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Goldfinches
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet gorgeously illustrates the work of Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Mary Oliver for the first time in picture book form.
ONE OF BOOK RIOT’S BEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS OF THE CENTURY (SO FAR)
Have you heard them singing in the wind, above the final fields?
Have you ever been so happy in your life?
Mary Oliver, winner of the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, is one of America's most beloved poets. Introducing her unforgettable words to children for the very first time, her poem "Goldfinches" joyfully observes the power of the natural world as only Mary Oliver can.
Illuminated by the exquisite mixed-media artwork of Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet, Goldfinches fills the reader with wonder for the beauty around them and gratitude for the ability to bear witness to it.
ONE OF BOOK RIOT’S BEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS OF THE CENTURY (SO FAR)
Have you heard them singing in the wind, above the final fields?
Have you ever been so happy in your life?
Mary Oliver, winner of the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, is one of America's most beloved poets. Introducing her unforgettable words to children for the very first time, her poem "Goldfinches" joyfully observes the power of the natural world as only Mary Oliver can.
Illuminated by the exquisite mixed-media artwork of Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet, Goldfinches fills the reader with wonder for the beauty around them and gratitude for the ability to bear witness to it.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published March 3, 2026
About the author
Mary Oliver
110 books9,305 followersMary Jane Oliver was an American poet who won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Her work is inspired by nature, rather than the human world, stemming from her lifelong passion for solitary walks in the wild.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
April 26, 2026
I love Mary Oliver - this was beautifully illustrated and a lovely way to introduce my one month old to her first poem :)
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July 8, 2026
Book Riot’s Best Children’s Books of the Century (So Far):
Released in 2026, the bestselling children’s book debut of widely beloved Oliver has had me celebrating all year. Every time I reread the Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning poet’s poem, magnificently collaged by Sweet, I experience a rush of peace. So, I keep these earnest, delightful words about attention, devotion, and the natural world within reach: on a side table, at the top of a bookstack. Each page holds immense wonder, various beauties to linger on: the color palette swatches for “brass heat” and “pale-blue eggs,” a bright map of Cape Cod Bay marked with a magenta X, and copious notes about the titular bird and thistle.
- Connie Pan
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Book Riot’s Best Books of 2026 (So Far)
The long-awaited March release of the breathtaking children’s book debut of Mary Oliver—renowned poet, essayist, and instructor—brought me endless joy. Sweet’s lively, detailed mixed-media art captures the essence of Oliver’s poem, beckoning readers to the present, to notice things: a desk overlooking a copse attracting birds, a pencil hidden in a tree hollow, goldfinches brightening skies like stars. I plan on rereading this title, which contains opening and closing quotes as well as a list of 40 birds penned in 1991 by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, until I memorize every sentence. A favorite of mine: “Is it necessary to say any more?”
- Connie Pan
Released in 2026, the bestselling children’s book debut of widely beloved Oliver has had me celebrating all year. Every time I reread the Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning poet’s poem, magnificently collaged by Sweet, I experience a rush of peace. So, I keep these earnest, delightful words about attention, devotion, and the natural world within reach: on a side table, at the top of a bookstack. Each page holds immense wonder, various beauties to linger on: the color palette swatches for “brass heat” and “pale-blue eggs,” a bright map of Cape Cod Bay marked with a magenta X, and copious notes about the titular bird and thistle.
- Connie Pan
------------------
Book Riot’s Best Books of 2026 (So Far)
The long-awaited March release of the breathtaking children’s book debut of Mary Oliver—renowned poet, essayist, and instructor—brought me endless joy. Sweet’s lively, detailed mixed-media art captures the essence of Oliver’s poem, beckoning readers to the present, to notice things: a desk overlooking a copse attracting birds, a pencil hidden in a tree hollow, goldfinches brightening skies like stars. I plan on rereading this title, which contains opening and closing quotes as well as a list of 40 birds penned in 1991 by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, until I memorize every sentence. A favorite of mine: “Is it necessary to say any more?”
- Connie Pan
March 6, 2026
Really thoughtful illustrations / reflections at the end paired with Mary Oliver’s poem. What not to love?
July 11, 2026
Stunning.
April 4, 2026
The art is BEAUTIFUL! I like the poetry as well.
March 3, 2026
The illustrations are beautiful. I'm just not a fan of poetry.
May 1, 2026
A glorious bit of art, both in word and vision. Each page turn a delight.
May 8, 2026
A beautiful picture book illustrating one of the poems by Mary Oliver.
March 27, 2026
I loved the illustrations and the story. My 11 year old got curious and wanted to see a video of them.
July 27, 2026
Melissa Sweet triumphs in this gorgeously illustrated amplification of Mary Oliver’s “Goldfinches”. All the words are from Oliver’s poem, an impressionistic and highly tactile work about the birds gathering thistledown to build their nests. Sweet has followed the original stanza breaks, scattering the lines across the pages but illuminating them for young readers with her trademark watercolor and collage images. We get to imagine that the pictures we see have been taken directly from Sweet’s sketchbook as we glimpse her birding and art supplies spread out on a table before she sets out on a walk with her brown dog. The poem appears in a spindly, hand-written all caps font with further information presented in layered collage elements, for example, the scientific name for thistle, Sweet’s numerous color mixing charts, and inset facts about the yellow finches.
But the birds are the stars, just as they are in the poem, competent and tender parents who busily collect delicate thistle to weave into their nests, lay their sky-blue eggs, and feed their young. The arc of their lives adds tension to the narrative as the seasons change, the babies grow, and cold weather approaches. Sweet’s Dayglo color palette captures the poem’s vivid natural world, echoing the dark pink of the thistles in the sky on the book’s cover while the birds’ bright yellow feathers evoke the dazzling heat of a summer day. Even the book’s compact size, about 8” x 10” seems carefully considered to bring us into the world of these small, elegant creatures. Thoughtful back matter includes the complete poem (appearing in its original format), a facsimile of a page from Oliver’s 1991 bird list, and a long note from Sweet, detailing her trip to Cape Cod to observe the goldfinches and her process in creating the illustrations. Sweet has even carefully assembled a diverse group of birders to appear in her illustrations, including one woman who wields her field glasses from a wheelchair. Although illustrating a favorite poem is a relatively common undertaking in picture books, this one stands out as a creative and collaborative triumph, making Oliver’s work newly relevant for young readers. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
But the birds are the stars, just as they are in the poem, competent and tender parents who busily collect delicate thistle to weave into their nests, lay their sky-blue eggs, and feed their young. The arc of their lives adds tension to the narrative as the seasons change, the babies grow, and cold weather approaches. Sweet’s Dayglo color palette captures the poem’s vivid natural world, echoing the dark pink of the thistles in the sky on the book’s cover while the birds’ bright yellow feathers evoke the dazzling heat of a summer day. Even the book’s compact size, about 8” x 10” seems carefully considered to bring us into the world of these small, elegant creatures. Thoughtful back matter includes the complete poem (appearing in its original format), a facsimile of a page from Oliver’s 1991 bird list, and a long note from Sweet, detailing her trip to Cape Cod to observe the goldfinches and her process in creating the illustrations. Sweet has even carefully assembled a diverse group of birders to appear in her illustrations, including one woman who wields her field glasses from a wheelchair. Although illustrating a favorite poem is a relatively common undertaking in picture books, this one stands out as a creative and collaborative triumph, making Oliver’s work newly relevant for young readers. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
March 3, 2026
Goldfinches was written by Mary Oliver, the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize winning poet. Her work was deeply rooted in her lifelong habit of wandering through nature and jotting down her discoveries in a journal. According to the illustrator, she used to leave pencils in trees so she could take notes whenever she wanted. How cool is that?
In this poem, Oliver explores the delicate connection between goldfinches, and the soft thistle fluff and seeds they gather to build their nests. Melissa Sweet's mixed media artwork brings each scene to life with a gorgeous palette of colors. The reddish fire expressed by bright pinks, the buttery golds of the goldfinches' crown and the morning sky, and the soft pale blue of eggs nestled in a thistle-lined nest.
I loved lingering over the pages, catching glimpses of the author's field notes, spotting black and white sketches and identifications of the birds and plants by their family, scientific and common names. There's even a tiny map and a photograph of a real nest with eggs tucked inside.
The result is a vibrant celebration of these birds and the way thistles provide not only the perfect material for nest construction but are a vital food source for their young. Included at the back of the book is a graph of goldfinches' migration across the seasons and the growth pattern of thistles. There is also a note from the illustrator discussing Mary Oliver's lifelong passion for nature, how it inspired her poetry and a few of her famous expressions. This is a beautiful book that captures the awe and beauty of nature with the art pairing so well with the verse of Mary Oliver's poem. A truly soothing message to explore the bright, lively beauty found in nature.
In this poem, Oliver explores the delicate connection between goldfinches, and the soft thistle fluff and seeds they gather to build their nests. Melissa Sweet's mixed media artwork brings each scene to life with a gorgeous palette of colors. The reddish fire expressed by bright pinks, the buttery golds of the goldfinches' crown and the morning sky, and the soft pale blue of eggs nestled in a thistle-lined nest.
I loved lingering over the pages, catching glimpses of the author's field notes, spotting black and white sketches and identifications of the birds and plants by their family, scientific and common names. There's even a tiny map and a photograph of a real nest with eggs tucked inside.
The result is a vibrant celebration of these birds and the way thistles provide not only the perfect material for nest construction but are a vital food source for their young. Included at the back of the book is a graph of goldfinches' migration across the seasons and the growth pattern of thistles. There is also a note from the illustrator discussing Mary Oliver's lifelong passion for nature, how it inspired her poetry and a few of her famous expressions. This is a beautiful book that captures the awe and beauty of nature with the art pairing so well with the verse of Mary Oliver's poem. A truly soothing message to explore the bright, lively beauty found in nature.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Mary Oliver is my favorite contemporary poet, and Melissa Sweet is one of my all-time favorite illustrators, so this book already felt like a perfect pairing before I even opened it. Happily, Goldfinches more than lives up to that promise. Like much of Oliver’s work, the poem is deceptively simple—rooted in close observation, reverence for the natural world, and the quiet joy of paying attention. It unfolds gently, almost meditatively, before landing on the luminous question that defines so much of Oliver’s poetry: Have you ever been so happy in your life?
Melissa Sweet’s mixed-media illustrations elevate the poem in remarkable ways. Bursts of color guide the reader’s eye across the page, while annotations, legends, and marginal notes lend the book the feel of a field guide. These visual elements don’t merely decorate the text; they actively expand it, offering context about goldfinches—their food, nests, and habitats—that will be especially meaningful for young readers encountering these birds for the first time.
Together, poem and art create something both soothing and enriching. Reading Goldfinches felt like a balm, the way many of Oliver’s poems do: a reminder to slow down, look closely, and take pleasure in the act of witnessing. This book is a visual and literary triumph, and a shining example of how poetry and illustration can work in harmony to deepen wonder rather than explain it away.
Melissa Sweet’s mixed-media illustrations elevate the poem in remarkable ways. Bursts of color guide the reader’s eye across the page, while annotations, legends, and marginal notes lend the book the feel of a field guide. These visual elements don’t merely decorate the text; they actively expand it, offering context about goldfinches—their food, nests, and habitats—that will be especially meaningful for young readers encountering these birds for the first time.
Together, poem and art create something both soothing and enriching. Reading Goldfinches felt like a balm, the way many of Oliver’s poems do: a reminder to slow down, look closely, and take pleasure in the act of witnessing. This book is a visual and literary triumph, and a shining example of how poetry and illustration can work in harmony to deepen wonder rather than explain it away.
March 7, 2026
This gorgeous picture book is written by the Pulitzer Prize winning poet Mary Oliver. Illustrator Melissa Sweet, a Caldecott Honoree, contributed her talents as an illustrator with stunning and colorful illustrations for the picture book.
Teachers who add poetry to their curriculum will want to add the book to their classroom bookshelf. Many classrooms will celebrate Poetry Month in April and Goldfinches is a perfect choice for reading poetry that celebrates the natural world around us.
Oliver uses her magic for writing poetry to tell of the beautiful world around us and the goldfinches that appear in the spring to lay their eggs. The baby birds hatch every year and new life is celebrated. Oliver includes her idea that she hopes young readers will become more curious about the natural world around us after reading her poetry.
Goldfinches is recommended for ages 4-8. It was published by Viking Children's Books, a division of Penguin/Random House. It has an ISBN of 9780593692417.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Mary Oliver had a long career in writing poetry. She is one of our most loved contemporary poets. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry with her fourth book, American Primitive, in 1984. She held the Catharine Osgood Foster Chair for Distinguished Teaching at Bennington College. She passed away in 2019.
Teachers who add poetry to their curriculum will want to add the book to their classroom bookshelf. Many classrooms will celebrate Poetry Month in April and Goldfinches is a perfect choice for reading poetry that celebrates the natural world around us.
Oliver uses her magic for writing poetry to tell of the beautiful world around us and the goldfinches that appear in the spring to lay their eggs. The baby birds hatch every year and new life is celebrated. Oliver includes her idea that she hopes young readers will become more curious about the natural world around us after reading her poetry.
Goldfinches is recommended for ages 4-8. It was published by Viking Children's Books, a division of Penguin/Random House. It has an ISBN of 9780593692417.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Mary Oliver had a long career in writing poetry. She is one of our most loved contemporary poets. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry with her fourth book, American Primitive, in 1984. She held the Catharine Osgood Foster Chair for Distinguished Teaching at Bennington College. She passed away in 2019.
September 14, 2026
[This book is already getting Caldecott buzz, so I thought I should write my first impressions now]
I love birds. I love picture books. I even enjoy (some) poetry. But this was just an okay for me. I think a 2.5 star book. I did like learning about goldfinches. They are such happy little birds, and it's always a good day when goldfinch season arrives in my yard. I need to say that before my thoughts about the text and the illustrations, because I'm a fan of the subject matter.
I think this was my first experience with Mary Oliver's poetry. I'm not sure how I felt about the poem (comparing thisle seeds to mice teeth - "dazzling as the teeth of mice, but black" -um, 'scuse me?) Some lines were beautiful ("...they gather/the silvery down, they carry it/in their finchy beaks/to the edges of the fields,/ to the trees,/as though their minds were on fire/with the flower of one perfect idea") and others seemed so odd (see dazzling mice teeth mentioned above). I know I'm in the minority here, but I find Melissa Sweet's illustrations to be chaotic, with just a couple of exceptions of the goldfinches themselves. So with a mid-reception of the poem, and a mid-reception of the illustrations, this book, to me, was just mid.
I love birds. I love picture books. I even enjoy (some) poetry. But this was just an okay for me. I think a 2.5 star book. I did like learning about goldfinches. They are such happy little birds, and it's always a good day when goldfinch season arrives in my yard. I need to say that before my thoughts about the text and the illustrations, because I'm a fan of the subject matter.
I think this was my first experience with Mary Oliver's poetry. I'm not sure how I felt about the poem (comparing thisle seeds to mice teeth - "dazzling as the teeth of mice, but black" -um, 'scuse me?) Some lines were beautiful ("...they gather/the silvery down, they carry it/in their finchy beaks/to the edges of the fields,/ to the trees,/as though their minds were on fire/with the flower of one perfect idea") and others seemed so odd (see dazzling mice teeth mentioned above). I know I'm in the minority here, but I find Melissa Sweet's illustrations to be chaotic, with just a couple of exceptions of the goldfinches themselves. So with a mid-reception of the poem, and a mid-reception of the illustrations, this book, to me, was just mid.
September 27, 2026
What an incredible visual feast Melissa Sweet has created for us based on Mary Oliver‘s poem Goldfinches.
Diverse pages are filled with collages of multiple media; color searches, maps, field notes and sketches, diagrams, scientific data, lush paintings and simple drawings, a line or more from Mary Oliver’s poem “Goldfinches” which is printed in full near the end of the book next to her 1991 Bird List. Bold complex and simple paintings contrast with delicate sketches of thistle fluff and seeds, nests and nesting materials. Every page glows with joy and enchantment. We are treated to the stages of life of goldfinches and all that surrounds them.
A Note from Melissa Sweet” at the end tells us so much more about Mary Oliver, and Melissa Sweet’s affinity both as author/artists but as naturalist s finding joy and meaning in the world around them.
It is no wonder that this book has been suggested as a potential Caldecott nominee. It is truly a very special book. Enjoy!
Diverse pages are filled with collages of multiple media; color searches, maps, field notes and sketches, diagrams, scientific data, lush paintings and simple drawings, a line or more from Mary Oliver’s poem “Goldfinches” which is printed in full near the end of the book next to her 1991 Bird List. Bold complex and simple paintings contrast with delicate sketches of thistle fluff and seeds, nests and nesting materials. Every page glows with joy and enchantment. We are treated to the stages of life of goldfinches and all that surrounds them.
A Note from Melissa Sweet” at the end tells us so much more about Mary Oliver, and Melissa Sweet’s affinity both as author/artists but as naturalist s finding joy and meaning in the world around them.
It is no wonder that this book has been suggested as a potential Caldecott nominee. It is truly a very special book. Enjoy!
April 1, 2026
Reason #1: I love birds.
Reason #2: I love poetry.
Reason #3: I love picture books.
Reason #4: I love poet Mary Oliver.
Reason #5: I love author/illustrator Melissa Sweet.
This is the book I wanted most to see at the Texas Library Association Conference this week.
I was first in line to get this book signed by the illustrator.
Guys, you need this book. Trust me on this. If you agree with me for even one of the reasons I gave (above) for reading this book, you need to find a copy and read it, too.
Reason #2: I love poetry.
Reason #3: I love picture books.
Reason #4: I love poet Mary Oliver.
Reason #5: I love author/illustrator Melissa Sweet.
This is the book I wanted most to see at the Texas Library Association Conference this week.
I was first in line to get this book signed by the illustrator.
Guys, you need this book. Trust me on this. If you agree with me for even one of the reasons I gave (above) for reading this book, you need to find a copy and read it, too.
May 25, 2026
The art is interestingly whimsical and has a lovely look and yes, birds are a favorite subject of my and I enjoy the vibrant yellow of goldfinches.
This title, however, disappointed me and at last I have discovered the reason, it’s the format and that’s a publisher choice. From my viewpoint the dimensions of the physical book are too small making it difficult to discern the small amount of goldfinch information found in those small info boxes on several pages. Then there is the lengthy three page closely spaced note from the illustrator printed on very light cream colored paper and overall difficult to read.
Thanks for introducing me to Mary Oliver’s poetry and I will read more and yes , I wanted to like this title more, but didn’t.
Illustrations were rendered using watercolors, gouache, pencil, vintage and handmade papers, with mixed media collage.
This title, however, disappointed me and at last I have discovered the reason, it’s the format and that’s a publisher choice. From my viewpoint the dimensions of the physical book are too small making it difficult to discern the small amount of goldfinch information found in those small info boxes on several pages. Then there is the lengthy three page closely spaced note from the illustrator printed on very light cream colored paper and overall difficult to read.
Thanks for introducing me to Mary Oliver’s poetry and I will read more and yes , I wanted to like this title more, but didn’t.
Illustrations were rendered using watercolors, gouache, pencil, vintage and handmade papers, with mixed media collage.
July 25, 2026
Melissa Sweet's luminous illustrations - part collage, part naturalist's notebook, part color exploration, part affection-made-visible for the beauty of the natural world - elevate Oliver's already exquisite poem. The flow of panels, insets, spreads, and pages creates a poetic rhythm of its own and guides the reader clearly and invitingly. The happy, saturated yellows/golds and pinks aptly evoke and celebrate the goldfinches and thistle flowers that are the central theme. The hidden hardcover does the same, and samples the inside material enticingly. The after-matter (the poem's text; one of Oliver's bird lists in her handwriting; illustrator's note; and Oliver's voice in closing) is well selected and enriches the whole. Even the curved design of the publishing data suits the rest of the work. A little gem of a book, just right to rejoice in a little gem of a bird.
August 10, 2026
Every part of this book is stunning. Melissa Sweet's mixed-media illustrations incorporate so much to draw the eye, scraps of scientific notes, photos of goldfinch eggs, beautiful trays of color. I read once to absorb all this slowly with the poem. Then a second time to bring the stanzas to life at their intended pace.
Oliver's poem is a call to appreciate the living world around us. To love what we see and what we have, as the goldfinch finds everything they need for their own perfect world. Sweet's note at the end reflects how Oliver approached nature and art as totally intertwined with living. So far, this is my favorite children's book I've read this year. I think it would be a wonderful way to introduce a young one to poetry. There is just so much to take in throughout the pages.
Oliver's poem is a call to appreciate the living world around us. To love what we see and what we have, as the goldfinch finds everything they need for their own perfect world. Sweet's note at the end reflects how Oliver approached nature and art as totally intertwined with living. So far, this is my favorite children's book I've read this year. I think it would be a wonderful way to introduce a young one to poetry. There is just so much to take in throughout the pages.
March 27, 2026
A dream team: Mary Oliver's poetry has inspired millions and Melissa Sweet has won multiple awards for her incredible art. This book explores the lovely relationship between the blooming thistles and the goldfinches: not only do goldfinches eat thistle seed but they delay nesting until the summer when the thistle flowers bloom. Only the softest and lightest nesting material for goldfinches! This book would have been award winning with just that as its focus, but Melissa Sweet adds something wonderful to her pictures -- the development of the poet, Mary Oliver, as she begins work on her journals to chronicle the goldfinch/thistle relationship among many other natural events. A winner, for sure.
April 8, 2026
This beautiful picture book of Mary Oliver’s poem Goldfinches with stunning art by Melissa Sweet resonates with me on multiple levels. It’s a gorgeous rendition of a poem to be shared with kids, especially during April’s National Poetry Month, but also anytime. It’s also a book for birdwatching enthusiasts and those that connect and feel an infinity with the natural world. It would be the perfect gift for poetry lovers, bird lovers, keen thinkers and philosophers of all ages. Be sure to read it more than once because there’s a lot to absorb and take note of Melissa Sweet’s words in the end pages.
“Have you ever been so happy in your life?”
This picture book, poem, and information about goldfinches, brought happiness to my day.
“Have you ever been so happy in your life?”
This picture book, poem, and information about goldfinches, brought happiness to my day.
June 6, 2026
When I saw “Mary Oliver” on the cover of new picture book Goldfinches, I did an about-face and grabbed it off the shelf. I knew I was in for a treat as Mary Oliver’s poetry always evokes powerful imagery and emotion.
But not only did I get a re-read of a beautiful poem, the artwork that accompanies the pieces of the poem is just exquisite . I paged through the book several times, savoring the array of vibrant colors and the intricate details of each image. And, then, to find a beautiful diverse representation of bird-watchers? Why, yes, readers, wheelchair users enjoy spotting our winged friends, too!
Goldfinches was a treat from the front endpapers to the back endpapers, treasures to be found with each turn of the page.
But not only did I get a re-read of a beautiful poem, the artwork that accompanies the pieces of the poem is just exquisite . I paged through the book several times, savoring the array of vibrant colors and the intricate details of each image. And, then, to find a beautiful diverse representation of bird-watchers? Why, yes, readers, wheelchair users enjoy spotting our winged friends, too!
Goldfinches was a treat from the front endpapers to the back endpapers, treasures to be found with each turn of the page.
June 27, 2026
Melissa Sweet pairs poetry by Mary Oliver with detailed and enchanting illustrations in this lovely book. Sweet is known for extensive research on her non fiction books, but this book of a Mary Oliver poem called Goldfinches, Sweet will involve children in the simple beauty and imagery of poetry paired with visual beauty that makes me need to visit a metro park in my community. I love how familiar Sweet's art is for me and how deeply it affects me in this picture book. Vibrant colors, textures, and scientific notes abound and I hope will engage my students as much as it engaged me. Backmatter is a note from Melissa Sweet about the poet, the art, and research involved in the creation of this book.
June 1, 2026
The poem is about goldfinches swooping into the fields of thistles in midsummer to take the fluffs to the trees to line their nests which will soon be filled w blue eggs. The text is presented in an all-cap handwriting and the illustrations mostly resemble very artistic, jam-packed field notes. Such a display of nature, repeated each year, has the poet joyfully conclude “Have you ever been so happy in your life?” This is a very stylized smaller-sized picture book w a three-page note from the poet at the end. I think most elementary-aged readers will need scaffolding to be able to access the text. The art will pull in your creative students.
July 31, 2026
Goldfinch is a beautiful marriage of poetry and illustration. Melissa Sweet's vibrant artwork first drew me to the book, and every page is filled with color and life. While I found the poem a bit difficult to follow as it was divided throughout the book, I especially appreciated being able to read it in its entirety at the end, followed by the thoughtful notes from both Melissa Sweet and Mary Oliver. Those closing pages deepened my appreciation of the book. This is less a traditional children's book than a lovely celebration of poetry and the natural world, one that readers of all ages can enjoy.
June 14, 2026
Melissa Sweet's illustrations of this deceased poetess's poem about goldfinches are rendered in watercolor, gouache, ppencil, vintage and handmade papers, mixed media collage, thistle down, and a bird's nest. The poetess's words are surrounded by Sweet's illustrations, and to her words are added snippets of facts about goldfinch life and habits. The book concludes with the full poem typed out on one page, a photo of a bird list that Mary Oliver wrote, and a note about Mary Oliver's life. A lovely book for bird lovers.
July 28, 2026
Incredibly beautiful! I found the whole presentation very moving. Melissa Sweet's illustrations are a harmonious accompaniment to Mary Oliver's poem; I love that parts of the illustrations really give us a feel for the nature at hand, while others feel more like a nature journal or sketchbook, so we see both the wild beauty and the way the artist/poet interprets it. This is a celebration of nature for nature's sake, which I think Mary would love, too. Outstanding back matter with more about Mary Oliver. I'm such a fan of this dear little book!
April 6, 2026
I don't usually make my reviews so brief, but this is so special that I believe everyone should read it and own a copy if they can! In addition to her extraordinary collaged illustrations, Melissa has added to Mary Oliver's words, given more background on Oliver, goldfinches, and their blessed connection to thistle, plus thoughts on poetry in her world, Oliver's, and ours! Don't miss it!
May 1, 2026
Omg. The color pink. The palette at the beginning and end. The incorporation of ephemera the title page with the maps- the contrast between thistles and finches. The shape mirroring between thistle seeds and triangles-the contrast between wild space and human encroachment in the use of ephemera. The page with the bird carrying thistle fluff and the movement in it. The spread of migration with the photo. The perspective on the final page.
June 29, 2026
The poem alone is 5 stars; the art alone is 5 stars. Together, this book is 4 stars for me, as I found the interruption of the poem with the vibrant images to be distracting. Each component part is wondrous to absorb and reflect upon individually, though, to include the three page note from Melissa Sweet and the opening and closing quotes from Mary Oliver. I hope this approachable format encourages readers of all ages to pick up more poetry.
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