Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder

Frankel and Hu pay tribute to poet Mary Oliver (1935–2019) in a meditative picture book biography that highlights the figure’s poetry as a vehicle of beauty and wonder. Gentle prose centers Oliver’s knack for perceiving and questioning, connecting those instincts to her poetry. Narration lightly touches on key life facts, including Oliver’s relationship with photographer Molly Malone Cook and her low-key response to winning a big poetry prize, throughout emphasizing the poet’s focus: “To write well, Mary insisted, took lots of noticing.” Emulating watercolor techniques, Hu’s dreamy digital renderings meet the quiet text with immersive scenes of Oliver appreciating nature, usually with a notebook in hand. Back matter includes an author’s note, timeline, and further resources. Ages 7–10. (Oct.)