Books can be simply signed by me or using their website you can specify a message like “To Nadiya, Happy Christmas”

for me to add.

We have also been asked for books to be dedicated in memory of an armed forces family member.  For example, on copies of Arctic Star Tom can add a name and the ship the served on in memory of someone who served in the Royal Navy.

You can contact the “The Thoughtful Spot”  here for more information and to order.

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 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 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  my latest book 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 successful.

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 23rd 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 the child’s name (this will not be published and will be kept in full confidence)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 a short paragraph explaining why you are nominating that child (this will not be published and will be kept in full confidence)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 2025.

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

This year’s Remembrance Sunday will be marked on 9th November, with Armistice Day on Tuesday 11^th 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 will be filmed from the National Working Military Dog’s Memorial.

I will be speaking by the memorial to a pointer called Judy, hero of WW2 and my new picture book War Dog.

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning , we will remember them.” Laurence Binyon

Link to be posted here shortly

Remembrance virtual event with Mr Dilly

Upper Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3

Booking link to be posted here shortly

Keep up to date with reminders about this year’s plans here

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My books about various sections of the Armed Forces:

• Royal Navy Arctic Star War Dog
• Army Over the Line, Armistice Runner and The Last Try
• RAF Flyboy, Spitfire, Typhoon and Rugby Academy
• the Reserves and Paratroopers D-Day Dog
• Prisoners of War War Dog

Since 2019 the red poppy has paid tribute to civilian victims of war and “acts of terrorism”, alongside the armed forces.

Angel of Grasmere is set at the start of the Second World War in Britain featuring the chaos of the British retreat at Dunkirk and the fear of Nazi invasion for a group of three village and evacuee children in the Lake District.

Resist is my historical story for children about the impact on a homefront civilian occupation in WW2, based on the real Dutch Resistance experiences of Audrey Hepburn.

My books about both World Wars and children of today’s serving members of the Armed Forces :  

• First World War – Read  Over the Line,  Flyboy and Armistice Runner
• Second World War – Read Resist, Spitfire, D-Day Dog, Arctic Star, After the War ,  Angel of Grasmere and War Dog
• 21^st century Armed Forces – Typhoon, D-Day Dog

More WW1 Literacy Resources are available from here: tompalmer.co.uk/first-world-war-literacy-resources/

• First chapters of all my historical fiction books.
• Be a Trench Runner memory challenge game for the school hall.
• Black out poetry sheets with instructions and certificates.
• 10 discussion points about war for Y5 to Y9.
• Book cover prediction sheets with questions encouraging the children to think about what a book might be about.

More WW2 Literacy Resources are available from here: tompalmer.co.uk/second-world-war-literacy-resources/

• Downloadable posters.
• First chapters of all my historical fiction books.
• Videos about the settings of my books, filmed at the Somme and on the D-Day beaches.

• D-Day Dog Blackout Poem Challenge Introduction and how to guide to create your own Blackout Poems, including suggested texts, examples and a certificate. Download here

Here’s a recap of materials from previous years …

Signed certificate to present to pupils for their reading for pleasure or any achievements relating to Remembrance Day.

Download here

My 2024 Remembrance Day film was recorded at the site of an aircrash of one of the hundreds of Allied planes that crashed in the countryside during the defence of Britain during the Second World War, some miles away from villages and roads, many hundreds of feet high up mountains and fells. Thousands of airmen were killed and severely injured. Many sites have memorials to those lost. “At the going down of the sun and in the morning , we will remember them.” Laurence Binyon
Remembrance virtual event

• With a two-minute silence to mark the Armistice
• Art, music, poetry, veteran interviews creating a unique, interactive, live-streamed experience
• Upper Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3
• Live Zoom webinar with National Literacy Trust and the Royal British Legion

Catch up now here …

My 2023 assembly message was about the real First and Second World War soldiers, airmen and women and sailors that have inspired the characters in my books.  It is for use in the hall or for schools to stream throughout classrooms.

• “The Barnbow Lasses” – a  FREE 3 part readaloud story with resources.  Download here. 

And you can read this great blog from Amy McKinlay, P1-3 teacher at Kettins Primary School …  How to make Remembrance Day memorable in the classroom – Scottish Book Trust

My 2022 Remembrance message was about the First and Second World War soldiers, airmen and women and sailors – from across the Commonwealth – that have inspired the characters in my books, particularly from India and Canada :
My 2021 Remembrance message was filmed from the Arctic Convoy War Memorial at Liverpool Parish Church

My 2020 Remembrance message was filmed from my local war memorial about the real soldiers, sailors and airman who inspired my books:

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.

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 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.

PRIVACY & COOKIES POLICY                            TERMS & CONDITIONS

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 fiction : Resist
Christmas in fiction : Arctic Star

Advance notice
2026 Author visits in person / virtual
Tuesday 27 January 2026 – Holocaust Memorial Day resources
Thursday 5 March 2026 – World Book Day 2026

All year round – FREE Reader’s certificates

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.

Published by Scholastic
14 August 2025
ISBN 0702325945

“A brilliant book to explore with young children” Fiona Sharp

• Souvenir Packs
• Trailer
• Watch Tom on BBC breakfast
• Learn to draw Judy with Caroline Rabei
• Cover prediction worksheet
• Judy Colouring
• Dickin Medal activity
• Looking out for each other activity
• Follow Judy’s journey from China to East Africa

Buy Signed copies here www.thethoughtfulspotbooks.com/tom-palmer-books

More info and FREE resources here tompalmer.co.uk/war-dog

Introducing “The Fear” Book 1 in my new Underdogs series

Kian has to face his fears of footballing failure in order to support a friend in this action-packed sports story.

Can Kian overcome the Fear?

Published by Barrington Stoke 
Out Thursday, 11 September 2025

More here

Remembrance Day 2025

My annual Remembrance Day film – filmed from the National Working Military Dog’s Memorial

Tom speaks by the memorial to a pointer called Judy, hero of WW2 and his book War Dog.

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning , we will remember them.” Laurence Binyon

Link to be posted here shortly

Remembrance virtual event with Mr Dilly

Upper Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3

Booking link to be posted here shortly.

More on Remembrance Day here

Christmas Book Giving

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 2025.  Closing Date Sunday 23rd November 2025

Find out how to and to nominate a pupil here 

Signed Books for Christmas with FREE exclusive Christmas Card 

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

Christmas in Fiction : Angel of Grasmere

Discover how young Tarn Fothergill celebrated Christmas Day 1940 with her family, farmer’s boy Peter, evacuee Eric, and Land girls Margaret and Kathleen.

Christmas crafts, blackout poetry challenge, read the special Christmas chapter or watch Tom reading it all here.

More about Angel of Grasmere here

Christmas in Fiction : Resist

Audrey Hepburn’s childhood story of resistance in the Second World War against the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands inspired my children’s book Resist. 

Silent Night is an extra special short story I have written about Audrey’s secret Christmas mission,

FREE to read or watch me read the story from here

More about Resist here

Christmas in fiction : Arctic Star

Discover how the young Royal Navy sailors celebrate Christmas Day 1943 aboard HMS Belfast in the Arctic Circle with dinner, carols and listening to the King’s Speech in my children’s book Arctic Star.

Use these resources based on the special Christmas Chapter 19 of Arctic Star. 

• Blackout poetry challenge
• Flip book to read Chapter 19
• Watch me reading chapter 19 aboard HMS Belfast

FREE to read, download or watch me read from here 

More about Arctic Star here 

2026 Author visits in person / virtual

I am available from January 2026 for historical fiction, football or rugby author events or linking to …

• Holocaust Memorial Day  (27 January 2025– 80^th anniversary of liberation of Auschwitz)
• Six Nations (Rugby Reading Game) – Feb-March 2026

SPECIAL OFFER for virtual visits booked by October for a virtual visit in January 2026 please ask for more information by emailing admin @ tompalmer . co . uk

More about my author visits here

Tuesday 27 January 2026 – Holocaust Memorial Day

Next year’s plans are already underway with a virtual event with the National Literacy Trust and Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and a new resource based on the real diary of a young girl leaving Austria to arrive in the UK by kindertransport.

More about Holocaust Memorial Day here

Thursday 5 March 2025 – World Book Day !

Watch this space!

All year round FREE 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 poster pack please visit my poster order page here 

Please use this form to subscribe to future termly newsletters

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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!

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

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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Name *

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Bookplate dedication name "To "(if different from above)

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• A War Dog souvenir reader's pack

School Name (if applicable)

First Line of address

Second line of addresss

Postcode

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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!

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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

The 80th anniversaries of
VE Day Thursday 8 May 2025
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/

Meet me Summer 2025

Saturday 16 August 2025
10-3pm Bankfield Museum Halifax  WW2 VJ Day event with Thoughtful Spot

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

After the War – VE Day
War Dog – VJ Day

And I have created these new VE & VJ Day resources that  families, schools and libraries can use.

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.

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.

V J Day Blog #1

It is now 80 years on since their arrival of 300 child holocaust survivors in Lake District.  And you can read my blog on the Windermere Children and the writing of After the War for Barrington Stoke here. 

VJ Day Blog #2 

I’m pleased to have done a blog for BBC Bitesize. On five books about conflict for children that I think are outstanding. Including Rosemary Sutcliff, @balirai and others.

VE Day Resources

And here is my special reading of a VE Day 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.

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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

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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.

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