MARY OLIVER, HOLDING ONTO WONDER written by Erin Frankel and illustrated by Jasu Hu 

AND

Goldfinches written by Mary Oliver and illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Two lovely companion books focus on Mary Oliver, celebrating her and her approachable verse. Erin Frankel writes and Jasu Hu illustrates a picture book biography, MARY OLIVER, HOLDING ONTO WONDER which accents her equal adoration of nature and of verse. Words are carefully chosen as, for example, Mary grieves and finds “poetry made the hard parts softer” and Hu’s illustrations echo that mood. At the end, where a child sits dreamily under a blooming tree holding an Oliver book as the author writes “Mary Oliver hoped that there was someone just like you on the other side of her words holding onto wonder.” Linked in the purchase button below.

Meanwhile, Melissa Sweet illustrates Oliver’s GOLDFINCHES a poem that transports one into the natural world to witness the joy brought by “buttery gold” finches who gather “silvery” thistle down. Sweet creates with mixed media a nature journal that busts with color, sketches and notes from a naturalist such as Sweet is. (Linked above)