrate the triumph of the good-hearted. 

R.A. Spratt is the author of Romeo V Juliet, Epically Good Greek Myths, Friday Barnes: Girl Detective, The Peski Kids and Nanny Piggins. Her podcast has had 8 million downloads worldwide and her live storytelling show has played to sold-out theatres across Australia. Booklist gave her book Hamlet is Not OK a starred review saying it was “a refreshingly different, wildly imaginative take on Shakespeare's Hamlet”. R.A. lives in Bowral NSW with her husband and two daughters.

Yxavel Magno Diño is the author of The Serpent Rider and The Firefly Crown. She was born in the Philippines before moving to Australia at a young age, where she soon discovered that almost nobody there knew how to say her name. Yxavel has fond memories of attending Sydney Writers’ Festival School Days when she was a kid. When she's not writing, you can find her drinking copious amounts of black tea or getting lost in the pages of a book. 

Mick Elliott is an author, illustrator, TV producer, screenwriter and professional mischief maker. He is the author of the popular Squidge Dibley and The Turners series and Mr Duckins’ Chickens. Mick has written and produced acclaimed children’s shows for the ABC, Nickelodeon, the Sesame Workshop and Channel TEN, including Rock Island Mysteries for Paramount. The first book in his new graphic novel series Uranus FC is coming in 2026.

Kate Foster is a children’s author writing about friends, family and dogs. Originally from a small town in the south east of England, she now lives on the stunning Gold Coast in Australia with her family and second-hand dogs. She is passionate about encouraging and teaching a wider understanding of autism and mental illness via positive approach and representation. Her books include Paws, The Unlikely Heroes Club, The Bravest Word and Harriet Hound.