Allan Wolf

"Considering the vividly depicted events, the strong cast, and the young protagonist's personal triumphs, there's wow-worthy content aplenty here."

Part mystery, part fantasy-adventure, part riveting real-life disaster, this deft tale-within-a-tale blends the history of the 1980 Lake Peigneur drilling accident with a fateful quest for pirate treasure.

When thirteen-year-old Junius Leak—expert on waterbodies and creator of the encyclopedic Amazing Waterbodies of the World—steps foot on Uncle Spot’s rickety dock on Lake Peigneur, the truth assails him: he may love waterbodies, but that doesn’t mean they love him back. The latest in a long line of Junius Leaks, he’s the first to be doomed to ten days of awkwardness and boredom on a houseboat with a relative he doesn’t know while his parents “work on” their marriage. Delcambre, Louisiana, where Junius was born, is awash with unwelcome surprises. He determines to learn why his mom left when he was a baby—and to conquer his fear of water at the same time. But the lake has other plans for him, plans tied to a hundred-year-old family feud and a swashbuckling mystery. When disaster strikes, Junius must dive deep within to emerge an unlikely hero. Alternating viewpoints spin the perceptions of a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)—and the wry voice of a lake with a long memory—into an inventive tale of sunken treasure and buried secrets anchored by a dramatic true event.

Coming in October 2025: The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur, A Graphic Novel

"A gripping survival story!" Steve Sheinkin, author of Bomb and Bletchley Riddle

The strange, true tale of a Louisiana lake that vanished—taking with it every fish below and every boat and barge above—told in a gripping and accessible graphic format.

Home to catfish and crawdads, shrimp and spoonbills, even a gator or two, Lake Peigneur—pronounced “your pain,” only backward—bustles also with human life. Each day, the bean-shaped freshwater lake and its shores hum with folks going about their work: a devoted gardener’s apprentice and his dogs, fishermen, oilmen drilling at Well P-20, and the fifty-one miners employed by the Diamond Crystal Salt Mines. For most, November 20, 1980, began as “just another day on the lake.” But as the lake itself reflects, humans had, over time, left behind a honeycomb of salt highways deep beneath its surface, and water and salt mix all too well. Bracing, suspenseful, and packed with dramatic illustrations and dense end matter, this story of a catastrophic accident—narrated with the homespun voice of a “tall” tale, but true nonetheless—will amaze science and history buffs alike. Illustrated by Jose Pimienta.

Ever wonder what the sun has to say about being the closest star to Earth? Or what Pluto has gotten up to since being demoted to a dwarf planet? Or where rocket ships go when they retire? Listen closely, because maybe, just maybe, your head will explode, too. With poetry that is equal parts accurate and entertaining — and illustrations that are positively out of this world — this book will enthrall amateur stargazers and budding astrophysicists as it reveals many of the wonders our universe holds. Space travelers in search of more information will find notes about the poems, a glossary, and a list of resources at the end.

Poems about stars, planets, moons, and other astronomical wonders, accompanied by stylish anthropomorphic illustrations...A giddy ride through our stellar neighborhood and beyond. —Kirkus Reviews, starred

A collection of clever, whimsical poems in a variety of styles and meters. Author Wolf effectively packs facts into every line using witty rhyme schemes and amusing scenarios ... and all beg to be read out loud. Visually compelling, this will capture and hold the attention of young stargazers. —Booklist, starred

Warm, witty poems by the acclaimed Allan Wolf bring mindfulness to the younger set—one simple, nurturing practice at a time.

Have you ever let your thoughts just float into the sky? Why is today the very best day of the year? And what does a broken teacup have to do with anything? In fresh, accessible poems about mindfulness and related themes, award-winning poet Allan Wolf takes on subjects from kindness to confidence, from finding peace in nature to letting your own joyful “YAWP!” be heard (thank you, Walt Whitman). Woven throughout are subtle how-to’s on meditation, breathwork, visualization, yoga, journaling, and more, as well as taking in others’ points of view, letting go of anger, and other invaluable elements of social-emotional learning. “Accept the way you feel, and turn / your worry into wonder,” says the poet. This charming collection, animated by Jade Orlando’s bright illustrations, offers the tools and the inspiration to make that happen.

The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems, Paul B. Janeczko, Ed. Allan has two poems in this collection, including the title poem.

Be they practical (how to mix a pancake or how to bird-watch) or fanciful (how to scare monsters or how to be a snowflake), the poems in this book boast a flair and joy that you won’t find in any instruction manual. Poets from Kwame Alexander to Pat Mora to Allan Wolf share the way to play hard, to love nature, and to be grateful. Soft, evocative illustrations will encourage readers to look at the world with an eye to its countless possibilities.

The engaging artwork nudges the poems into the foreground, giving them ample room to breathe. The collection closes with "How to Pay Attention," just two lines that are almost a sacred offering. "Close this book. / Look." Young people lucky enough to find this miraculous collection in their hands will indeed look. —Kirkus, starred

Who can resist a good how-to? Janeczko, an astute editor of children’s poetry, capitalizes on his readers’ natural curiosity and yearning for autonomy while opening up the possibilities for what a how-to—both the question and the answer—can be...The entire book becomes a how-to, instructing readers not only in various activities but also in all the ways poetry can resonate.

The Poetry of US: More than 200 poems that celebrate the people, places, and passions of the United States, J. Patrick Lewis, Ed. Allan has four poems in this collection.

Celebrate the gift of language and the vibrant culture of the United States with this collection of classic and never-before-published poetry. Poems are arranged by region, from coast to coast, and among them you'll find works by Langston Hughes, Dorothy Parker, Robert Frost, Naomi Shihab Nye, Walt Whitman, and more. From the familiar to the surprising, subjects include people, places, landmarks, monuments, nature, and celebrations. Designed for sharing, but geared to younger readers, this beautifully illustrated treasury is a must-have for the whole family.

In powerful, vivid verse, the master behind The Watch That Ends the Night recounts one of history’s most harrowing—and chilling—tales of survival.

In 1846, a group of emigrants bound for California face a choice: continue on their planned route or take a shortcut into the wilderness. Eighty-nine of them opt for the untested trail, a decision that plunges them into danger and desperation and, finally, the unthinkable. From extraordinary poet and novelist Allan Wolf comes a riveting retelling of the ill-fated journey of the Donner party across the Sierra Nevadas during the winter of 1846–1847. Brilliantly narrated by multiple voices, including world-weary, taunting, and all-knowing Hunger itself, this novel-in-verse examines a notorious chapter in history from various perspectives, among them caravan leaders George Donner and James Reed, Donner’s scholarly wife, two Miwok Indian guides, the Reed children, a sixteen-year-old orphan, and even a pair of oxen. Comprehensive back matter includes an author’s note, select character biographies, statistics, a time line of events, and more. Unprecedented in its detail and sweep, this haunting epic raises stirring questions about moral ambiguity, hope and resilience, and hunger of all kinds.

“The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep is historical fiction at its very best.” —BookPage, starred

“An impressive, albeit woeful, slice of American history that old middle grade readers will sink their teeth into.” —Shelf Awareness, starred

“Though historical fiction, this book is truly slow-burn horror … Another bone-chilling, unshakable success by Wolf.” —Booklist, starred

Meticulously researched, increasingly more compelling with every page, and stunningly imagined.” —Karen Hesse, Newbery Medal–winning author of Out of the Dust

“Magnificent, apocalyptic, tender, and meticulous, The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep traverses all that it means to be human and all that it takes to survive.” —Gigi Amateau, author of Come August, Come Freedom

“Allan Wolf has truly carved out a niche for himself in the realm of the historical novel-in-verse….” —School Library Connection

[A] masterpiece. Wolf leaves no emotion unplumbed, no area of research uninvestigated, and his voices are so authentic they hurt. Everyone should read it. Outstanding, insightful back matter completes this landmark work. — Booklist, starred

A lyrical, monumental work of fact and imagination that reads like an oral history revved up by the drama of the event. — Kirkus, starred

Several concrete poems add visual interest; the Iceberg poems gradually get shorter as the monster melts, and the melee above decks is shown through a series of four-line poems surrounded by snippets of frantic conversation that converge in the gutter. As the ship sinks, the words of shipbuilder Thomas Andrews’s poem tilt and then drop off the page. — Horn Book Magazine, starred

Allan Wolf has combined meticulous research with open-hearted poetry to craft the story of the Titanic in a fresh and compelling way. A remarkable accomplishment. — Helen Frost, author of Crossing Stones and Hidden

Allan Wolf has imagined his way deep into the cold, dark waters of history and has come back carrying a couple of dozen voices that he discovered there, voices whose authenticity is not only convincing but compelling. —Ted Kooser, former U.S. Poet Laureate and winner of the Pulitzer Prize