6 favourite poetry books, chosen by Matt Goodfellow

These are some of the poets whose voices I’ve chosen to engage with recently. Some of the collection on this list have been pulled from my shelves and re-embraced like an old friend; others are so new I’ve not yet held the finished book in my hand. 

Nikita is an Instagram phenomenon, reaching a huge audience with her heartfelt poems of love and life and loss and hope. 

In this CLiPPA-shortlisted anthology, she gathers some of her favourite spoken word artists, from up-and-coming poets to more established names like Dean Atta and Raymond Antrobus. 

This is a fascinating collection of styles and themes and voices, and a must have on any poetry bookshelf. Suitable for 12+.

Despite not being a massive gamer, I picked up Sam Gayton’s first collection and was very impressed. 

A fresh, innovative idea and a set of poems that follow suit. All sorts of different forms here, all of them well-crafted and interesting – sure to interest gamers and non-gamers alike! Do go out and get yourself a copy. Suitable for 9+.

I had to really rub my eyes when I realised this collection was published in 2017! Wow, how time flies! 

This is my favourite book from former Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho’s extensive backlist – a moving collection of poems about growing up in the city, following the life of a young boy navigating life’s complications. 

The poems are gentle, tough, and very moving. Suitable for 8+.

This is such a fun, clever and inventive collection – a conversation between two poets that takes us on flights of fancy and chaotic adventures inside the minds of John Agard and JonArno Lawson. 

Full of subversive humour and idiosyncrasy, this is a book I have enjoyed regularly dipping in and out of – and I find something new that intrigues me every time. Shortlisted for the 2025 CLiPPA award. Suitable for 8+.

This is Simon Mole’s first collection of poems for a Key Stage 2 audience and it’s a varied and thoughtful book that is also fun. 

Mole is an excellent, engaging, and dynamic performer and I know that many of these poems will translate beautifully into being read aloud in classrooms. A book that crackles with energy and positivity. Suitable for 7+. 

Kate is one of my favourite poets – her work is beautifully crafted, bursting with musicality and vibrancy, and it’s always a joy to have a book of hers in my hands. 

In this, her first collection for an early years and Key Stage 1 audience, we find her words riotously elevated by the magnificent illustrations of Viv Schwarz – a partnership that has produced a perfect poetic treat. Suitable for 4+.