MARY OLIVER, HOLDING ON TO WONDER

A young Mary Oliver (1935-2019) is entranced by the natural world and the many questions it evokes.

How would it feel to fly? Do flowers ever get sad? Might rocks be living things? These questions and many more awaken a sense of wonder in Mary, prompting her to write in her notebook wherever she finds herself (even if that means stowing pencils behind trees on her regular route through the woods). Mary finds joy and solace in poetry, both in writing her own verse and reading that of others. When Mary meets photographer Molly Malone Cook as a young adult, she’s thrilled to gain a life partner who asks the same questions of the world as she does. Mary becomes well known, even winning a Pulitzer in 1984, but she continues to lead the quiet existence she loves. Frankel’s gently flowing, lyrical prose mimics some of Oliver’s work in its pacing and rhythm. More discussion of Mary’s sexuality or feminism might have rounded out the story, though the writer’s personality comes through strongly. Hu’s digital illustrations have an ethereal watercolor feel, highlighting the natural world in muted hues.

Lets young readers tiptoe through the wild, wonderful life of a celebrated poet.