3 Nov 2025
We’re excited to share that #TheFirstYear has been nominated for the 2026 @carnegiemedals for Writing! Written @mattgoodfellowpoet and illustrated @joetoddstanton 🐋
Congratulations @mattgoodfellowpoet and @joetoddstanton 🤩
#Carnegies2026
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23 Sep 2025
We are so excited to share that #TheFirstYear has been selected as part of @waterstones Paperback of the Year 2025 collection 🤩
A massive congratulations to @mattgoodfellowpoet and @joetoddstanton 👏
Avaliable to purchase at your local Waterstones!
#waterstones #kidsbooks
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7 Aug 2025
Nate & his primary school mates make the transition to high school. In another eventful year, Nate continues to battle his inner Beast & meets his Dad for the first time. A powerful, emotionally charged verse novel @EarlyTrain & Joe Todd-Stanton. #TheFirstYear @OtterBarryBooks
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21 Jul 2025
#TheFirstYear by @EarlyTrain top pick for summer reading - huge thanks @iNews. @bouncemarketing @bounce_wstones
inews.co.uk/culture/books/bo…
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9 Jul 2025
Big congrats to @mattgoodfellowpoet & @joetoddstanton!
#TheFirstYear is officially one of The Times’ Children’s Books of the Year 2025 📚🌟
Read more: thetimes.com/culture/books/a…
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14 May 2025
What a great cover for @booksforkeeps, @EarlyTrain @Joetoddstanton @bouncemarketing
Here’s to #TheFirstYear!
14 May 2025
Out now! #BfK272 May issue. Authorgraph interview Matt Goodfellow, Windows into Illustration Rébecca Dautremer, new Beyond the Secret Garden, new Picture This, plus Owning It, Peter Hunt on Alice's Oxford, comment, extra interviews, reviews & more #KidLit
booksforkeeps.co.uk/issue/bf…
ALT The cover of the May 2025 issue of children's literature magazine Books for Keeps, featuring the cover illustration from The First Year by Matt Goodfellow, illustration by Joe Todd-Stanton, published by Otter-Barry Books. List of features includes Authorgraph with Matt Goodfellow, Windows into Illustration Rebecca Dautremer, Owning It our disabled childhoods, Explore Alice's Oxford with Peter Hunt
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12 May 2025
Have you read #TheFirstYear yet? There are incredible reviews everywhere we look! We are thrilled to bring poet Matt Goodfellow @EarlyTrain to @BristolOldVic for a live performance this October. #Bristol schools: book soon to avoid disappointment! bit.ly/4jMVGRf #poetry
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6 May 2025
Thank you LoveReading for some wonderful reviews of #TheFirstYear! Read more online now.
Congrats to @EarlyTrain and @Joetoddstanton !
lovereading4kids.co.uk/revie…
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25 Apr 2025
Thank you for the fab pictures @LetterboxLib and for being with us yesterday evening to celebrate #TheFirstYear. @bouncemarketing @bounce_wstones @EarlyTrain @Joetoddstanton @charliehacking
25 Apr 2025
Excellent launch last night @Unicorn_Theatre of The First Year, the dazzling sequel to The Final Year (⭐️see thread/below for our review).
Congrats to creators @Joetoddstanton & @EarlyTrain, editor @charliehacking & @OtterBarryBooks
Also appreciating tat-twinnies in last pic.
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15 Apr 2025
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15 Apr 2025
Our #BookOfTheDay is a sequel to the brilliant verse novel The Final Year from Matt Goodfellow (@EarlyTrain) and @Joetoddstanton!
#TheFirstYear beautifully explores all the complicated, messy stuff of growing up:
booktrust.org.uk/book-recomm… @OtterBarryBooks
ALT The front cover of The First Year and a quote from our review: 'A brilliant book, complicated in theme but simple and quick to read'
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11 Apr 2025
@EarlyTrain lost my daughter to the book she’s been waiting for like no other. 11 year old bookworm giving me a running commentary #myworld #dadsanddaughters #thefirstyear
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10 Apr 2025
We are so proud to publish #TheFirstYear TODAY! It’s a wonderful, extraordinary read and the illustrations are magic! Thank you @EarlyTrain @Joetoddstanton.
@bouncemarketing @bounce_wstones @charliehacking
10 Apr 2025
Happy Publication Day to 'The First Year' ⭐
The riveting and eagerly-awaited sequel to the bestselling 'The Final Year'.
Congratulations to @EarlyTrain and @Joetoddstanton !
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4 Apr 2025
Absolutely sensational @EarlyTrain, devoured it in one sitting. Can’t wait to share it with my class! #TheFirstYear
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2 Apr 2025
Ahead of #TheFirstYear by @EarlyTrain, one of our most anticipated releases of the year, head to the blog for 11 books about navigating school & complicated families 📚✨🦜
parrotstreet.com/blogs/posts…
#kidsbooks
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The eagerly awaited next book from the author of The Final Year, Matt Goodfellow, The First Year is now available to pre-order . Order now for delivery week commencing the 28th April. #mattgoodfellow #thefirstyear
mbebooks.com/product/the-fir…
mbebooks.com/product/the-fir…
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27 Mar 2025
Jealous of all the teachers and librarians showing off their copies of #TheFirstYear. Might have to make a trip to Waterstones at the weekend! 📚
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27 Mar 2025
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Don't think I've ever seen him so excited about a book arriving! He's been reading for the last 2 hours!
#TheFirstYear by
@EarlyTrain @Joetoddstanton @charliehacking @OtterBarryBooks
Bound to be brilliant....if i ever get my hands on it! ❤️📖👏🙏
whatiread.co.uk
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21 Mar 2025
After a long and emotionally draining week, this is just what I need…. #TheFirstYear @EarlyTrain @Joetoddstanton Thank you @OtterBarryBooks
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