War Dog souvenir reader’s pack

To celebrate the forthcoming publication of my debut picture book, War Dog,  I am offering a limited number of special souvenir reader’s packs containing:

• a special signed bookplate – with optional dedication “To …”,  if requested below
• a signed postcard
• bookmarks of my other historical fiction
• a poster of my other historical fiction

War Dog – 
The True Story of Judy, hero of WW2
My debut picture book is the true story of one dog’s incredible bravery, set in the Second World War in the South–East Asian theatre of the Pacific War. After the fall of Singapore, Judy and her crew become prisoners of war. More here

Tom Palmer (Author)
Carolina Rabei (Illustrator)

Published by Scholastic
14 August 2025
ISBN 0702325945

Discover more and lots of literacy resources here.

To request your souvenir pack, free of charge, please complete the contact form below.

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• A War Dog souvenir reader's pack

School Name (if applicable)

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Data protection notice – we respect your privacy and we will not share your details with anyone else.  You may unsubscribe at any time by emailing admin (at) tompalmer (dot) co (dot) uk  or use my simple unsubscribe page here.  If you are under 16, please always make sure to ask a parent for their permission before you give your details to this or any other website.   Please refer to my Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions for further information.

Buy the Book

Borrow from your local library, or buy from your local independent bookshop, 
Waterstones and Amazon. 

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

DISCOVER more about War Dog here.

Thank you!

PRIVACY & COOKIES POLICY                            TERMS & CONDITIONS

Women’s Euros 2025 Virtual / Competition & more.

I have written many sports stories featuring girls as the main character:

Secret FC (2010), 6+
Typhoon (2016), 7+
My First Football Game (2013), 4+
Armistice Runner (2018), 9+
Rocky (2020), 9+
Gus the Fantastic Football Cat (2018), 5+
Game Changer (2022), 10+
Soccer Diaries I, 2,3 (2023,2024,2025), 10+

Find out more about them below….

Women’s Euros 2025 virtual

#WEURO2025 kicks off this summer. Join me & Mr Dilly for a free virtual event for #schools as we bring you the history of the women’s game, some of the tournament buzz & encourage reading and writing. Please sign up here

 and join us 4th July 11am:

Book now here eventbrite.co.uk/e/reading-the-game-womens-euro-2025-livestream-with-tom-mr-dilly-tickets-1383535073649 #WomensEuros2025

This will be recorded and we’ll share the link after it’s been broadcast here (to come).

Women’s Euros 2025 Competition

Win a set of my books and a virtual visit for your school with me!

Match up these ten characters to their book covers.  Use this pdf as a take home activity here

A) Armistice Runner
B) Game Changer
C)  Gus the Fantastic Football Cat
D) My First Football Game
E) Rocky
F) Rocky Takes LA (Soccer Diaries I)
G) Rocky’s Big Move (Soccer Diaries 2)
H) Rocky Goes for Goal (Soccer Diaries 3)
I) Secret FC
J) Typhoon

Enter by Midnight Monday 14 July 2025 to be in with a chance of winning a set of my books and a virtual visit for your school with me!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

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Teacher Email *

Teacher & School Name *

1 Rocky stars inA Armistice RunnerB Game ChangerC Gus the Fantastic Football CatD My First Football GameE RockyF Rocky Takes LAG Rocky's Big MoveH Rocky Goes for GoalI Secret FCJ Typhoon

2 Lily stars inA Armistice RunnerB Game ChangerC Gus the Fantastic Football CatD My First Football GameE RockyF Rocky Takes LAG Rocky's Big MoveH Rocky Goes for GoalI Secret FCJ Typhoon

3 Kim stars inA Armistice RunnerB Game ChangerC Gus the Fantastic Football CatD My First Football GameE RockyF Rocky Takes LAG Rocky's Big MoveH Rocky Goes for GoalI Secret FCJ Typhoon

4 Yusra stars inA Armistice RunnerB Game ChangerC Gus the Fantastic Football CatD My First Football GameE RockyF Rocky Takes LAG Rocky's Big MoveH Rocky Goes for GoalI Secret FCJ Typhoon

5 Sam stars inA Armistice RunnerB Game ChangerC Gus the Fantastic Football CatD My First Football GameE RockyF Rocky Takes LAG Rocky's Big MoveH Rocky Goes for GoalI Secret FCJ Typhoon

6 Mahsa stars inA Armistice RunnerB Game ChangerC Gus the Fantastic Football CatD My First Football GameE RockyF Rocky Takes LAG Rocky's Big MoveH Rocky Goes for GoalI Secret FCJ Typhoon

7 Lily #2 stars inA Armistice RunnerB Game ChangerC Gus the Fantastic Football CatD My First Football GameE RockyF Rocky Takes LAG Rocky's Big MoveH Rocky Goes for GoalI Secret FCJ Typhoon

8 Ffion stars inA Armistice RunnerB Game ChangerC Gus the Fantastic Football CatD My First Football GameE RockyF Rocky Takes LAG Rocky's Big MoveH Rocky Goes for GoalI Secret FCJ Typhoon

9 Naomi stars inA Armistice RunnerB Game ChangerC Gus the Fantastic Football CatD My First Football GameE RockyF Rocky Takes LAG Rocky's Big MoveH Rocky Goes for GoalI Secret FCJ Typhoon

10 Maddie stars inA Armistice RunnerB Game ChangerC Gus the Fantastic Football CatD My First Football GameE RockyF Rocky Takes LAG Rocky's Big MoveH Rocky Goes for GoalI Secret FCJ Typhoon

Submit

More WEuro 2025 Activities

Rocky Doodle Doo Colour in and add your own football linked doodles to download and print off here 

Play Rocky’s 2023 World Cup Reading Game in the classroom or library  and discover lots of way to enjoy football and enjoy reading here.

Learn to draw Rocky with Lisa Henke here.

Colouring

Sharp-shooter Rocky is testing her brother Roy’s goal-keeping skills. Can you add a crowd or maybe some more players and colour them all in here?

More about my books featuring girls playing football:

4 + First Football Game

5 + GUS THE FAMOUS FOOTBALL CAT

A funny and heartwarming story about a girl and her pet cat, who becomes a World Cup celebrity! 

There’s a football challenge at Yusra’s school and everyone wants to win. Which class can find the best way to predict England’s World Cup results? Yusra has an idea – her pet cat Gus could help! As Gus keeps guessing the scores right, the word spreads and soon everyone wants a piece of the famous football cat.  But is the life of a celebrity as purrfect as it seems?

Published by Egmont.  More about Gus here 

7 + SECRET FC

Lily,  Maddie and Zach can’t believe it when the new headmaster bans football in the playground.  Living in the inner-city, there is nowhere else to play.  Then Zack has a brilliant plan and soon a very special secret football club is formed . . .

Published by Barrington Stoke

More about Secret FC here

9 + Rocky of the Rovers

Rocky is the sixth and historic book in the brand new series of illustrated middle grade fiction titles starring Roy of the Rovers, the classic British children’s football hero rebooted for the 21st century. This time, it’s all about Rocky, Roy’s football-mad younger sister!

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…

Published by Rebellion.  More about Rocky here

9 + Game Changer

The newly formed Melchester Women’s team are going from strength to strength in their first full season of professional football, lead by the tenacious Rocky Race. Can she maintain her match-winning performances? And just where does her footballing future lie?

‘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.

Rocky of the Rovers book – Game Changer – was selected for the 2023 Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge.  Game Changer is the latest story about Rocky Race, sister of Roy of the Rovers, and has already been featured on the front page of the Times newspaper.

More about Rocky here

9 + Rocky Takes LA

The Soccer Diaries is a brand new series starring Rocky Race, a British footballer looking to make it big in a US soccer school.

Rocky Race is not your average fourteen year old. She’s determined, ambitious and the best football player you’ve ever seen. So, when she gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a prestigious soccer camp in California, USA, she takes it. But far from home, Rocky suddenly finds herself out of her comfort zone. Fake friends, her own anxieties and a brand new world with strange rules all threaten to derail her new life before it’s even started – does Rocky have what it takes to succeed?

Published by Rebellion. More about Rocky here

Soccer Diaries 2-Rocky’s Big Move

The exciting sequel in The Soccer Diaries series starring Rocky Race, a British footballer looking to make it big. 

Fourteen, hard as nails and magic on the pitch, Rocky Race is one of the best up and coming young footballers in the UK. But does she have what it takes to make it as a soccer pro in California?

Rocky Race is going for goal – but what about her grades?

Rocky Race is living the dream: she’s won a scholarship to a prestigious high school in Los Angeles, where she gets to play soccer and train for going pro. She’s got an amazing best friend, and a supportive mum and brother back home in the UK. But living away from home isn’t easy, and fitting in with American kids in high school is scary and new. Not to mention she has to keep her grades up if she wants to stay on the pitch! Will Rocky survive high school?

Published by Rebellion. More about Rocky here

NEW – Soccer Diaries 3 Rocky Goes for Goal 

Now that Rocky has her grades under control, she can focus on the most important thing: she is going to the California Soccer Championships! With only weeks to go until the big match, Rocky is starting to… get nervous? But she never gets scared before a match! So why is she having nightmares, and dreading training after school? Everyone is counting on her, and she knows that winning the championship gives her a better chance of going pro. With so much pressure, will Rocky be able to step up and take the winning shot?

The exciting sequel in The Soccer Diaries series starring Rocky Race, a British footballer looking to make it big. Perfect for fans of Up For Air and The Kicks!

Published by Rebellion. More about Rocky here

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. 

With an extra special Christmas or birthday card from me on request!

Overseas : FREE Delivery worldwide from The Book Depository.
Australia: Boomerang
Canada: Amazon Canada
New Zealand: Wheelers
USA :  Indigo books

Visit my bookshop or support your local bookshopHIVE

Schools bumper 35 book pack offer here

35 books
£190 saving £60 – over 20% discount
FREE DELIVERY & SIGNED BOOKPLATES

Please email rosie@rosemaryhillbooks.co.uk.

Schools class set offer here.

15 copies 20%+ discount
30 copies 25%+ discount
100 copies 30% + discount

FREE DELIVERY & SIGNED BOOKPLATES

Please email rosie@rosemaryhillbooks.co.uk for a quote

Email me here for more information or use my contact form here to ask me a question.

Thank you.

PRIVACY & COOKIES POLICY                            TERMS & CONDITIONS

I am delighted that Angel of Grasmere has been chosen as one of the official books linked to this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

Having worked for Bradford libraries and visited lots of libraries over the years I know how valuable a tool the Summer Reading Challenge is to motivate readers to keep or even try reading during the summer break.

We have produced lots of library friendly resources to accompany it such as  A Little Lakeland Nature printable booklet here. 

And there are more films and printable resources linked to Angel of Grasmere  here.

For more colouring pages linked to my books go to here

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. 

With an extra special Christmas or birthday card from me on request!

Overseas :
Australia: Boomerang
Canada: Amazon Canada
New Zealand: Wheelers
USA :  Indigo books

Visit my bookshop or support your local bookshop HIVE

Schools bumper book pack
offer

33 books for £200

Saving £73

Over 25% discount

Free Delivery

Please email rosie@rosemaryhillbooks.co.uk

Schools class set offer

15 copies 20%+ discount
30 copies 25%+ discount
100 copies 30% + discount

FREE DELIVERY & SIGNED BOOKPLATES

Please email rosie@rosemaryhillbooks.co.uk for a quote

Email me here for more information or use my contact form here to ask me a question.

Thank you.

PRIVACY & COOKIES POLICY                            TERMS & CONDITIONS

Thursday 12 June 2025 is Empathy Day!

I am thrilled that Angel of Grasmere is part of this year’s @EmpathyLabUK collection.

Empathy Lab is a great idea.

I’m pretty sure reading books has given me a bit more empathy than I had before. https://empathylab.uk/RFE

Register for the Empathy Day resources here 

Empathy Day and Empathy Festival

Watch my 2025 film for Empathy lab here

Previous year’s Empathy Days …

My free stories for Refugee Week has been used to help explore empathy in some schools …

“Year 9 are spending some of their English lessons investigating the plight of refugees through Tom Palmer‘s collaboration with the National Literacy Trust: 5 short stories themed on “Boat People”. An opportunity to explore cultures, compassion and empathy. ” @UnsworthAcademy

80th anniversaries of VE Day Thursday 8 May 2025 and VJ Day Friday 15 August 2025
Join in the many ways to mark the occasion both nationally and locally more here ve-vjday80.gov.uk/

And you can mark them at home and in the classroom using my books:

After the War – VE Day
War Dog – VJ Day

and these special resources …

My book – After the War – features scenes set on VE Day, 8^th May 1945.  In England where communities celebrate the defeat of the Nazis and in Czechoslovakia where Jewish children are liberated from camps and ghettos by the Russians.

I have created these new VE Day resources that  families, schools and libraries can use. And here is my special reading of the scene and some thoughts on what VE Day means today … https://youtu.be/e_nuEqNIuII

How to develop an idea for a VE Day story using a WW2 artefact https://youtu.be/j8zpuSC3b0k

VE Day paper dolls. Decorate paper dolls of the children of VE Day. Then put it up as bunting to help mark the 80^th anniversary of their liberation here. 

VE Day Reading Quiz

Read the section of the book where the children talk about their very different experiences of VE Day, then answer some questions here. 

With an extra “Word of the Day – Victory” activity.

VE Day Black Out poetry. Create your own black out poetry using a VE Day scene from After the War here

You can find all the resources above and read more about After the War and the research I did to find out about what happened to children in England and on the continent on and after VE Day by visiting www.tompalmer.co.uk/after-the-war.

War Dog – VJ Day

War Dog is my first non-fiction picture book.

The true story of one dog’s incredible bravery in WWII Judy is a dog who lives on a ship called HMS Grasshopper. Set in the Second World War in the South–East Asian theatre of the Pacific War. After the fall of Singapore Judy and her crew become prisoners of war.

Judy Colouring
This is Judy.  Colour her brown patches and spots and mark the 80^th Anniversary of VJ Day in 2025 with a special border or background.

Download here

Dickin Medal Activity
Learn about Judy’s Dickin medal and follow the instructions to colour it in and then design your own medal for an animal or person of your choice.

Download here

Follow Judy’s Journey from China to East Africa

More here

And here’s a timeline of my other historical fiction set during the Second World War and the key historical events featured.

PDF here 

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. 

With an extra special Christmas or birthday card from me on request!

Overseas :
Australia: Boomerang
Canada: Amazon Canada
New Zealand: Wheelers
USA :  Indigo books

Visit my bookshop or support your local bookshop HIVE

Schools bumper book pack
offer

33 books for £200

Saving £73

Over 25% discount

Free Delivery

Please email rosie@rosemaryhillbooks.co.uk

Schools class set offer

15 copies 20%+ discount
30 copies 25%+ discount
100 copies 30% + discount

FREE DELIVERY & SIGNED BOOKPLATES

Please email rosie@rosemaryhillbooks.co.uk for a quote

Email me here for more information or use my contact form here to ask me a question.

Thank you.

PRIVACY & COOKIES POLICY                            TERMS & CONDITIONS

What’s on offer Summer 2025 – scroll down for more or click on these quick links …

• March 2025 Angel of Grasmere wins York Book award
• 27 March 2025 NEW Soccer Diaries 3: Rocky Goes for Goal here
• 1 May Book Clubs in Schools Day Sign up here
• 8 May VE Day 2025 – NEW resources here
• 12 May 2025 virtual with Dorothy Wordsworth Trust Book here
• 19 May 2025 virtual with Anne Frank Trust Book here
• 12 June 2025 Empathy day more
• 16-22 June 2025 Refugee week resource and my books more
• July 2025 onwards Summer Reading Challenge – more here
• July Women’s Euro’s virtual event with Mr Dilly – more here
• 7 Aug  NEW Liverpool’s Greatest Moments non-fiction more here
• September 2025 onwards – author visit availability – in person or virtual. KS1 , KS2, KS3 options. Teacher training options more here

NEW Writing

I have several new books coming out in 2025 …

• 25 Feb – Rocky Takes the Lead – a new Rocky story for World Book Day more here
• 27 March – Soccer Diaries Book 3: Rocky Goes for Goal more here
• 7 Aug – Liverpool’s Greatest Moments more here
• 11 Sept – The Fear Book 1 of The Underdogs, a new sporting trilogy more here
• 11 Sept – War Dog – a WW2 non-fiction picture book more here
• 8 Jan 2026 – Front Foot – Book 2 The Underdogs Out
• May 26 – a new WW2 trilogy set in the South West of England more here

Sign up for updates and preview first chapters via my Writing Update contact form here

NEW Rocky Goes for Goal – Book 3 Soccer Diaries 

Can Rocky Race lead her team to victory?  Book 3 in The Soccer Diaries series starring Rocky Race, a British footballer looking to make it big.

Now that Rocky has her grades under control, she can focus on the most important thing: she is going to the California Soccer Championships! With only weeks to go until the big match, Rocky is starting to… get nervous? But she never gets scared before a match! So why is she having nightmares, and dreading training after school? Everyone is counting on her, and she knows that winning the championship gives her a better chance of going pro. With so much pressure, will Rocky be able to step up and take the winning shot?

OUT NOW More here

Spring 2025 Angel of Grasmere wins York Book award

Thank you York young readers for your enthusiasm and support of my writing. I was thrilled to receive this award.

Thursday 1 May 2025 Book Clubs in Schools Day

Congratulations to Book Clubs in Schools on your 10th birthday and for reaching 40,000 young people! I am delighted to have been asked to help with the celebrations  in an online event for Years 4-7  from 11-12. 

Sign up here

Thursday 8 May 2025-80th anniversaries of VE Day  and VJ Day Friday 15 August 2025

Join in the many ways to mark the occasion both nationally and locally.  Mark them at home and in the classroom using my books:

After the War – VE Day
War Dog – VJ Day

and these special resources here 

Monday 12 May 2025 Virtual with Wordsworth Grasmere

2 – 3pm online (via Zoom)
For students in Years 5 – 8
£40 per class

• How my latest book – Angel of Grasmere – was inspired by my love of Dorothy Wordsworth’s writing and the village of Grasmere where she lived with her brother, the poet, William.
• How I wanted the book’s main character, Tarn, to love Dorothy too.
• How I use scrapbooks to develop characters and settings.
• how one author can be so inspired by another who wrote 200 years ago!
• Live from Wordsworth Grasmere, their Head Curator will give you a sneak peek at Dorothy’s original journal, kept in our special library and archive at Dove Cottage.
• Q&A time to ask me about my writing

Places limited – to book your place email the Wordsworth Grasmere Education Team at education@wordsworth.org.uk

Monday 19 May 2025 virtual with Anne Frank Trust FREE

A chance for your young people to connect live with me, reflect on the power or story telling and writing for challenging prejudice. We will be exploring my books on a range of themes including WW2 and the Holocaust particularly my new book Angel of Grasmere.

Book Now here

Thursday 12 June 2025 is Empathy Day!

I am thrilled that Angel of Grasmere is part of this year’s @EmpathyLabUK collection.

Watch my film for Empathy lab here

More about Empathy day here

16-22 June 2025 Refugee week

Many of my books feature child refugees.

From After the War-the story of 300 children, Holocaust survivors who came to live in Cumbria in 1945 to refugees arriving today.

Find out more about them and more free resources here

July 2025 onwards Summer Reading Challenge

I am delighted that Angel of Grasmere has been chosen as one of the official books linked to this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

Watch my film and more resources here

July Women’s Euro’s virtual event with Mr Dilly

More info to come …

7 Aug  Publication Date

Liverpool- Ultimate Football Heroes: Greatest Moments Generations NEW non-fiction

Discover one hundred of the most memorable moments in Liverpool F.C’s history from the No.1 football series selected by me!

Featuring the 2022 FA Cup win, the 2005 Miracle of Istanbul, Liverpool’s first division title in 1947, the 2006 “Gerrard Final”, and the ongoing Hillsborough Justice Campaign, this is a treasury for fans of all ages.

More here

September 2025 onwards – author visit availability – in person or virtual. KS1 , KS2, KS3 options. Teacher training options

I am available from Autumn 2025 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

Please use this form to subscribe to future termly newsletters

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Name *

First

Last

Email *

Please send me

• A termly newsletter for schools
• More information about author visits
• A reminder about Remembrance Day 2025

School Name (if applicable)

Any additional message

Submit

Our replies are never automated so you will get a personal reply. Please be patient with us!

Out 11 September 2025

I will have a new children’s historical non-fiction picture book out in September.  War Dog is a very special illustrated true story about Judy hero of the Second World War.

• More here tompalmer.co.uk/war-dog/ 
• Sign up for previews here tompalmer.co.uk/new-writing/
• Pre-order now Amazon
• Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available personalised to order from my local independent children’s bookshop “The Thoughtful Spot”  here.

Autumn Preview – The Fear Book 1 of The Underdogs, a new sporting fiction trilogy 

Book 1 out 11 September 2025

• More about The Fear here
• Sign up for previews here tompalmer.co.uk/new-writing/
• Pre-order now Amazon
• Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available personalised to order from my local independent children’s bookshop “The Thoughtful Spot”  here.

All year round FREE Football fiction resources – posters and certificates

I have FREE certificates I can sign for readers of all my books.

• Football Academy
• Foul Play
• Roy and Rocky of the Rovers
• My History Books

Tell me here if your pupils have read a whole series and you can receive a special signed certificate to present to them.

If you would like a football poster pack please visit my poster order page here 

More football resources here

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. 

With an extra special Christmas or birthday card from me on request!

Overseas :
Australia: Boomerang
Canada: Amazon Canada
New Zealand: Wheelers
USA :  Indigo books

Visit my bookshop or support your local bookshop HIVE

Schools bumper 33 book pack offer here

33 books
£194 saving £63 – over 25% discount
FREE DELIVERY & SIGNED BOOKPLATES

Please email rosie@rosemaryhillbooks.co.uk

Schools class set offer here.

15 copies 20%+ discount
30 copies 25%+ discount
100 copies 30% + discount

FREE DELIVERY & SIGNED BOOKPLATES

Please email rosie@rosemaryhillbooks.co.uk for a quote

Email me here for more information or use my contact form here to ask me a question.

Thank you.

PRIVACY & COOKIES POLICY                            TERMS & CONDITIONS

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 Visit options and availability
• How to subscribe to my newsletter by email 
• 11 September 2025 – War Dog – a Historical non-fiction picture book Out 
• September 2025 – a  new Sporting Fiction trilogy Book 1  COMING SOON
• LATEST Angel of Grasmere resources FREE posters and resources
• All year round FREE Football fiction resources – posters and certificates

Meet Me!

Saturday 8 March 2025 Oxford Story Museum
Saturday 15 March 2025  Words by the Water Festival, Keswick
Saturday 29 March 2025 Thoughtful Spot, Halifax
Sunday 11 May 2025 Imperial War Museum North

More details here

6 March 2025 – World Book Day – Exciting news!

I have written a new Rocky story which has been selected as one of the books you can choose with your World Book Day 2025 vouchers.

In Rocky Takes the Lead – will Rocky be able to take the lead and show both her British and her American friends that they’re all united by football?

Available from February 2025 for World Book Day – 6 March 2025
£1 / E1.50 or your WBD voucher

• Take a peek inside now!
• Watch me introduce the book now!

More about Rocky here

More about World Book Day 2025 here

My World Book Day Writing Journey

I’ve been making a video diary to share my writing journey from idea to the finished book for you to follow here

1. Getting a book deal
2. Reading other books
3. Researching
4. Planning
5. Writing my first draft
6. Finishing the first draft
7. Editing
8. Responding to feedback
9. The news is out

Watch now here …

6 March 2025 – World Book Day

Dress up ideas for all my books here https://tompalmer.co.uk/world-book-day/

And lots more free resources here

• introductory powepoint
• posters
• colouring
• classroom reads
• films
• reading certificates

More here

27 March 2025 – NEW Soccer Diaries
Book 3: Rocky Goes for Goal

Can Rocky Race lead her team to victory?

Now that Rocky has her grades under control, she can focus on the most important thing: she is going to the California Soccer Championships! With only weeks to go until the big match, Rocky is starting to… get nervous? But she never gets scared before a match! So why is she having nightmares, and dreading training after school? Everyone is counting on her, and she knows that winning the championship gives her a better chance of going pro. With so much pressure, will Rocky be able to step up and take the winning shot?

Book 3 in The Soccer Diaries series starring Rocky Race, a British footballer looking to make it big.

More here

Signed Books for Easter 

Books can be simply signed by me or using their website you can specify a message like “To Nadiya, Happy Easter” for me to add.

2025 Author visits options and availability 

I am available for author visits both in person, pre-records and virtual from June 2025 linking to …

• a focus on Historical Fiction
• my Football Reading Game
• my Rugby Reading Game
• talks about Fair Trade
• writing workshops
• shorter  sessions for pupils with SEND
• assemblies
• presentations
• workshops
• virtual visits
• writing-history-with-the-imperial-war-museum

• More about my author visits here

Please use this form to subscribe to future termly newsletters

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Name *

First

Last

Email *

Please send me

• A termly newsletter for schools
• More information about author visits
• A reminder about Remembrance Day 2025

School Name (if applicable)

Any additional message

Submit

Our replies are never automated so you will get a personal reply. Please be patient with us!

SPOTLIGHT ON MY LATEST publication
“Angel of Grasmere:from Dunkirk to the Fells”
By Tom Palmer Published NOW by Barrington Stoke.

July 1940 – Tarn struggles to come to terms with the loss of her beloved brother in the chaos of the British retreat at Dunkirk and she and her friends scour the hills around their Westmorland home, watching for any signs of the long-dreaded Nazi invasion.

But as the war drags on, with little good news from the front, the locals become aware of someone carrying out anonymous acts of kindness. With no one claiming credit, the village come to think of this unidentified stranger as a kind of guardian angel, but when his identity is finally revealed can Tarn come to terms with the truth…?

Links – Effect of war on countryside, Evacuees,Bombing of cities –  Manchester,Bombing of Ports- Barrow in Furness, evacuation of Allied forces from the French port of Dunkirk in 1940, Battle of Britain,Rivers.

Free resources HERE … tompalmer.co.uk/angel-of-grasmere/

• • Trailer https://youtu.be/BAwGDDuNRHk
  • Tom’s writer’s scrapbook
  • Tom’s writer’s diary
  • Interview with Tom
  • A cover prediction set of worksheets
  • Angel paper dolls activity
  • Settings map worksheet
  • Playscript

“In the darkest of days, that’s when the miracles begin”

FREE Poster packs available on request from here. 

Download high-res posters by clicking on the images below:

Out 11 September 2025

I will have a new children’s historical non-fiction picture book out in September.  War Dog is a very special illustrated true story about Judy hero of the Second World War.

• More here tompalmer.co.uk/war-dog/ 
• Sign up for previews here tompalmer.co.uk/new-writing/
• Pre-order now Amazon
• Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available personalised to order from my local independent children’s bookshop “The Thoughtful Spot”  here.

COMING SOON – a Sporting Fiction trilogy

Book 1 out September 2025

• Sign up for previews here tompalmer.co.uk/new-writing/
• Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available personalised to order from my local independent children’s bookshop “The Thoughtful Spot”  here.

All year round FREE Football fiction resources – posters and certificates

I have FREE certificates I can sign for readers of all my books.

• Football Academy
• Foul Play
• Roy and Rocky of the Rovers
• My History Books

Tell me here if your pupils have read a whole series and you can receive a special signed certificate to present to them.

If you would like a football poster pack please visit my poster order page here 

More football resources here

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. 

With an extra special Christmas or birthday card from me on request!

Overseas :
Australia: Boomerang
Canada: Amazon Canada
New Zealand: Wheelers
USA :  Indigo books

Visit my bookshop or support your local bookshop HIVE

Schools bumper 33 book pack offer here

33 books
£194 saving £63 – over 25% discount
FREE DELIVERY & SIGNED BOOKPLATES

Please email rosie@rosemaryhillbooks.co.uk

Schools class set offer here.

15 copies 20%+ discount
30 copies 25%+ discount
100 copies 30% + discount

FREE DELIVERY & SIGNED BOOKPLATES

Please email rosie@rosemaryhillbooks.co.uk for a quote

Email me here for more information or use my contact form here to ask me a question.

Thank you.

PRIVACY & COOKIES POLICY                            TERMS & CONDITIONS

“We Will Tell Your Stories” marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.   FREE resources suitable for every school to use around Holocaust Memorial Day.

They are designed to inspire young people to create non-fiction historical writing based on true and powerful stories from the Holocaust and life after liberation.

“a great deal of thought, care, and effort has gone into creating something truly meaningful, playing a vital role in keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive and ensuring its lessons are passed on to future generations.” Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum

They draw inspiration from the testimony of five women and men including Jewish, Roma and Sinti and LGBT+ people – victims and survivors of the Nazis between 1939 and 1945.

My “We Will Tell Your Stories” writing scrapbook …

My 2025 film on writing a story about a Holocaust survivor …

With huge thanks to Paul Hill@manshedfilms

This year’s resources include …

• a new high-quality film recorded at locations, including the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, intended to guide children through the process of writing a story about a Holocaust survivor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQdmSL8ePMw
• new resources created by the National Literacy Trust guiding the children through that writing process: https://literacytrust.org.uk/resources/holocaust-memorial-day/
• my “We Will Tell Your Stories” writing scrapbook that can be used as an inspiration or raw material.  see above
• a live virtual event with genocide survivors from the National Literacy Trust and Holocaust Memorial Day Trust on Monday 27 January . Catch up here https://youtu.be/R0J7-tzFSUw
• a new Auschwitz Survivor Story by me: https://literacytrust.org.uk/resources/holocaust-memorial-day/
• 50% off class sets of After the War with UCL form here
• a certificate to present to students for their work here

My 2025 resources are available with the support of partners including:

• the Lake District Holocaust Project
• UCL Centre for Holocaust Education
• the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
• the National Literacy Trust

And for the very first time I am working with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum who supported my filming and research.

Get 50% off class sets of 30 copies of After the War from Auschwitz to Ambleside” for  £119.85 (RRP £239.70) plus P&P £4.95 with UCL using this form here

For updates and reminders for Holocaust Memorial Day, please fill in the form below. 

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• An e-newsletter about Holocaust Memorial Day 2025

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Available all year round are the first chapters of Tom’s award-winning children’s historical fiction, “After the War – from Auschwitz to Ambleside” here https://tompalmer.co.uk/after-the-war/.

And you might also be interested in Tom’s blog for The Holocaust Exhibition and Learning Centre about his children’s historical fiction, “After the War – from Auschwitz to Ambleside” https://holocaustlearning.org.uk/latest/after-the-war-writing-about-the-holocaust/

Tom’s resources from previous Holocaust Memorial Days are still accessible below including …

• a five part story about the late Michael Novice – a man who survived Auschwitz and went on to work for @NASA and design the camera that showed us man walking on the moon. In memory of an extraordinary man.
• a five part story of a sister and brother reunion after the end of the war.  Of Mala Tribich MBE & the Late Sir Ben Helfgott, reunited after surviving the Nazi concentration camps.

Holocaust Memorial Day 2024

Our 2024 resources were available with partners including UCL Centre for Holocaust Education and the National Literacy Trust:

• a webinar with the Historical Association
• a Free 5 part story
• an online Q&A event with Mala Tribich

Wednesday 17 January 2024 CPD Webinar 4-5pm
As author of “After the War – from Auschwitz to Ambleside”, I took part in a webinar with the Historical Association and the UCL Centre for Holocaust Education – “Making the most out of Holocaust Memorial Day: challenges and opportunities”.

Monday 22 -26 January 2024 FREE 5 part story to read aloud
This year’s story to be read in the week prior to Holocaust Memorial Day is the true tale of a sister and brother reunion after the end of the war.  Of Mala Tribich MBE & the Late Sir Ben Helfgott, reunited after surviving the Nazi concentration camps. (Mala was in Sweden and Ben in London.)  The Late Sir Ben Helfgott was one of the inspirations for Tom’s acclaimed “After the War from Auschwitz to Ambleside” about the three hundred child concentration camp survivors who came to the Lake District nearly 75 years ago (known as the Windermere Boys) is available with lots of FREE resources to support it.  (More here www.tompalmer.co.uk/after-the-war/)  

Download the story here or watch Tom reading the story here.

Friday 26 January 2024 – 09:30 to 10:15 online Q&A event
Mala Tribich joined me in a virtual event for schools to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.

Catch up now here …

Here’s a recap of my resources for Holocaust Memorial Day 2023

Thanks to generous funding support from the Marks Family Charitable Trust, the Association of Jewish Refugees and The Blue Thread, we teamed up with the National Literacy Trust to produce free resources for use in the classroom or at home, to help schools commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.

The resources were designed to be used for use with students aged 10 to 14 (Upper Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3) and are available from here literacytrust.org.uk/resources/holocaust-memorial-day/

• A certificate for you to present for student work here

• My story “Small Steps” written specially for Holocaust Memorial Day.  “Small Steps” is the 5 part read aloud true story (using survivor and family testimonies) about Michael Novice. He is one of the Windermere children – a Holocaust survivor who went on to help build the camera that filmed the first man on the moon here.  

Update from Tom 26 September 2024 “Over the years I have written stories for children based around the lives of some extraordinary people. Today I learned of the passing of the most remarkable. This is Michael Novice. A man who survived Auschwitz and went on to play a part in the moon landings. I worked with @HolocaustLake  and Michael Novice’s family to tell the story of this Holocaust survivor who came to the UK as a refugee and – after studying physics – went on to work for @NASA  and design the camera that showed us man walking on the moon. for the first time. In memory of an extraordinary man. Thank you.”

• My assembly introducing the story and showing you a very special rock from the Moon…

• Watch me read the story here by a model of Apollo 11 …

• A PowerPoint presentation, to introduce the story and resources to students
• Five videos and five worksheets to support and inspire pupils to write their own responses
• A teacher guide with ideas and sources to support your delivery and children’s writing
• A free online Q&A event with me interviewing Mala Tribich, a Holocaust survivor on 27 January 2023 catch up now 

Holocaust Memorial Day 2022 recap

Here is a recap of what we organised in previous years with partners including The National Literacy Trust , The Anne Frank Trust and The Holocaust Exhibition and Learning Centre :

• “Them” – a NEW FREE 5 part read aloud story written specially for Holocaust Memorial Day 2022 by Tom Palmer – suggested 1 chapter a day that week here
• 5 short films and worksheets to support “Them” story and inspire pupils to write their own responses
• 5 short films of Tom reading out loud “Them” available from here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmmlG7jutI-3APJWgcsvPSQ5k-LbrZ9zE
• A teacher guide with ideas and sources to support your delivery of “Them” and children’s writing
• FREE pre-recorded 10 minute video assembly Year 5-9 presentation from Tom about why it is important to mark Holocaust Memorial Day

• Years 5+6 Anne Frank Trust online Q&A event with Holocaust survivor Harry Olmer in conversation with Tom Palmer.  Catch up now

•  Years 5-9 National Literacy Trust online Q&A event  with Holocaust survivor Mala Tribich in conversation with Tom Palmer.  Catch up now

• “Why testimony should be at the heart of any Holocaust story” a blog for The Holocaust Exhibition and Learning Centre.  https://holocaustlearning.org.uk/latest/after-the-war-writing-about-the-holocaust/

Holocaust Memorial Day 2021 Recap :

I am extremely grateful for the support of the National Literacy Trust, UCL Centre for Holocaust Education, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, Lake District Holocaust Project and other partners to bring these to you.

The FREE resources include :

“The Question” a five-part story to read in school  with the National Literacy Trust (available in written format here for you to read aloud / stream / share or as a series of 5 films of Tom reading the story for you to use here ). “The Question” is a five-part read aloud story will be set in the present day about the visit of a Holocaust survivor to a UK school and how the children prepare and reflect on the experience. The survivor will be Yossi, one of the main characters from “After the War”, 75 years on from his liberation, age 91. The story is from the point of view of the pupils and will be aimed at Y5 to Y8. It is not essential to have read “After the War” beforehand (but you can read Chapter 1 of the book for free here  https://www.tompalmer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/After-the-War_chapter-sample.pdf . There is more about it here: https://tompalmer.co.uk/after-the-war/  

Watch Tom read The Question here

Watch our pre-recorded 20 minute assembly for Y5 to Y8, talking about why we mark Holocaust Memorial Day with the National Literacy Trust

Watch a series of films about developing writing and worksheets to support and inspire pupils to write their own responses with the National Literacy Trust

Friday, 29 January 10.30 am  Facebook live Q&A event with me, hosted by the National Literacy Trust and a chance to hear from a Holocaust survivor who will be joining us. Catch up and watch here … https://www.facebook.com/nationalliteracytrust/videos/258035889106033

Poppy Scotland Facebook Live Holocaust Memorial Day 2021

a resource pack created around “After the War” by UCL Centre for Holocaust Education. Containing lesson plans and materials for KS3 History, RS, Cit and Eng (available now here ).

an interview with the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust about listening to survivor testimonies (available now here and here)

Blackout Poetry Challenge includes how to guide, examples, text and certificate, here.

More downloadable resources including films of my research, book trailer, glossary and a student workbook are available here www.tompalmer.co.uk/after-the-war

Thank you

I’d like to say a big thank you everyone who has used these resources.  We have been asked for a signed certificate for schools to present to pupils for their Holocaust Memorial Day work.  If you would like to use this one you are very welcome download here. 

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 6  from St Oswald’s church, this Christmas

Read chapter 6 here to share with the young people you work with or use the flip book below :

Christmas Craft Activity

Make a simple angel – try using hand prints or cut out for wings or paper plates or doilies.  Decorate it by writing on it the christmas miracle you would wish for this year.

Or use these Paper Angels to cut out here

Christmas Blackout Poem Challenge here

Includes a how to guide, suggested extracts   examples and a signed certificate.

Follow the story using the real Grasmere village trail map here – a special commemorative map with the key book locations through the village, beautifully illustrated by James Innerdale.

 

Angel of Grasmere Commemoration Special film

Dunkirk Anniversary – A Commemoration Special with Mr Dilly and Tom Palmer

Catch up now here

• Join Tom Palmer speaking on location from the beaches of Dunkirk and the Grasmere Fells
• Interview and conversation with Mr Dilly and Tom Palmer
• Watch footage of the Dunkirk evacuation
• Listen to pre-recorded interviews with some of the Dunkirk veterans

Book Trailer

For more Angel of Grasmere resources and to find about how Tom researched and wrote it click here.

More of my Christmas in Fiction

Resist

Arctic Star

Buy the Book

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

With an extra special Christmas or birthday card from me on request!

Australia: Boomerang
Canada: Amazon Canada
New Zealand: Wheelers
USA :  Indigo books

Visit my bookshop or support your local bookshop

Schools bumper book pack
offer

33 books for £200

Saving £73

Over 25% discount

Free Delivery

Please email rosie@rosemaryhillbooks.co.uk

Schools class set offer

15 copies 20%+ discount
30 copies 25%+ discount
100 copies 30% + discount

FREE DELIVERY & SIGNED BOOKPLATES

Please email rosie@rosemaryhillbooks.co.uk for a quote

Email me here for more information or use my contact form here to ask me a question.

Thank you.

PRIVACY & COOKIES POLICY                            TERMS & CONDITIONS

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 dedicated, signed, gift-wrapped and will come with a Christmas card from me.  The Christmas card will have this year’s exclusive illustration taking inspiration from one of my books by the wonderful Yorkshire artist James Innerdale.

I will send a personal Christmas card to each nominee and a poster pack for each school regardless of whether or not their application is sucessful.

The Children
Our idea is to work with schools and libraries to help us gift books to fifty children.  Short applications are invited from teachers, TAs and librarians, nominating children as follows:

• who have had a difficult year at school or home in the hope that a book would be a boost for them
• who do not have any books at home
• who one special book might help engage them with a lifetime of reading for pleasure.

Applying teachers, TAs and librarians are also asked to select which of my books for children they feel is most appropriate.

Their Privacy
All nominations will be kept in confidence and it is up to you exactly how privately you wish to give the books over.

You will be under no obligation to disclose to the child why they are receiving the book or to present it to them publicly.

The nomination process for applying adults
If you’d like to nominate a child, please email the following information as follows to admin@tompalmer.co.uk by Sunday 17th November 2024: 

1. the child’s name (this will not be published and will be kept in full confidence)
2. a short paragraph explaining why you are nominating that child (this will not be published and will be kept in full confidence)
3. your choice of book for them from one of my books listed at https://tompalmer.co.uk/about-tom/books-for-children/.
4. your name and school address (where I will send the book)

We will respond ASAP to all applications as soon as we can on receipt.  My family and I will choose the recipients and notify all applying teachers, TAs and librarians of the outcome by the end of November and we aim to have the books dispatched to schools in the first week of December 2024.

I am sorry, we cannot promise to send a book to every child nominated. We have set an upper limit of 50.  But I will send a personal Christmas card to each nominee and a poster pack for each school regardless of whether or not their application is successful.

(For more information about special offer schools book packs, FREE signed bookplates and signed books to purchase as gifts see here. )

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.

With an extra special Christmas or birthday card from me on request!

Australia: Boomerang
Canada: Amazon Canada
New Zealand: Wheelers
USA :  Indigo books

Visit my bookshop or support your local bookshop

Schools bumper book pack
offer

33 books for £200

Saving £73

Over 25% discount

Free Delivery

Please email rosie@rosemaryhillbooks.co.uk

Schools class set offer

15 copies 20%+ discount
30 copies 25%+ discount
100 copies 30% + discount

FREE DELIVERY & SIGNED BOOKPLATES

Please email rosie@rosemaryhillbooks.co.uk for a quote

Email me here for more information or use my contact form here to ask me a question.

Thank you.

PRIVACY & COOKIES POLICY                            TERMS & CONDITIONS