British children's author of fiction featuring sport & history. Dad. Husband. Fell runner. LUFC. Roy of the Rovers. After the War from Auschwitz to Ambleside . @tompalmerauthor
For the past few 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 2021.
Our idea is to work with schools and libraries to help us gift books to fifty children who have had a difficult year at school or home in the hope that a book would be a boost for them; to children who do not have any books at home; or to children for who one special book might help engage them with a lifetime of reading for pleasure.
Each book will be personally dedicated, signed, gift-wrapped and will come with a Christmas card from me. Those nominating can choose from any of my books for children.
The Christmas card will have this year’s illustration by the wonderful Yorkshire artist James Innerdale.
If you’d like to nominate a child, please email the following information to admin@tompalmer.co.uk by Sunday 21st November2021:
the child’s name (this will not be published and will be kept in full confidence)
a short paragraph explaining why you are nominating that child (this will not be published and will be kept in full confidence)
your name and school address (where I will send the book)
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.
My family and I will choose the recipients and aim to have the books dispatched to schools in the first week of December 2021.
You will be under no obligation to disclose to the child why they are receiving the book or to present it to them publicly.
(For more information about special offer schools book packs, FREE signed bookplates and signed books to purchase as gifts see here. )
And I’ve made a FREE short introductory film about my career and how it has been based around the world of reading and writing – in bookshops, libraries, book festivals and literacy charities.
It is for classroom use in careers, English or PHSE lessons, aimed at people who might like a career in the book world.
Watch or download from my advert free YouTube site here.
If you would like me to make an extended pre-recorded film for your school including or focusing on :
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!
This year’s Remembrance Sunday will be marked on 14th November, with Remembrance Day three days earlier on Thursday 11th November 2021.
To help schools mark the occasion and link it to developing literacy in the classroom, I am offering these FREE resources for schools to use based around my books.
Please use this assembly film for KS2 and KS3 made at the Arctic Memorial, Liverpool Parish Church. It is for use in the hall or for schools to stream throughout classrooms. I talk about the real First and Second World War soldiers, airmen and women and sailors that have inspired the characters in my books. https://youtu.be/DL35oK6en_w
Please use this signed certificate to present to pupils for any work relating to Remembrance Day download here
ReadHis Name is Ben – a short story for children by Tom Palmer illustrated by James Innerdale – about Sir Ben Helfgott, one of The Boys who came to Loughton and went on to become an Olympic weightlifter.
Tom Palmer is the author of “After the War – from Auschwitz to Ambleside” about the 300 Windermere Children, who came from Auschwitz to Ambleside over 75 years ago. More here.
Find out more about what happened next to the Holocaust Survivors at a new Epping Forest District Museum exhibition here .
On Saturday 14 August, I will be following the route the Windermere boys made from Carlisle to Windermere raising money over 75 years ago to continue fighting racism and intolerance.
“After the War”, published by Barrington Stoke was researched with the Lake District Holocaust Project and written with Grasmere school. It’s about the three hundred child concentration camp survivors who came to the Lake District nearly 75 years ago (who were known as the Windermere Boys). More here.
“It is a story from the past, told in the present, with lessons for us all for the future.” Trevor Avery
“A powerful and moving novel, following meticulous research and with the support of the Lake District Holocaust Project” Jewish News
Link literacy to this year’s Euro 2020! Please scroll down to access :
A big thank you from Tom!
signed certificate for following the story
a free Football Reading Game
a free live story to read in the classroom
a free zoom event
special films about reading for Wales & Scotland fans
ordering a free poster pack
buying signed books
Thank you!
Tom– along with the Roy of the Rovers team and the National Literacy Trust – would like to say a HUGE thank you to all your teachers, librarians and other adults for bringing this story to you.
And thank you to all of you for listening to it, reading it, voting and sending kind messages.
Huge congratulations to Italy. And well done to the England for what they achieved. Especially the five who stepped up to take penalties. They are legends.
We’ve really enjoyed this journey through EURO 2020 with you and would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families and happy and healthy summer holiday.
Signed Certificate for following this year’s live story
As a thank you please click on this image or here to download a certificate for your school to commemorate following this year’s live story.
Football Reading Game free activity for your school
Watchthis film in your classroom & test your knowledge in a special Euro 2020 version of my popular Football Reading Game?
COMING September 2021
The next book in the series, “Sudden Death” is out September 2021.
A new start means new challenges for Roy, Rocky, their family, and their teammates, and with their Dad’s condition getting worse, things aren’t about to get any easier both on and off the field…
Pre-order a signed and dedicated copy of Sudden Death now from my local independent bookshop here.
The series so far
1 Scouted – read Chapter 1 here 2 Teamwork – read Chapter 1 here 3 Playoffs – read Chapter 1 here 4 On Tour – read Chapter 1 here 5 From the Ashes – read Chapter 1 here 6 Rocky – read Chapter 1 here 7 Sudden Death – Out September 2021
Euro 2020 A Ghost Story
EURO 2020: A Ghost Story is brought to you by the FA and National Literacy Trust from June 11th and July 7th 2021.
Published in 12 chapters, it is written the night before the morning of publication and is influenced by the events on the pitch as well as off the pitch at host venues.
School classrooms will be able to vote on storylines at least two times. It is aimed at Y4 to Y7, but could work for some Y3 and Y8 groups.
The basic idea for the story is that my Roy of the Rovers characters – brother and sister, Roy and Rocky Race – go to watch games across Europe. With Covid restrictions in place, they will ‘travel’ with the help of a friendly footballing ghost.
Find out more about the Roy of the Rovers series here.
Zoom Event
Thanks everyone who took part in the FREE virtual schools zoom event with the National Literacy Trust for Euro2020 event on 11 June 2021!
Poster packs
If you would like more information, a special signed Roy of the Rover poster pack and/or a reminder about when the LIVE Euro 2020 story starts, please fill in the order form below:
A special film about football reading for Wales fans
A special film about football reading for Scotland fans
My other football books
I’ve also written …
My First Football Game
The Penalty
Secret FC
Football Academy series
Foul Play series
Defenders series
Wings series
Ghost Stadium
Over the Line
So check out them out for more free resources
Watch Rocky & Roy’s whistlestop tour of 5 football clubs – do they visit your team?
Buy the Books
Signed and dedicated copies available from my local independent bookshop, Book Corner Halifax here.
1 Scouted – read Chapter 1 here 2 Teamwork – read Chapter 1 here 3 Playoffs – read Chapter 1 here 4 On Tour – read Chapter 1 here 5 From the Ashes – read Chapter 1 here 6 Rocky – read Chapter 1 here 7 Sudden Death – Out September 2021
Pre-order a signed and dedicated copy of Sudden Death now from my local independent bookshop here.
Schools bumper book pack and class set offers here.
Tarn grapples with the loss of her brother at Dunkirk as she faces the threat of Nazi invasion in the Cumbrian countryside in this gripping wartime tale.
Signed copies make an extra special gift. I can sign and personalise books - including a special birthday card - through my local independent children's bookshop.
My newsletter is emailed 3 times a year. Choose from Termly resources news for Teachers and Librarians or Holiday reading news for Young Readers and their families.
Please enjoy my books for free at school & public libraries, buy them from your local independent bookshop and high street shops like Waterstone's and WHSmith or visit my Amazon bookshop. Thank you.
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