Read His Name is Ben – a short story for children by Tom Palmer illustrated by James Innerdale – about Sir Ben Helfgott, one of The Boys who came to Loughton and went on to become an Olympic weightlifter. Tom Palmer is the author of “After the War – from Auschwitz to Ambleside” about the … Continue reading “His Name is Ben” by Tom Palmer and James Innerdale →

An ideal Christmas gift! All my books are available personalised to order from my local independent children’s bookshop “The Thoughtful Spot”  here. And each order made through the Thoughtful Spot will come with a special Christmas Card and bookmark.  This year’s exclusive watercolour illustration was designed by our good friend James Innerdale to mark the publication … Continue reading Signed Books for Christmas →

For the last fifteen years I have asked teachers, TAs and librarians if they would be kind enough to nominate a child they think would benefit from the gift of a book for Christmas. My family and I would like to do the same for Christmas 2025.  The Christmas Books Each book will be personally … Continue reading Christmas Book Giving 2025 →

This year’s Remembrance Sunday will be marked on 9th November, with Armistice Day on Tuesday 11th November 2025. To help schools mark the occasion and link it to developing literacy in the classroom, I offer these FREE resources for schools to use based around my books … My annual Remembrance Day film . I will be … Continue reading Remembrance Day 2025 →

What’s on offer this term, Autumn 2025 SPOTLIGHT ON MY DEBUT PICTURE BOOK “War Dog” Introducing “The Fear” Book 1 in my new Underdogs series Remembrance Day 2025 – film and virtual event Christmas Book Giving – pupil nominations Signed Books for Christmas with FREE exclusive Christmas Card Christmas in fiction : Angel of Grasmere … Continue reading Autumn 2025 News →

What’s on offer this term, Autumn 2025 SPOTLIGHT ON MY DEBUT PICTURE BOOK “War Dog” Introducing “The Fear” Book 1 in my new Underdogs series Remembrance Day 2025 – film and virtual event Christmas Book Giving – pupil nominations Signed Books for Christmas with FREE exclusive Christmas Card Christmas in fiction : Angel of Grasmere Christmas in … Continue reading Autumn Winter News 2025 →

What’s on offer World Book Day and Spring 2025 Meet Me! My Rocky Takes the Lead £1 World Book Day book My World Book Day writing journey films – how I write World Book Day Dress up ideas and resources 27 March 2025 – NEW Soccer Diaries Book 3: Rocky Goes for Goal Signed Books for Easter Author … Continue reading Spring News 2025 →

Tuesday 27 January 2026 is Holocaust Memorial Day. I am working again with the National Literacy Trust with resources for KS2 and KS3 to mark Holocaust Memorial Day in 2026. 10:00 – 10:45am 27 January 2026 – Holocaust Memorial Day live assembly with the National Literacy Trust.  Join me and special guest, Ruth Barnett to … Continue reading Holocaust Memorial Day January 2026 →

Use these resources this Christmas time based on Chapter 6 of Angel of Grasmere.    Discover how young Tarn Fothergill celebrated Christmas Day 1940 with her family, farmer’s lad Peter, evacuee Eric, and Land girls Margaret and Kathleen. And will the Angel of Grasmere perform a Christmas miracle? Christmas Resources: Film of Tom reading Chapter … Continue reading Christmas in fiction : Angel of Grasmere →

For over ten years I have asked teachers, TAs and librarians if they would be kind enough to nominate a child they think would benefit from the gift of a book for Christmas. My family and I would like to do the same for Christmas 2024.    The Christmas Books Each book will be personally … Continue reading Christmas Book Giving 2024 →