Allan Wolf

Plan A. Plan B. Plan C. The world is in the middle of a Plan-demic. I wrote the poem What Matters Most below as a reminder that determining what to do is easier if we first determine what we believe. The new realities of the Pandemic require us to be grounded and rational, and yet our irrational imaginations are working overtime to innovate, recreate, readjust, and reinvent. During challenging times, when you feel a little lost, Poetry can be your compass needle’s North. What Matters MostA Poem for Teachers If you believe that you can teachand students can be taught,let all you do be guided bythose two essential thoughts. If you feel…

Poetry Palooza, Episode 4: THE QUARANTINE QUARTET. In which Allan writes a poem about making the most of quarantine. Doodle, and James get into the act, as well as a mysterious stranger.

Poetry Palooza, Episode 3: Iambic Titanic. In which Allan uses a human heart to demonstrate how he uses iambic pentameter to give voice to an iceberg and then re-enacts the sinking of the Titanic in his living room!

Metaphors be with you, Episode 2, in which Allan can’t sleep and goes to his library to POgle in the dark! It’s all about rhythm y’all! Stay safe.

Introducing my new po-folk video series, POETRY PALOOZA!I’m taking advantage of my time off the road visiting schools and performing poems. I’m working on two new books (one non-fiction picture book, and one mid-grade novel). I’m organizing years of old files and papers and manuscripts. I’m playing a lot of music and juggling. My funnest project, by far, has been the launching of Allan Wolf’s Poetry Palooza!, a series of short, informative, fun videos that celebrate poetry, writing, reading, and generally just living the po-folk’s life. Proud to show you Episode 1: Venus in Verse

I have dubbed this year The Year of 2020 Vision. And I have devoted myself to the pursuit of clarity in its many forms.  I encourage you to do the same. In fact, why not make this your annus mirabilis! Annus mirabilis—pronounced AN • us • meh • ROB • uh •liss—is Latin for “Year of Miracles,” and has been used to name an unusually productive phase in the life of an artist, scientist, activist, and etc. The poet, John Keats, for example wrote nearly all of his most iconic odes during the course of a short few months. This coming year I will see the publication of my fifth…

Hello Po-Folk, Let the countdown begin! In just two weeks my  book of space poems is “go for launch!” The Day the Universe Exploded My Head: Poems to Take You Into Space and Back Again (Candlewick Press) is beautifully illustrated by the amazing Anna Raff. To mark the occasion I will be offering schools and libraries a special presentation based on the book, complete with music, costumes, puppets, participation, amazing facts, and, of course, a lot of poetry! This book and special author presentation are a great way to mark the 50thanniversary of the landing on the moon! I believe in bringing poems to life, from page to stage, so I’ve…

Hello Po-Folk, A promising new school year is upon us and poetry is everywhere! Here is a photo of me last Spring with the very enthusiastic students at El Colegio Britanico in Quito, Ecuador. Palabra, ya’ll!  I’m now booking author visits and poetry presentations (all grades welcome) for the 2018-2019 school year, and beyond. So far my travels will take me to NC, SC, TN, KY, VA, PA, NY, and TX!  But I’m willing to go anywhere to get kids jazzed about poetry and the power of words!  I can’t wait to present the out-of-this-world new poems from my upcoming book, The Day the Universe Exploded My Head! with a whole new presentation that includes puppets, music, slides, costume pieces,…

A new anthology has been published with one of my poems! The topic… (hint hint). Selected by noted anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins, A Bunch of Punctuation is a collection of all-new poems written from the points of view of personality-filled punctuation marks, and is a memorable introduction to grammar for children ages 7-12.