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It’s old, but it’s gold. Michelle Magorian’s Goodnight Mister Tom was my favourite book as a child, and I love using it as part of my preparation for pupils sitting 11+ exams. Good stories about friendship, loss, adventure and growing up are timeless, and Goodnight Mister Tom is no exception. It is currently free to listen to with a Spotify Premium subscription, and this free audiobook guide will help you support your child’s English skills whilst listening along.

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On the eve of World War 2, Willie is evacuated to Little Weirwold and is left on the doorstep of Tom, a somewhat disgruntled and unwelcoming old man. Life in the countryside is very different for Willie: the food, the muddy fields, and especially Tom’s dog Sammy. With a little time, he soon comes to make his first friends, discover hobbies he never knew he had, and even bring out Tom’s softer side. However, with the war now in full swing, how long can Willie and his friends escape the realities of the city life they left behind?

This free audiobook guide uses 11+ style inference questions to test your child’s understanding of character’s emotions in the opening lines. Encourage them to include quotations from the text and expand their answers according to the number of marks available. The creative writing task asks them to draft a newspaper similar to Willie and friends’ Gazette. The focus here is less on content and more on the use of formal language, a structure in chronological order and correctly punctuated direct speech.

For more free resources and to find out how else I can support your child in their 11+ or SATs journey, follow the link below: