When I saw the cover and realized the creative duo behind this new Perfect Picture Book, I had to feature it for National Poetry Month. Enjoy!
Title: Goldfinches
Written By: Mary Oliver
Illustrated By: Melissa Sweet
Publisher/Date: Viking/2026
Suitable for Ages: 4-8 (really, all ages)
Themes/Topics: goldfinches, poetry, nature, birds
Opening:
In the fields
We let them have –
In the fields
We don’t want yet…
Brief Synopsis: A poem celebrating goldfinches.
Links to Resources:
· Take a walk in natures. What do you see? Hear? Smell? Describe it in words or pictures;
· Write a poem about a favorite bird or other animal;
· Read the Note from Melissa Sweet at the end of the book to learn more about Oliver’s poetry and the creation of the artwork.
Why I Like this Book:
Oliver’s nature-inspired, thought-provoking poetry paired with Sweet’s colorful collaged illustrations results in a picture book that belongs on everyone’s shelf.
From those opening lines, indicating humans’ encroachment on the natural world to the realization that goldfinches and thistles enjoy a symbiotic relationship, Oliver’s words will inspire young listeners to enjoy time in nature and work to preserve wild spaces. They will encourage children to learn more about the flora and fauna that surround us and how they support each other and us.
Sweet’s collages are a treasure trove of details that elevate the reading and encourage children to examine closely both these illustrations and the tiny wonders found in nature. Due to its smaller size, Goldfinches is a book that young children can pick up and leaf through again and again – each time discovering a new treat, as we do when we walk the same paths through a field or forest again and again.
A Note about Craft:
Mary Oliver (1935-2019) wrote poetry based on her experiences in nature. Per Sweet’s Note, Oliver always carried a notebook with her, in which she jotted down words and thoughts that she later wove into poetry.
This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!
Wander, Ponder, Write 