Mary Oliver is an American poet known for her continuing joy and feelings of awesome wonder at the incredible world of nature. She enjoyed poetry and learned to share with others the awesomeness of the natural world through poetry.
The illustrations by Jasu Hu are intricate, imaginative, and meaningful in brushed colors.
Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age, including ESL, and great for gifting to EVERYone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from Astra Publishing House | Calkins Creek via NetGalley. *****review #bookbub #goodreads #storygraph @librarythingofficial
#MaryOliverHoldingontoWonder by @erinfrankelwrites and illustrated by @jasuhuart #maryoliver
@astrakidsbooks #CalkinsCreek #NetGalley #Astrapublishing @childrensbookcouncil #nature
#storytelling #picturebook #illustration #imagination #sharing #caring #changinglives #kidlit#watercolors #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #indiebookstoresca #kindness #hope #poetry #illustration #picturebook #poetry #picturebookillustration #childrensbook #wonder #naturebooksforkids #naturebooksforkids #nonfictionbooksforkids #nonfictionpicturebooks

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

I love Mary Oliver as a poet, she's one of the few that speaks to my heart and gets me to feel easily with just a few words. This picture book is a love letter of a story about her life and poems. It is beautifully written and illustrated. I'd say this book is a must read for any of Mary's fans and kids who love nature and words.

This is a beautiful tribute to the life and writing of poet Mary Oliver. The illustrations are remarkable.

Lush, gorgeous illustrations accompany a beautiful tribute to the esteemed poet Mary Oliver. We follow her life from a young, creative girl in the woods she loved so much to her quiet, private life in Cape Cod. The author does a wonderful job of conveying Oliver's wonder and curiosity at the world, showing how she sought the gift of questioning more than the answers and translated both into award-winning, deeply resounding poetry.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Featured in a reads with Grandma session. . .

Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder was shared today with two of my grandkids - we read books and worldle together twice a week via zoom since our homes are thousands of miles apart (so glad we live in these times!). I was pleased to have this ARC in my TBR, and had read and gone through the exquisite illustrations myself a number of in the last few weeks, and decided this was one to put to the test with the experts.

I went through the usual spiel when introducing a book I want them to consider critically - focusing on the text - words and phrases chosen by the author, and to take longer looks at the illustrations chosen to pair up with that particular set of words, and then vote at the end, using the five star scale. It was a delight for this grandmother to wander with purpose through this book with my own people who I know so well, to see and learn how their minds were working while processing the engaging plea of Mary Oliver as translated/echoed by Erin Frankel the author - to consider poetry as a means of accessing that mindblower (Wonder!). Masterfully done, I must say.

I often find in children's picture books that I'll quickly determine that either the text or illustrations will be preferred over the other (if it is an author/illustrator they usually strike a closer balance). But for me, and for my own kidlets, the illustrator's artistry was exactingly done - in watercolor! not usually an exact medium. . .still this was so perfectly paired with the words/worlds on the page we were entranced. . .me for the fourth or fifth time, and my guys for this first time. We loved this book. The words-to-art balance is Harmonic in this book. We talked about Mary Oliver, and granddau suggested we read poems as part of our reading sessions - and so I will begin this week with one of Mary Oliver's poems to present them.

Choosing this for your read will prove an exquisite way to introduce yourself or your youngers to Mary Oliver, to poetry, to writing, to nature, to art, or just to enjoy something different than you usually read. All three of us recommend this book to you with our 15 stars, hands extended and fingers widespread!

*A sincere thank you to Author Erin Frankel, Illustrator Jasu Hu, Astra Publishing House | Calkins Creek, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* MaryOliverHoldingontoWonder #NetGalley

The illustrations are delightful and depict wonder. I was unable to read most of the words as the text is white and many of the illustrations make it difficult to see white text. 5 stars for the illustrations, though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Astra Publishing House for this book to read and review.

I thought this was such a sweet tribute to Mary’s amazing life. I have always loved her poems, but I did not know much about her story. I loved learning about how she got started as a poet! The whimsical illustrations invoke the same wonder and excitement for nature that Mary’s best poems do. Overall, this account of her life made me want to revisit her poetry and enjoy her life’s work!

This book is gorgeous. If you are a lover of Mary Oliver’s poetry, you must have this picture book biography. It’s a great way to introduce my students to her work and her love for noticing things in nature and loving the small stuff.

The illustrations in this book are absolutely gorgeous. The short biography of Mary Oliver is beautifully written and I loved learning about her love of nature. This would be a great book to introduce a child to poetry. The pictures will pull the child into the story and hopefully make them curious about reading some of Mary Oliver's poems. It is a lovely book.

This beautiful picture book gives young readers the gift of discovering Mary Oliver. Her poems are exquisite, but her life and her inspirations are worth discovering as well. The author paints a picture with words and illustrations of how Mary Oliver's poems make us feel and how Mary felt about poetry.

What a lovely biography! I recommend this book for schools and libraries.

Thank you so much to Astra Publishing House/ Calkins Creek and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

This was a really stunning way to share Mary Oliver’s Biography. It captured the essence of who she was and how she lived. Shared the wonders she had about the world and about nature.

I really enjoyed the beautiful illustrations throughout, seeing the nature that Mary herself loved, adored and was inspired by, I loved seeing her in her happiest places, creating her beautiful poems.

I really enjoyed getting to learn so much more about her and have it be done in such a wonderful way. From the facts through the story, but also all the additional facts at the end too really added to it.

A very stunningly created book on a writer whose work still connects with people to this day. It’s wonderful to learn about who the person behind the work really was and this was done so perfectly.

The beautifully illustrated children's book explores the early life of the award-winning American poet, Mary Oliver. From her early years soaking in the beauty of nature to her career as a poet, Mary used words to catch and keep the images and feelings she experienced through her surroundings. Children will delight in the colorful, whimsical illustrations, and adults will enjoy a look into the makings of a poet and wonder if they, too, can make poems as beautiful and haunting as the words Mary Oliver crafted.

What a fabulous gem of a book! We learn about the life of poet, Mary Oliver, through the eyes of a picture book for children. The illustrations are exquisite, as is the book itself! I look forward to sharing this book in my classroom, as a way in which to teach the love of poetry to my students. It is a book that I believe will foster wonderful discussions. Thank you to Netgalley for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder (Kindle Edition)
by Erin Frankel
a look at a renown poet that used her skills to share nature with the world. Mary Oliver loved nature and used her ability to craft words to share that love. She dreamed all her life of questions that she did not always get and answer. This book uses watercolor art to show her life and ideals, and shares how she viewed the world and captured it to change the worlds view of these places.

I love picture book biographies! I feel like they're such an accessible way to introduce interesting people to my children and students. Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder is *gorgeous*. The illustrations are stunning, and I look forward to seeing this one in person once it's published. I can imagine this being a great read for a wide range of ages, though I personally would suggest it for 2nd/3rd grade classrooms and curriculum. I was hopeful that the writing in the book itself might incorporate more poetic devices, but the content was still informative and compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Calkins Creek for my advanced digital copy.

This book is just gorgeous. I love biographies of famous artists that use illustrations in the artist's style. And Mary Oliver's story is so simple and inspiring! She saw so much beauty in the world and spent a lifetime sharing that love through her art.
At one point she found a life partner, a photographer who shared that same love with her perception of the world. Oliver taught art, won awards, and talked about her vision until her death.

This book is a truly beautiful and heartfelt homage to Mary Oliver. Readers who admire her insightful poetry will undoubtedly be drawn to this loving tribute. The thoughtful inclusion of accompanying materials and author's notes at the end provides valuable context and deepens the appreciation for Oliver's work. Moreover, the stunning illustrations perfectly complement the text, creating a visually rich experience. It's evident the author holds Mary Oliver in the highest regard, and this book serves as a wonderful reminder of her enduring impact. My thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Mary Oliver was the most wonderful poet. I read her works almost daily. Oliver's love of the natural world, dogs and people as translated through her works is wondrous.

Given how much I love her poetry, I was so excited to see that a book has been written to introduce Mary Oliver to younger readers. Hopefully, they will grow up to read her oeuvre when older.

I loved this book! Adults who find that Oliver speaks to them will want to give this a look too and not let it just be for kids.

The illustrations are gorgeous and show Mary as she goes from a young girl to a woman with white hair. Her biography is simply delineated including her relationship with Molly, the love of her life. Oliver's love of nature also comes across clearly.

I recommend this one most highly!!!! It is so pretty to look at.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Astra Publishing House for this title. All opinions are my own.

A lovely short read, perfect for kids!
Mary Oliver’s poetry is a reminder to appreciate what’s around you (even the smallest of leafs, flowers, bugs, or birds on the horizon). This book does a great job at portraying the life of Mary Oliver, whilst maintaining the language simple and engaging for children. The illustrations are wonderful, I adore the color usage as well!
One can only hope to instill that sense of whimsy, gratefulness, and the very concept of looking with wonder at the world in those around us. I’d like to think that having been introduced to her poetry earlier on in life, would have served as a bright light through growing up, coming of age, and engaging with the world.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review!

A beautiful book with the most breathtaking illustrations. I have loved Mary Oliver's poems and I love this book about her life and personal philosophy. I think the words, images, and tone perfectly reflect what I love about Mary Oliver's works. It was interesting without feeling prying or infantilizing. I see many adults who love Oliver happy to use this book to introduce their a favorite author to the next generation. The illustrations are more beautiful than I could have guessed and I only wish we could have had one of them with one of her poems.

An absolutely gorgeous tribute to Mary Oliver and her beautiful poetry. I enjoyed learning about her and how she became a poet. The illustrations bring her poetry to life and inspired me to re-read Oliver's poetry on my shelves.