Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder

Name: Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder
Brand: Recorded Books
Availability: InStock
Author: Erin Frankel
ISBN: 9798899737381

Author: Erin Frankel

Narrator: Christina Moore

Unabridged: 16 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 12/16/2025

Categories: Children's Nonfiction, Biographical, Children's Fiction, Children's Poetry, Girls & Women

Synopsis

This lyrical 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. Frankel’s soulful writing about the creative process honors Mary Oliver and her astonishing poetry. “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

About Erin Frankel

Erin FrankelÂ is a childrenâ€™s book author who loves telling stories of empathy and wonder. Her picture books includeÂ A Plate of Hope,Â Remembering Barkley, and theÂ Weird!Â series. 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.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Aolund on November 24, 2025

I was really happy to see a picture book biography of Mary Oliver, and hope there are more to come! This was a solid first entry. After reading the back text, I respect the author's decision to leave out some biographical details of Oliver's life in respect for her private nature, but I also think s......more

Goodreads review by YSBR on October 30, 2025

In this picture book biography of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver, Frankel celebrates her love of nature and the reflection of that engagement in her work. We first see Mary as a young girl, full of “wonder” as she sits beneath a tree in the forest, notebook in hand. Hu’s delicate digital il......more

Goodreads review by Jan on September 15, 2025

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 meaningf......more

Goodreads review by Joey on August 06, 2025

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......more

Goodreads review by Songie on July 25, 2025

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 ch......more