Captain Sir Tom Moore: One Hundred Steps; Captain Tom Moore, illustrated by Adam Larkum

If there was one good thing to come out of 2020 it was a delightful gentleman from Yorkshire. Captain Tom Moore went from unknown to global sensation in 2020 when he decided to walk one-hundred lengths of his garden before his one-hundredth birthday to raise money for NHS staff who were courageously going about caring for people affected by Corona Virus.

Captain Tom Moore had experienced and done a lot in his life. He loved adventures. Adventures in the kitchen with his mother, adventures across the Yorkshire Moors on his motorbike, adventures with his soldier comrades in the Burmese jungle, many adventures raising a family and an adventure visiting Everest aged ninety. So when a terrible virus threatened the world, Tom saw the opportunity for one more adventure…

The story of Captain Tom Moore is inspirational, up-lifting and the most wonderful of feel-good reads. The story covers many aspects of Captain Tom’s life. Childhood days were spent baking with his mum and enjoying rides on his motorbike accompanied by his dog, Billy. When war broke out, Captain Tom, like many other young men, valiantly served his country. On his return home, a family was soon to follow and then there were grandchildren. Captain Tom loved family life, there were adventures, misadventures and mischief. He was a family man and the love for his own children and his grandchildren and the love that his family reciprocated just leaps from the pages and warms the heart. The final few pages detail his incredible walking achievements to raise money for the NHS. What started out as a personal challenge with the idea to raise a little bit of money for doctors and nurses captured the attention of the world and he raised a staggering £40 million.

The whole book is a thing of beauty. Captain Tom’s story is beautifully told, the artwork is wonderful and a fitting biography at the end provides further information about Captain Tom’s life and includes lovely photographs.

Tom’s story is one of resilience and hope and is a feel-good story that the world most definitely needs. As Tom said to the world, “Tomorrow will be a good day.” This book is a fabulous tribute to a wonderful man.

Recommended for 5+.