Tom says “I am very, very happy to be an SLA Patron. I have worked with school librarians for nearly 20 years and have seen how they change lives and give children a better chance, through finding them the right reading material and by simply being there. Librarians and the School Library Association are integral to the world of children’s books, and it is my privilege to help champion what they do.”

The School Library Association (SLA) supports schools nationwide in developing their library provision through advice, resources, and training, connecting school librarians with professional development opportunities and outstanding books and authors.

Tom says” I am delighted my new picture book War Dog is under the spotlight in the Winter issue of The School Librarian, landing on the doorsteps of members and subscribers in early December.”

FREE Live Lesson 21st Jan 2026

Kick start the National Year of Reading with a Live Lesson together. In this 45 minute online event, designed to be streamed into a classroom or school library, I will draw on my own reading journey and experience as an author to share inspiration and ideas for KS2 and KS3 children to connect their interests to books and read more about what they love. This is a free event, exclusively available to SLA members. Register now.

SLA CEO Victoria Dilly said: “Very few people understand how to engage children in reading like Tom Palmer does. Tom’s proven passion for getting books into the hands of all children, and his knowledge of the vital role school libraries and school librarians play in encouraging reading for pleasure make him a perfect Patron for the SLA. I am thrilled to be working with Tom as we continue our mission to ensure all children and young people can fulfil their potential through the school library.”

Jane Walker, Sales and Marketing Director at Barrington Stoke said, “Tom has been a hugely important author on the Barrington Stoke list for many years, with a special ability to teach those readers who perhaps need his books the most. We are excited for what can be achieved when such a dream partnership work together to amplify the role of school libraries in inspiring and encouraging all kinds of readers.”

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

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

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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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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.

PRIVACY & COOKIES POLICY                            TERMS & CONDITIONS

Tuesday 27 January 2026 is Holocaust Memorial Day.

I am working again with the National Literacy Trust with classroom resources focused on oracy activities, empathy and informed discussion will support your KS2 or  KS3 class to explore, reflect and mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

10:00 – 10:45am 27 January 2026 – Holocaust Memorial Day live assembly with the National Literacy Trust.  Join me and special guest, Ruth Barnett to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. The free event will focus on Ruth’s experience of travelling to England as part of the Kindertransport.    Catch up now …

Five Words
Anschluss, Kristallnacht, Kindertransport, Refugee, Alien
I have written a new 5 part story for schools to read aloud, based on “My Darling Diary”, the real Kindertransport and wartime journal of a girl called Inga from her life first in Vienna, Austria 1937-39 and then in Falmouth, Cornwall 1939-1944. FREE Available from the NLT here

or Download here

Inga extra source materials :

Primary sources – a flip book of Inga’s family tree, photos & records

Listen to an interview with Inga here 

See Inga’s doll held by the Imperial War Museum here and her toy umbrella here

Read Cornwall Live newspaper article here

I am extremely grateful to Inga and her immediate and wider family for the support they have given us with this project and to UCL Centre for Holocaust Education for their expertise.

The FREE accompanying resources are suitable for every school to use around Holocaust Memorial Day.  For updates and reminders, please fill in the form below.  (Materials from previous years are still available free to use all year round, please scroll down.)

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• An e-newsletter about Holocaust Memorial Day 2026

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The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2026, ‘Bridging Generations’, is a call-to-action. A reminder that the responsibility of remembrance doesn’t end with the survivors – it lives on through their children, their grandchildren and through all of us. This theme encourages us all to engage actively with the past – to listen, to learn and to carry those lessons forward. By doing so, we build a bridge between memory and action, between history and hope for the future.

Holocaust Memorial Day in 2025

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

These resources 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 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

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 even

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

Fairtrade Fortnight  22 September to 5 October 2025

Fairtrade Fortnight is a great opportunity to get children thinking about where they spend their money and the difference that choice can make other people’s lives.  My children’s book “Off Side” is about fairtrade, trafficking and football.

Keep up to date with reminders about what I am doing this year by completing the form below

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Poster packs

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Fairtrade Fiction : Off Side

“Off Side” is about fairtrade, trafficking and football.

The hero of my children’s book Offside, is a boy called Kofi, who – as well as being a gifted footballer – is the son of cocoa bean farmers in Ghana.

At the beginning of the Off Side, Kofi’s family were being cheated and not paid a fair amount for their beans.

By the end they had become part of the Kuapa Kokoo co-operative which supplies chocolate manufacturers Divine.

I was very lucky, when in Ghana researching my novel Offside, that Divine took me to meet some farmers and to Akomaden School which is directly paid for by our buying Fairtrade Chocolate.

I have seen how the choice we make to buy Fairtrade chocolate improves lives: children being well-schooled, families learning to run their own businesses and  improved homes and healthcare.

Fairtrade Fortnight Resources

Free Fairtrade schools’ pack

Read Chapter One here.  

Virtual Fairtrade visits

I offer virtual and in-person school visits to talk about fair trade, reading, writing and football, linked to my book – Off Side – about a sixteen year old son of a cocoa farmer who is trafficked from Ghana to England, thinking he is going to be a famous footballer.  Having seen at first hand the difference it makes, I try to choose Fair Trade where I can.

Find out more about my Fairtrade visits here .

Football Trafficking

Off Side also looks at people trafficking, particularly the exploitation of young footballers from Africa.

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