Matt Goodfellow

The Final Year

Life can be tough in your last year of primary school. Tests to take, preparing for the change to high school. Nate is ready for it all, knowing his best friend PS at his side - they've been inseparable since Nursery. But when they are put in two different classes and PS finds a new friend in Turner, the school bully, his world turns upside-down. As he struggles to make sense of this and forge new friendships, he's dealt another blow when his youngest brother, Dylan is rushed into hospital. His new teacher, Mr Joshua, sees a spark inside of Nate that's lit by his love of reading and writing and shows him how to use this to make sense of what's going on. But with so much working against him, and anger rising inside him, will this be enough? This powerful and lyrical story, told in verse, about finding your place in the world and the people that matter within it explores themes of family, identity, belonging, navigating friendships and the hardships of everyday life in a working class family in the North of England. With line drawings by award-winning illustrator, Joe Todd-Stanton.

A diverse and inclusive collection of original poems for younger children by a top performance poet. Would you like to eat a caterpillar cake? Join a rocket race into space? See crazy crocodiles at the zany zoo or play with a furry, purry cat? Wherever these 16 fun-filled poems lead you, they will brighten your day. Splashing at the seaside, storytime at school, playing in the bath or riding home on Daddy's shoulders - this brilliant, read-aloud collection for young children has lots to join in with and lots to explore in the brightly colored illustrations.

Read-Aloud Poems to Brighten Your Day

Caterpillar Cake

A standout new collection of contemporary poems from prize-winning poet Matt Goodfellow, author of Bright Bursts of Colour.'Goodfellow has the knack for choosing all the right words.' The Guardian'Matt Goodfellow is a poet whose works are ideal for children.' ExpressPerfectly reflecting the thoughts, feelings and imaginings of young people, these beautifully crafted poems are poignant, playful, heartfelt and hopeful.From friendship, family and separation to school experiences and fitting in, this moving collection touches on the relatable aspects of growing up. It delicately balances emotion with light relief and humour, and is sure to captivate any young person aged 10 and above.

Poems to Lose Yourself In, Perfect For 10+

Let's Chase Stars Together

A brilliant collection of poems for 8 year olds packed with poems about friends, space, pets, nature, magic, family, school, adventure, compiled by Matt Goodfellow. Includes classic and contemporary poems by , A.F. Harrold, Matt Goodfellow, Charles Causley, Laura Mucha, Jan Dean, Kate Wakeling, James Carter, Roger Stevens, Brian Moses and many more.

Poems for 8 Year Olds

Shu Lin has just started at a new school. She stands alone in the playground and at lunchtime she eats by herself from little boxes of brightly coloured food. "What's up with her?" says Barney. But when Shu Lin's grandpa comes to school and shows the class his amazing Chinese paintings, everything changes... With a stunning double-gatefold spread revealing a beautiful Chinese painting, this uplifting story shows the transformative power of art and imagination in developing cultural understanding and empathy.

Shu Lins Grandpa

Art and family transcend differences in language and culture in this sensitively told, exquisitely illustrated story of a child starting a new school. When Shu Lin starts at her new school, she wears yellow rain boots and a pink coat. At recess, she stands alone in the playground. At lunchtime, she eats by herself from little boxes of brightly colored food. Her classmates aren’t sure what to make of her. But one day, when Shu Lin’s grandpa comes to school to share his amazing artwork, everything changes. With a stunning double-gatefold spread revealing a beautiful Chinese painting, this uplifting story shows the transformative power of art and imagination in developing cultural understanding and empathy.

Shu Lin's Grandpa

Roger Stevens

Liz Brownlee

The Same Inside is a sweet and thoughtful collection of poems about friendship, empathy and respect by three of the nation's best-loved poets, Liz Brownlee, Matt Goodfellow and Roger Stevens. These fifty poems deal sensitively with feelings, empathy, respect, courtesy, bullying, disability and responsibility. They are the perfect springboard to start conversations.

Matt Goodfellow

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