Matt Goodfellow

Former primary school teacher Matt Goodfellow is a prize-winning poet who visits schools across the UK to give hugely popular, high-energy performances and workshops. His poetry collections Caterpillar Cake, Bright Bursts of Colour, Let’s Chase Stars Together and Being Me (co-authored with Liz Brownlee and Laura Mucha) have all been shortlisted for the CLiPPA. His picturebook, Shu-Lin’s Grandpa, illustrated by Yu Rong, was shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal in 2022. Matt lives in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The Final Year is Matt’s first novel, written in verse.

Festival Schools Programme

Matt Goodfellow will read from his best-selling verse novel 'The Final Year' and discuss why he was inspired to tell this story in the way that he did. He'll talk about why he's so passionate that poetry can offer you the chance to write 'in your voice, about your life'.