120,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Overnight NZ-wide delivery 🚀 Auckland Bookstore • Open 7 days, 8:30am–5pm

Front Foot

By Tom Palmer
0.0 (0 reviews)
Brief Description
Navigating life in England, Azeem hopes to share his passion for cricket with his new friends in this action-packed sports story from award-winning author Tom Palmer. Azeem’s father dreams of one day seeing his son play cricket on an English cricket pitch wearing English cricket whites.... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$1999
Pre-order
Releases 30th December 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "Front Foot" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

Found a better price? Request a price match

Navigating life in England, Azeem hopes to share his passion for cricket with his new friends in this action-packed sports story from award-winning author Tom Palmer.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Navigating life in England, Azeem hopes to share his passion for cricket with his new friends in this action-packed sports story from award-winning author Tom Palmer.

Azeem’s father dreams of one day seeing his son play cricket on an English cricket pitch wearing English cricket whites. Getting to grips with his new life in the UK, Azeem can’t understand why the children on his estate would rather kick a ball than bowl one.

As he anxiously awaits news from his mum and sister, who are stuck in a refugee camp in Pakistan, Azeem distracts himself with teaching his new friends how to play cricket. He takes a chance by inviting some intimidating, older boys in the local park to play with them and soon enough, a team is formed.

But with worry for his family worsening, will Azeem be able to play on his Front Foot?

Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 7.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008695712

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 10 September 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Barrington Stoke Ltd

Illustration: 16 b/w, illus

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Robin Boyden

Audience: Children, Teenage

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 5.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 140g

Pages: 80

Collections

Children's Books Children’s, Teenage and Educational Kids & YA Pre-orders Pre-order Books Pre-Order Children's Books Pre-orders Pre-orders by Release Date Tom Palmer Young Adult

About the Author

Tom Palmer was a reluctant reader as a child and credits articles about football with getting him into reading. He is now the multi-award-winning author of many books for young readers, including the Young Quills Award winner After the War and FCBG Children's Book Award winners Armistice Runner and D-Day Dog. In 2019 Tom was awarded the National Literacy Trust's Ruth Rendell Award in recognition of his significant contribution to literacy work in the UK. Robin Boyden is the author-illustrator of Gerald Needs a Friend and the illustrator of numerous bestselling middle grade and non-fiction books for children, including the My Brother Is a Superhero series by David Solomons, Leah Williamson's The Wonder Team series, and the Dr Who Team TARDIS Diaries. He lives with his family in Cheltenham.

Also by Tom Palmer

View all
  • After the War
    Master storyteller Tom Palmer returns with a deeply moving and beautifully told novel of friendship and belonging, inspired by the incredible true story of the Windermere Boys. The best children’s fiction book I’ve yet read about the Holocaust – Tim Robertson, CEO Anne Frank Trust Summer 1945. The Second World War is finally over and Yossi, Leo, and Mordecai are...
    By Tom Palmer
    Paperback
    $1799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Angel of Grasmere
    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 from Tom Palmer. July 1940 – as Tarn struggles to come to terms with the loss of her beloved brother in the chaos of the British retreat at Dunkirk, she and her friends...
    By Tom Palmer
    Paperback
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Arctic Star
    Multi-award-winning author Tom Palmer returns with a thrilling naval adventure inspired by the incredible history of the Second World War Arctic convoys. Arctic Star is set in Winter 1943. Teenagers Frank, Joseph, and Stephen are Royal Navy recruits on their first mission at sea during the Second World War. Their ship is part of an Arctic Convoy sailing to Russia...
    By Tom Palmer
    Paperback
    $1799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Armistice Runner
    Tom Palmer celebrates the unsung athletic heroes of the Armistice in a powerful tale of the fell-running messengers on the front-line of war. Armistice Runner follows Lily, a young girl with a lot on her mind. She's struggling to compete in her fell-running races and, even more worrying, she's losing her gran to Alzheimer's. Amidst these challenges, Lily finds her...
    By Tom Palmer
    Paperback
    $1799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Resist
    Multi-award-winning author Tom Palmer shines a light on life under wartime occupation, in a beautifully told story inspired by the childhood of Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn. As the brutal Second World War stretches on with no end in sight, life for ordinary Dutch people in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands is fraught with peril and hardship. There is very little to eat,...
    By Tom Palmer
    Paperback
    $1799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Fear
    Kian has to face his fears of footballing failure in order to support a friend in this action-packed sports story from bestselling and award-winning author Tom Palmer. Kian’s best mate Azeem is desperate for them both to join the local football team. He can’t understand why Kian’s reluctant as he’s one of the best players on their estate. But a...
    By Tom Palmer
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Football's Greatest Moments (Ultimate Football Heroes - The No.1 football series): Collect Them All!
    From the invention of the modern sport all the way to the present day, bestselling author and football expert Tom Palmer picks one hundred of the most thrilling and significant goals, games, and players from more than 150 years of the Beautiful Game. Featuring Pelé's World Cup, Maradona's Hand of God, John Barnes' Maracanã magic, and the Lionesses' European Championship...
    By Tom Palmer and Ultimate Football Heroes
    Paperback
    $1699
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Spitfire
    Football meets fantasy in this second title of Tom Palmer's action-packed Wings trilogy. Greg's fed up with playing in goal. He reckons things only happen to you there. The other players get to make them happen. The summer school isn't turning out how he'd hoped at all.The old airfield next to the school freaks Greg out … but when he...
    By Tom Palmer
    Paperback
    $1799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Ultimate Football Heroes Generations: Liverpool's Greatest Moments
    From the founding of the club in 1892 to present day, bestselling author and football expert Tom Palmer picks ONE HUNDRED of the most thrilling and significant goals, games, players and moments from more than 130 years of The Reds. Featuring the 2022 FA Cup win, the 2005 Miracle of Istanbul, Liverpool's first division title in 1947, the 2006 "Gerrard...
    By Tom Palmer
    Paperback
    $1699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Rugby Academy
    Dive into the world of rugby in this action-packed, globe-trotting sports adventure from top-selling author Tom Palmer. Rugby Academy follows the journey of Borderlands First XV as they strive to become the best school rugby team in the world. While the boys focus on their matches, many of their parents are serving overseas in the armed forces, causing them concern...
    By Tom Palmer
    Paperback
    $1799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • War Dog
    War Dog tells the inspiring story of Judy, a dog who loves her crew, and they love her. She knows that she brings comfort to the men, making her job very important during these hard times. But when her soldiers are taken prisoner and she is separated from her beloved Frank, she must find the strength to keep going. She...
    By Tom Palmer
    Paperback
    $2199
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Typhoon
    Two sisters must put their differences aside in order to survive the ultimate challenge in the finale of Tom Palmer's action-packed Wings trilogy. It's the last day at football summer school. Jess is moving in for an easy shot on goal when the roar of a fighter jet nearly flattens her with shock. For Maddie, it's the final straw.Once the...
    By Tom Palmer
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Children's Books

View all
  • New Release
    Gruffalo Granny
    The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure...
    By Julia Donaldson
    Hardback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Wahine
    New Release
    Wahine
    From a majestic mermaid to a clay woman, the creator of glaciers to the mother of gardening, discover powerful wahine and how their stories shaped the world around us. Wahine introduces readers to twelve purakau of brave, bold, and inspiring women of Aotearoa. A beautifully illustrated collection that will delight the whole whanau, from award-winning illustrator Isobel Joy Te Aho-White....
    By Isobel Joy Te Aho-White
    Hardback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Sweet As Looky Book
    New Release
    The Sweet As Looky Book
    Can you find all the chocolate fish? Is it possible for kiwi to fly? Can you spot the difference? See Aotearoa New Zealand through the eyes of award-winning artist Donovan Bixley in The Sweet As Looky Book. Use your finest skills to seek out pirates in the Bay of Islands and birds in Rakiura Stewart Island. Get in a car...
    By Donovan Bixley
    Hardback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Day of the Dinosaur Disaster
    Angry anacondas, blizzarding blobs, carnivorous cactuses ... what kind of twisted curse will Glam-Evil think up this time?!Only it's not just Glam-Evil's curse the gang needs to worry about; they've got a few other problems, too. Swooping Pteranodons, a hungry T-Rex, a missing mother, and ... is that ... an ASTEROID?!Join MILES AND JONES as they face their biggest challenge...
    By Sam Smith
    Paperback
    $1400
    Elsewhere:
    $1499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Neverfear
    A world of richly-imagined wonder Cressida Cowell It’s the Midsummer Feast on the Islet of Glimt and on this magical moonlit evening, the word on everyone’s lips is bandits. Reports of masked men burning villages are spreading throughout the Archipelago, but worse is still to come: Christopher and Anya are ambushed and one of the people they love most is...
    By Katherine Rundell
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Mari the Unwonderful Witch
    A charming, cosy and thought-provoking tale about a wonderfully unconventional little witch, by bestselling author of BUTTER, Asako Yuzuki. Perfect for fans of WICKED, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE, and THE HATMAKERS series by Tamzin Merchant - and anyone who likes an enchanting adventure with just a hint of mischief. Mari the Unwonderful Witch introduces us to Mari, an eleven-year-old witch who...
    By Asako Yuzuki
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Animalia 40th Anniversary Edition
    A beautiful, foiled collector's edition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Graeme Base's classic and bestselling Australian picture book, Animalia. Embark on a fantastical alphabetic adventure where each turn of the page unveils a rich tapestry of intricate illustrations tied to a unique letter of the alphabet. More than 5 million copies sold worldwide Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA)...
    By Graeme Base
    Hardback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Comeback Kid
    Charlie Boy might be just an ordinary kid, but he's about to get into some EXTRA-ordinary trouble... Get ready for this funny, fast-paced, friendship adventure with lots of kick. Meet Charlie Boy: skinny, small, looks like a strand of spaghetti. He and his best friend, Rocky the Lower Hutt Chief, are good at getting into trouble together. But when Charlie...
    By Airana Ngarewa
    Paperback
    $1799
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Millie from Milford
    New Release
    Millie from Milford
    Based on the true story of Ruth Shaw and her husband Lance looking after a baby seal that had been shot between the eyes. Millie from Milford lives in Milford Sound, the number one tourist destination in Aotearoa New Zealand. After Millie was checked by a vet, she was taken to Ruth and Lance's home to be looked after until...
    By Ruth Shaw
    Paperback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Case of the Tall Stranger: Violet and the Velvets 4
    New Release
    The Case of the Tall Stranger: Violet and the Velvets 4
    But disaster strikes when guitarist Jack breaks his wrist and can no longer play. On top of that, all their hard work fundraising has fallen short! When help comes from unexpected channels, the Velvets make it to the Big Apple just in time to compete against the best kid bands in the whole world, including their new rivals the Blazer...
    By Rachael King
    Paperback
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $1899
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Pocket Observology
    New Release
    Pocket Observology
    Pocket Observology is a practical field guide designed for those who love to explore and understand the natural world around them. Slip this guide out of your pocket to identify, measure, compare, or find clues to the things you encounter every day in nature. This pocket guide is a useful tool and a fun reminder of how to engage with...
    By Giselle Clarkson
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Minecraft Annual 2027
    New Release
    Minecraft Annual 2027
    The official Minecraft Annual 2027, full of updates, builds, activities, and more! Discover all there is to know about the past year of Minecraft in this exciting annual. Stuffed to the brim with updates, activities, step-by-step builds, and tips and tricks for the game, this book is a must-have for any minecrafter. This year’s annual includes: Mob guides on happy...
    By Mojang AB
    Hardback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

Children's Books lists from the team

Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!

The Latest at Book Hero

View all