Welcome! I hope this website will help readers, parents, teachers and librarians find out more about me and my children’s books. And you can subscribe to my termly e-newsletter here or email to ask me something particular here or use my contact form here.
“Tom Palmer is a true reading hero and has been responsible for motivating many thousands of young people to get into books” Booktrust
I am the author of three Puffin football children’s series, Football Academy, Foul Play and The Squad and 15 books for Barrington Stoke. Foul Play was short listed for the 2009 Blue Peter Book Award. “An excellent fast-paced detective novel” The Times. More awards here.
“Tom Palmer is definitely in the premier league of children’s authors with an impressive back catalogue of soccer stories.” Mumsnet
NEW After the War
My latest book is “After the War”, published in August 2020 by Barrington Stoke. I have been researching and writing this with Grasmere school and the kind support the Lake District Holocaust Project. It’s about the three hundred child concentration camp survivors who came to the Lake District nearly 75 years ago (who were known as the Windermere Boys). More here.
“It is a story from the past, told in the present, with lessons for us all for the future. ” TREVOR AVERY
Forthcoming Events
25 January 2021 16:15–17:45 Holocaust Memorial Week Zoom hosted by the Centre for Holocaust Education. An hour of discussion, practical and thought-provoking CPD.
Free Resources
If you can’t have an author visit this term, there are lots of free materials to share with your pupils available from my website:
- FREE videos of reading from my books,new ones added daily here
- FREE reads – first chapters of my books here
- FREE colouring here
- FREE literacy resources here
FREE Cheltenham Literature Festival event available until December here- Holocaust Memorial Day 2021 FREE Assembly & 5 part story and competition more information here.
“One of our very finest writers for young people” Anthony McGowan, Carnegie Laureate 2020
Autumn Virtual & In Person Author Visits
I am delighted to be still going into schools this term for in-person author visits and have availability throughout the Autumn, more here.
“The impact of last year’s visit was massive and has really helped us develop reading with our current year 6 group. In reading surveys and discussions your books always get a mention and are still read by a lot of the year group.” Green Lane Primary School
And discover the choice of bespoke virtual workshops learning options I am offering to schools here.
- virtual visits
- my Football Reading Game
- my Rugby Reading Game
- talks about Fair Trade
- a focus on Historical Fiction
- writing workshops
- assemblies
- presentations
- workshops
- writing-history-with-the-imperial-war-museum
“The work of this author is making a valuable contribution to improving pupils’ writing.” Ofsted
“There is no doubt that Tom Palmer has a Growth Mindset!” Reigate St Mary’s
“Many thanks for a great morning with our school. Everybody had a fantastic time and the children are very keen to read the books now. The teachers are very impressed with all the resources that you put together as well.” Thomas’s London Day Schools
“Every single child in the hall, of all ages and stages, absolutely loved what he said and did and I had teachers staying voluntarily (when they had free time, reports to write and other things to do!) and so many of them came to see me afterwards to say how much they had enjoyed listening to him and watching the way in which he engaged with all of our children, from Year 3 to Year 8. We really enjoyed having Tom visit Edgeborough again.” Edgeborough School
Read on about my school author visits here.
NEW : Spitfire Fund Summer 2020
I have been writing with the RAF Museum (as their Children’s Writer in Residence) a five-part free story to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Download from their website here.
And if you like that, you might also enjoy reading Spitfire more here.
Latest Awards
I was so happy the D-Day Dog was voted the overall winner at the 2020 Children’s Book Awards which is run by the wonderful Federation of Children’s Book Groups. The fact that over 100,000 children nominate, longlist, shortlist and choose the winners makes it all the more brilliant and satisfying for me. Thank you 100,000 times over.
I was thrilled to be awarded the Ruth Rendell Award for Services to Literacy by the National Literacy Trust in association with the ALCS.
And my new book After the War has been shortlisted for the North Somerset Teachers’ Book Awards #NSTBA20!
Read on about all my books for children here.
More awards news here
NEW Rocky of the Rovers
A struggling student and brilliant footballer, Rocky Race is many things, but to most people she’s just Roy Race’s little sister. It’s not much fun – especially as Melchester Rovers head to the League Cup Final.
Rocky’s sick of everyone knowing her through Roy, she’s had enough of school, and she’s even started having panic attacks.
Now it’s up to Rocky to find her own way – as a person and a player – and she’s going to need all her grit and determination to do it…
‘I LOVED this book! I love how the story turns from one stage to another. I would definitely recommend it to any girl who enjoys football! I love that Rocky has real determination and passion for the game.’ Jess, Year 5.
“The master of football fiction!” Matt Oldfield
“One of the best football writers of our time” The Guardian
More here
NEW Roy and Rocky of the Rovers Writing Kit.
A set of eight activities designed to engage football fans with different aspects of writing using passion for the game as a way in. Free download from here
FREE Kindle books
Free to Kindle Unlimited Subscribers, RRP 99p.
Foul Play : The Danger Academy
Get the books here
Signed Books
Buy signed and dedicated books here or via my contact form here. RRP plus postage (UK £1.50 for per book; outside UK at cost). Gift-wrapped with a card from me.
“Just to let you know that the books and card arrived safely yesterday, complete with beautiful gift wrapping. Thanks so much ” Fiona
“Your kids don’t read but like sport? Buy this guys books and transform your kids future by giving them the gift of reading. Try one book. get Tom to sign it to your kid or personalise it in some way. I guarantee, you won’t regret” Mike Garry, poet
Buy Books
Schools bumper book pack and class set offers here.
Visit my 
bookshop or support your local bookshop HIVE
Overseas : FREE Delivery worldwide from The Book Depository.
Australia: Boomerang
Canada: Amazon Canada
New Zealand: Wheelers
USA : Indigo books
Email me here for more information or use my contact form here to ask me a question.
Thank you.
