Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder

Erin Frankel, Jasu Hu

$39.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Minedition (imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc)
14 October 2025

Poetry (Children's&YA); General fiction (Children's&YA); Children's & young adult: general non-fiction

This lyrical picture book biography of beloved American poet Mary Oliver shows young readers ages 7 - 10 how her love of nature and sense of wonder inspired her art.

This lyrical picture book biography of beloved American poet Mary Oliver shows young readers ages 7 - 10 how her love of nature and sense of wonder inspired her art.

Young Mary Oliver was enthralled by nature. In the forest, she wondered about the birds and the lilies and the water in the stream-about all the things that cannot speak yet somehow spoke to Mary. She wondered, too, about poetry, about how words pieced together filled her with light and how some poems felt like they were written just for her. How could this be?

Author Erin Frankel shows how Mary Oliver held on to that sense of wonder from her childhood, channeling it into some of the most beloved poems of the past hundred years. Illustrator Jasu Hu's lush nature scenes beautifully complement Frankel's soulful writing about the creative process. Together text and art honor Mary Oliver and her astonishing poetry.

By: Erin Frankel
Illustrated by: Jasu Hu
Imprint: Minedition (imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc)
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 262mm, Width: 264mm, Spine: 10mm
Weight: 499g
ISBN: 9781662680823
ISBN 10: 1662680821
Pages: 48
Publication Date: 14 October 2025
Recommended Age: From 7 to 10 years
Audience: Children/juvenile , English as a second language
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Erin Frankel is a children's book author who loves telling stories of empathy and wonder. Her picture books include Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder, A Plate of Hope- The Inspiring Story of Chef Jose Andres and World Central Kitchen, the Weird! series and Remembering Barkley. She enjoys visiting schools to talk to students about stories and kindness. She lives with her family in Pittsburgh, where she writes, teaches, and hopes. Jasu Hu is the illustrator of the picture books All You Need by Howard Schwartz and Wintergarden by Janet Fox. Her art has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Washington Post, and her poster ""Moonlight Moment"" was displayed on the New York City subway in 2018 and 2019.

Reviews for Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder

""A young Mary Oliver (1935-2019) is entranced by the natural world and the many questions it evokes… Frankel’s gently flowing, lyrical prose mimics some of Oliver’s work in its pacing and rhythm… the writer’s personality comes through strongly…. Lets young readers tiptoe through the wild, wonderful life of a celebrated poet.""—Kirkus Reviews ""A beautiful introduction to the life and work of poet Mary Oliver! Each page is gentle and filled with wonder for life. The writing and illustrations are well-paired, and each page feels like its own self-contained concept, much like a poem! I liked how Mary's life events were described simply yet elegantly, and most of the text was devoted to explaining the feelings and perceptions Mary may have experienced. A great gift for kids just starting to read or write poetry!"" —Brynn Artley, Content Book Store