Tom Palmer

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

The One Show

I am the author of over sixty children’s books. 16 books for Barrington Stoke including 6 award-winning historical fiction titles and three Puffin football series including Football Academy and Foul Play.

“An excellent fast-paced detective novel”
The Times.

Exciting news! I have been nominated for the 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Foul Play was short listed for the 2009 Blue Peter Book Award. Winner of over 30 UK book prizes. More awards here.

Most of my stories are researched and set in real places. Discover the locations across the UK and all over the world on interactive maps here. Discover what I am currently writing here.

I’ve written about many historical periods. Here’s a timeline of some of my historical fiction set during the Second World War and the key historical events they feature here.

Read my latest newsletter here.

“Tom Palmer is definitely in the premier league of children’s authors with an impressive back catalogue of soccer stories.” Mumsnet

Meet me in person 2026

My Cornwall Libraries Tour ... FREE 30 mins meet the author

Sat 23 May 2026
10am Hayle 11.30am Camborne
1pm Redruth

Tues 26 May 2026
10am Bodmin
11.30am Wadebridge
1pm Bude 2.30pm Camelford

Wed 27 May 2026
10.30am St Columb 11.45am Newquay 1pm Perranporth
2.30pm St Agnes

Thurs 28 May 2026
10am St Just 11.30am Penzance 1pm St Ives

Fri 29 May 2026
10am Helston 11.30am Falmouth 1pm Penryn 2.30pm Truro

Sat 30 May 2026
9am Lostwithiel 10.15am Fowey 11.45am St Austell

Mon 1 June 2026
10am Looe 11.30am Liskeard 1pm Saltash 2.30pm Torpoint

Tues 2 June 2026
10am Callington 11.30am Launceston 1.30pm Par

Also …

Mon 25 May 2026

2 pm Waterstones Truro

Look out for more dates to meet me here

What’s on offer this Summer term, 2026

New books
Book your Summer Term 2026 Author visits

Read my latest news here

2026 National Year of Reading

The National Year of Reading in 2026 has a theme of Go All In. That means finding a way to go all in to what you love doing by reading about it.

“Absolutely brilliant critically-acclaimed books”, Clare McDonnell BBC Radio 5 Live

My 2026 National Year of Reading :
Your chance to GO ALL In with one of my books with my books. Check out any of my book webpages for extra resources like colouring and films. Find out more about how I’ll be supporting the National Year of Reading here.

NEW Writing 2026

7 May 26 – If the Invader Comes, the first in a new WW2 trilogy set in the South West of England. Published by Barrington Stoke. More here

7 May 26 England’s Heroes
Published by Ultimate Football Heroes. More here

10 Sept 26 Front Foot
The new cricketing story for my Underdogs multi sports series. Published by Barrington Stoke. More about Underdogs series here

2026 Author visits in person / virtual

I am available from Summer 2026 for historical fiction, football or rugby author events or linking to any of my books!

More about my author visits 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 still 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
teacher training
writing-history-with-the-imperial-war-museum
careers talks

“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

More about my school author visits here.

AWARDS latest

Exciting news! I have been nominated for the 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.

My latest children’s book Angel of Grasmere has been

selected for the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge,
chosen for the @booksfortopics 2025-2026 Year 6 Recommended Reads list
won the 2025 York Book Award
nominated for the 2025 Carnegie Medal for Writing
shortlisted for the Spark Book Award, the Dudley Children’s Book Award and the Windsor Academy Trust Book Award

Thank you readers!

I was thrilled to have been awarded the Ruth Rendell Award for Services to Literacy by the National Literacy Trust in association with the ALCS.

More awards news here

Find out more what I am writing about now here

For parents – letters I wish I could send to inspire parents today

Dear Mum

Dear Dad

Buy Books

Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available personalised to order from my local independent children’s bookshop “The Thoughtful Spot” here.