Wild Inside - by Barbara Kerley (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

This inspiring tribute to beloved, Pulitzer-prize-winning poet, Mary Oliver, invites readers of all ages to wander, wonder, and awaken the wild inside them. Perfect for fans of Patrick McDonnell's Me...Jane and anyone who loves language and nature.

From the time she was a young child, Mary Oliver felt most at home outside. She loved to wander the woods, build tiny grass and stick houses, and climb in, feeling part of all the beauty around her. When she discovered poetry, it gave her language to voice the wild she felt inside. "What does it mean . . . that the earth is so beautiful? And what shall I do about it?" Could she write poems illuminating the wonder of the world?

This gentle, soul-stirring story, with sweeping, sensorial illustrations, invites readers of all ages to pause the busyness and overstimulation of daily life and immerse in beauty and quiet. Anyone familiar with Mary Oliver will love this impressionistic portrait that lovingly evokes her essence. Children encountering her for the first time will meet a friend. Nature lovers will find a kindred spirit. The perfect gift to nurture the wild inside all of us.

About the Author

Barbara Kerley is a two-time Sibert Honoree and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honoree whose award-winning biographies include What to Do About Alice?, The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy), Those Rebels, John & Tom, A Home for Mr. Emerson, and Eleanor Makes Her Mark, all illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham; Tigers & Tea with Toppy, illustrated by Matte Stephens; and The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins and Walt Whitman: Words for America, illustrated by Brian Selznick. Kerley's books have all been praised for their lively prose, meticulous research, and artistic presentation style. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Visit her online at barbarakerley.com.

Molly Mendoza is the Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator of Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter by Aida Salazar. They have illustrated several other picture books including Freedom, We Sing by Amyra León, shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, and They Hold the Line by Dan Paley. Beyond illustrating picture books, Mendoza is a muralist, comics artist, and teacher who lives and works lives in Portland, Oregon. Visit them online at mollymendoza.com.