Allan Wolf

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.

Warm, witty poems by the acclaimed Allan Wolf bring mindfulness to the younger set--one simple, nurturing practice at a time. An om is a poem without any words. It acts as a voice so the heart can be heard. 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.

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 town 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.

How do you throw the world's best tantrum? Here are ten ways to help little ones navigate big feelings using fun, calming exercises. Your hands turn into iron fists.Your giggles are all gone.Your body's trying to tell youthere's a tantrum coming on. Sometimes your day doesn't go how you planned it. Or there's too much noise, and the light is way too bright. Small feelings can turn into overpowering feelings, and now there's a tightening in your chest or a pounding in your head. A tantrum is coming, and it feels like it can't be stopped, but you're not worried, because you know what to do You start with a deep breath, and a slow count from one to ten. Then maybe you'll break into a silly dance, or find a cozy, comfy hideaway, or play an easy game by yourself so you can win. Soon enough, those big feelings will quiet down again--because you know how to tantrum like a champion. With a playful, soothing text and dynamic, stylish illustrations, Allan Wolf and Keisha Morris offer the perfect blueprint for readers of any age to keep those overwhelming feelings from taking them by surprise.

Step aboard the Word Express. It's leaving from the station. The only ticket needed is your own imagination.Have you ever wanted to climb to the top of Everest with one hand behind your back? Kiss a crocodile all by yourself on the Nile river? How about learning how to bottle moonlight, or track a distant star? There are endless things to discover and whole universes to explore simply by reading a book. But books are only smears of ink without the reader’s mind to give their letters meaning and bring them to life. With a rollicking, rhyming text and delightful artwork, poet and storyteller Allan Wolf and illustrator Brianne Farley remind us that books, no matter how they may be consumed, give readers of every background an opportunity to expand their world and spark their imagination. With infectious enthusiasm, No Buddy Like a Book offers an ode to the wonders of language – written, spoken, and everything in between.

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.

"Wolf's dynamic, multifaceted characters come vividly alive through their distinct speaking voices, and their struggle to come to terms with not only their guilt but the senselessness of the universe is deeply affecting." -- Booklist (starred review) Everybody in the small town of Goldsburg, Virginia, likes Chris Goodman, which makes it especially shocking when he's murdered. Here, in a stunning multi-voiced narrative -- including the perspective of the fifteen-year-old killer -- and based on a true and terrible crime that occurred when the author was in high school, Allan Wolf sets out to answer the first question that comes to mind in moments of unthinkable tragedy: How could a thing like this happen?

A thriller inspired by a tragic true event in the author's past. Allan Wolf examines the circumstances of a boy’s inexplicable murder and the fateful summer leading up to it.Everybody likes Chris Goodman. Sure, he’s a little odd. He wears those funny bell-bottoms and he really likes the word ennui and he shakes your hand when he meets you, but he’s also the kind of guy who’s always up for a good time, always happy to lend a hand. Everybody likes him, which makes it especially shocking when he’s murdered. Here, in a stunning multi-voiced narrative – including the perspective of the fifteen-year-old killer – and based on a true and terrible crime that occurred when he was in high school, author Allan Wolf sets out to answer the first question that comes to mind in moments of unthinkable tragedy: how could a thing like this happen?