World Book Day Visit

Academy celebrates World Book Day with Author Tom Palmer

Author Tom Palmer visited the academy to help us celebrate World Book Day.

Tom worked with groups of Year 7 pupils who had little interest in literature and reading.

The day stared with a quiz in class with a quiz about football and spies.  This sparked the students' imaginations.  When 10 students got the correct answers they took part in a penalty shoot out, with Tom as goalkeeper.  The winner of the shoot out was awarded a football trophy.

After the excitement of the shoot out Tom and the students read chapters from his books and he held a question and answer session.  There were questions about his books and story lines and about his life and writing.

Tom admitted that as a small boy he didn't like reading or writing, but at the age of 17 when he took an interest in football, he began writing.  Football was the spark that set Tom on the road to being an author.

Now, Tom travels the world meeting players and visiting grounds.  He then puts these experiences into his fiction books that he writes for Puffin Books.

Tom a Leeds supporter lives with his wife and daughter aged 5 in the Pennines.  He said his daughter also becomes involved in helping with his books by choosing the illustrations for his stories.

He urged the children never to think they can't be an author, you can if you want to.  A good tip is to keep a notebook with you and when you have an idea jot it down.  Reading is for everyone, sometimes it is just a matter of finding what sets your imagination in motion.  If you are interested in writing have a go.