We’ve put all of the answers to your Tom Gates questions in one place. What are the order of the Tom Gates books? Is he a real person? How do you draw Tom Gates? What age range are the Tom Gates books?
If you want to know more about the Tom Gates books and all of their themes, then just head to spyreaders.co.uk
Table of Contents
- Order of the Tom Gates Books
- Is Tom Gates a real person?
- How old is Tom Gates?
- How to draw Tom Gates?
- Do the Tom Gates books have to be read in order?
- Tom Gates Books Age Range
- 1. The Brilliant World of Tom Gates
- 2. Excellent Excuses (And Other Good Stuff)
- 3. Everything’s Amazing (Sort Of)
- 4. Genius Ideas (Mostly)
- 5. Tom Gates is Absolutely Fantastic (At Some Things)
- 6. Extra Special Treats (Not)
- 7. A Tiny Bit Lucky
- 8. Yes! No. (Maybe…)
- 9. Top of the Class (Nearly)
- 10. Super Good Skills (Almost…)
- 11. Dog Zombies Rule (For Now)
- 12. Family, Friends and Furry Creatures
- 13. Epic Adventure (Kind Of)
- 14. Biscuits, Bands and Very Big Plans
- 15. What Monster?
- 16. Mega Make and Do and Stories Too!
- 17. Spectacular School Trip (Really.)
- 18. Ten Tremendous Tales
- 19. Random Acts of Fun
- 20. Happy to Help (Eventually)
- 21. Five Star Stories (Hooray!)
Order of the Tom Gates Books
Book 1: The Brilliant World of Tom Gates (2011)
Book 2: Excellent Excuses (And Other Good Stuff) (2011)
Book 3: Everything’s Amazing (Sort Of) (2012)
Book 4: Genius Ideas (Mostly) (2012)
Book 5: Tom Gates is Absolutely Fantastic (at Some Things) (2013)
Book 6: Extra Special Treats (not) (2014)
Book 7: A Tiny Bit Lucky (2015)
Book 8: Yes! No (Maybe) (2015)
Book 9: Top of the Class (Nearly) (2016)
Book 10: Super Good Skills (Almost…) (2017)
Book 11: Dog Zombies Rule (for Now) (2017)
Book 12: Family, Friends and Furry Creatures (2018)
Book 13: Epic Adventure (Kind of) (2018)
Book 14: Biscuits, Bands and Very Big Plans (2018)
Book 15: What Monster? (2018)
Book 16: Mega Make and Do and Stories Too! (2019)
Book 17: Spectacular School Trip (Really.) (2019)
Book 18: Ten Tremendous Tales (2021)
Book 19: Random Acts of Fun (2021)
Book 20: Happy to Help (Eventually) (2022)
Book 21: Five Star Stories (Hooray!) (2023)
Are there any extra Tom Gates books?
World Book Day: Best Book Day Ever! (So Far) (2013)
Activity Book Tom Gates: Big Book of Fun Stuff (2020)
Is Tom Gates a real person?
It turns out this is one of the internet’s most asked questions about the Tom Gates books. The answer is, unfortunately, NO. Liz Pichon, the fantastic author of this equally fantastic series, has simply done a wonderful job of creating a character who is so real that it has a lot of people asking this question.
How old is Tom Gates?
Tom Gates is either 9 or 10 years old. He is in class 5F, which due to the fact that he is an English schoolboy, means that he is in Year 5. Children in Year 5 in England are aged between 9 and 10.
How to draw Tom Gates?
At Spy Readers, we definitely feel we know a lot about children’s books but one area we would never claim to be experts in is how to draw! We’ll leave that to the expert, Liz Pichon-
How to draw … Tom Gates | Children’s books | The Guardian
Do the Tom Gates books have to be read in order?
The books can be read in order but don’t worry if there’s one you’re missing as each of the Tom Gates books can be read as stand-alone titles.
Tom Gates Books Age Range
These books work well for children aged 7+ and are a great book for children to transition to more independent reading of small chapter books. There are lots of images on each page to help break up the text and make it feel more manageable for younger readers.
1. The Brilliant World of Tom Gates
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Experience the brilliant world of Tom Gates as he deals with the annoying Marcus, attempts to get Amy to like him and desperately tries to get to see the world’s best band… Dude3! Throw in banana pizzas, Egyptian tattoos and an untrained dog and it’s certainly a world that will grab your attention and make you laugh!
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
2. Excellent Excuses (And Other Good Stuff)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Tom has a class award chart to get to the top of, a toothache that simply won’t go away and a lot of plans to annoy his sister. It’s a busy life for Tom Gates but, luckily for us, a very funny one!
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
3. Everything’s Amazing (Sort Of)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Tom is heading back to school but there’s still lots to look forward to: sports day, his birthday and the school fair! And definitely not to be forgotten, Mr Keen has asked the Dogzombies to play in front of the whole school. Yes!
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
4. Genius Ideas (Mostly)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: When Tom gets an early morning shock from his sister, he immediately heads for his emergency supply of biscuits. Little does he know that the events of the coming week will leave him wishing that he had a much larger supply of emergency biscuits!
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
5. Tom Gates is Absolutely Fantastic (At Some Things)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Tom is thrilled at the news of an ‘Activity Break’ with his class, 5F, but not so excited at the prospect of being partnered up with Marcus Meldrew! The possibility of his parents getting that new pet that he overheard them talking about though is helping to keep his spirits high!
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
6. Extra Special Treats (Not)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Life is looking great for Tom when snow shuts the school and a snow day is announced. What rather spoils it though is that he has to spend it dealing with Marcus and his new neighbour who seems to have taken an instant dislike to him! Not only that but Marcus has been awarded Star Pupil and won’t let Tom forget it. Will Tom be able to impress Mr Fullerman enough to get the award for himself? Only time, and a lot of homework, will tell…
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
7. A Tiny Bit Lucky
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Join Tom as he tries to avoid upsetting the school inspector (again), attempts to get through the Battle of the Bands audition and embarrasses himself on several occasions. Will being a tiny bit lucky see him safely through?
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
8. Yes! No. (Maybe…)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Mum, Dad, Tom and the Fossils hold a boot sale and the Fossils have a surprise for Tom – a visit to a charity shop. Tom is reluctant to go but when he does he finds a mini scooter and a number of other things that he really wants.
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
9. Top of the Class (Nearly)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Tom has a lot of things on his mind and nothing seems to be going his way! He has been put in catch-up-class after a bad test score, the school bully is after him and somewhere in the school is one of his drawings that he really doesn’t want to fall into the wrong hands!
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
10. Super Good Skills (Almost…)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Tom is really looking forward to going on a family holiday, even though his sister Delia will be there, as for once they’re actually going somewhere that looks like it will be a lot of fun! However, this is Tom Gates we’re talking about, so things might not quite go to plan!
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
11. Dog Zombies Rule (For Now)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Tom finally gets the chance to have a pet! Well, not his own pet but a borrowed one is better than nothing. Tom soon finds out that having a pet has some big plus points as well as some rather exhausting negatives.
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
12. Family, Friends and Furry Creatures
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Tom is set a school project to complete by his teacher Mr Fullerman and immediately starts to try and find ways to cut down on the amount of work that he will have to do. Perhaps though this is one school project that Tom might actually really learn something from. Who would have thought it would be his family that he would be finding out lots about?
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
13. Epic Adventure (Kind Of)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Tom’s grandparents (The Wrinklies) are planning a family trip, which is going to be epic! Well, at least that’s what Tom is imagining it will be…
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
14. Biscuits, Bands and Very Big Plans
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Tom and his band, the Dog Zombies, plan on being the best band in the world.
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
15. What Monster?
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Tom is desperate to go to the local music festival but his mum in particular isn’t too keen on the idea. The music festival isn’t all that’s on Tom’s mind though as he has a strict supply teacher and some strange goings on at school to deal with!
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
16. Mega Make and Do and Stories Too!
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Tom is very excited about having a week off at half term and having no homework. He makes a mega plan for his half term break to keep busy as all his friends are either busy or away.
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
17. Spectacular School Trip (Really.)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: The school are going on a trip to a biscuit factory and Tom has to behave or he won’t be allowed to go.
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
18. Ten Tremendous Tales
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Tom’s life is certainly never dull and in this book we get to hear about him getting stuck in a lift with his sister, a teacher swap and a very tasty chicken pie! Oh, and not to forget some tiny ants in tiny pants!
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
19. Random Acts of Fun
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Tom has a plaster cast on his right foot due to a broken ankle and so his friends and family do their best to entertain him.
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
20. Happy to Help (Eventually)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: When Tom sees the art box of his dreams, he suddenly changes from being a little lazy to extremely helpful! He sets out to do anything he can to earn money but no matter what he does it all seems to go wrong! Will he ever manage to earn the money that he needs to be able to get it?
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
21. Five Star Stories (Hooray!)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Tom is desperate to have his story chosen to be included in Oakfield School’s story book, but Mr Keen has made it very clear that only five star stories will be chosen. With all of Tom’s classmates also writing stories, will Tom be able to create a story worthy of five stars? Perhaps his collection of odd objects might be able to give him inspiration with the funny stories behind each one.
Author: Liz Pichon
Publisher: Scholastic
If you want to know the themes for all of the Tom Gates books then head to www.spyreaders.co.uk