Captain Tom Moore’s autobiography and children’s book to be published

There are few bright spots to the coronavirus crisis, but when we look back, without doubt one of them will be Captain Tom Moore.

The 100-year-old showed us the power of individual action, and inspired the nation by raising £32million for NHS Charities by walking 100 laps of his garden.

Now, Captain Tom will inspire more people – from the very young upwards – with his forthcoming memoir and children’s book. Both books will be published by Penguin Random House in support of the creation of the Captain Tom Foundation. The newly formed foundation will look to tackle loneliness, support hospices and help those facing bereavement, all of which are causes close to Captain Tom and his family’s hearts.

Tomorrow Will be a Good Day, Captain Tom's autobiography, will show how the former soldier has been doing extraordinary things all his life. It will include tales of his time on the battlefields of Burma, the period he spent competitively racing motorbikes, and how he went to the Himalayas and Everest in his 90s simply because he'd never been.

The book will also talk about his plan to raise £1,000 for NHS charities by his 100th birthday on 30 April, and how his walk – completed even though he had recently had treatment for cancer and suffered a broken hip – captured the public imagination.

Captain Tom said: "I am so looking forward to sharing my autobiography with you which will help support my new Foundation...I'd better get writing!"

Rowland White, publishing director at Michael Joseph, which will publish Tomorrow Will be a Good Day, said: "When the country was looking for hope and reassurance Captain Tom stepped forward and made us believe that tomorrow would be a good day.

"Penguin Random House feels enormously proud, privileged and excited to be Captain Tom's publisher. His autobiography and children's book will ensure that his extraordinary achievement becomes a lasting and powerful force for good."

Captain Tom's children's book, to be published by Puffin, will capture his story for a younger generation, and will be about adventure, helping people and never giving up. It will be fully illustrated and follow key moments from Captain Tom's life.

Francesca Dow, managing director of Penguin Random House Children's, said: "We are thrilled and honoured to be working with Captain Tom to tell his and his family's story in picture book form. 

"One of the most extraordinary things that Captain Tom has managed to achieve at this difficult time is to show the world that we are stronger, and can achieve more, when we work together. It is a message that we know will speak to families everywhere and will be at the heart of Captain Tom's wonderful children’s book."

Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day will be published on 17 September by Michael Joseph.

Captain Tom's Picture Book will be published on 1 October by Puffin.