Loyd Artists

Allan Wolf

BIOGRAPHY

Performance Formats:

Allan Wolf's young adult book, Zane's Trace, has been chosen as this year's winner of the North Carolina School Library Media Association Young Adult Book Award for Middle School. This award is a special honor since the winner is chosen by youth in North Carolina who read and loved the book over others on the list.

Allan Wolf's children's poem, "The Secret Seed" appears in the March issue of Ladybug Magazine.
www.ladybugmagkids.com/lookinside/march-2009

Allan's latest book, More Than Friends: Poems from Him and Her, is featured in the February 16, 2009 issue of Scholastic's SCOPE magazine. His book shares the front cover with non other than actor Robert Paittinson of the movie, Twilight. The SCOPE teachers' edition includes classroom activities based on the book. Downloadable pdf of the teachers' edition can be found here: teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/magazines/scope/pdfs/SCOPE-TE-021609.pdf

Author. Poet. Performer. Educator.
Allan Wolf is an author, poet, performer and educator who lives in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and three kids. After three years teaching at Virginia Tech, Wolf became the Educational Director for Poetry Alive!, a national touring company that presents theatrical poetry shows for all ages. Wolf is also a founding member of The Dead Poets, a unique band that transforms classic poetry into toe-tapping tunes. An active organizer in the early days of the poetry slam competitions, Wolf's mission has always been to take poetry to the people. His home town made history in 1995 as the smallest city to ever win the coveted National Poetry Slam Championship title. Wolf now writes and presents full time. His books include The Blood-Hungry Spleen and Other Poems About Our Parts (Candlewick Press), and New Found Land: Lewis and Clark's Voyage of Discovery (Candlewick Press), a novel in verse chosen as a School Library Journal Best Book, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and an IRA Children's Book Award Notable. His most recent works are a book about writing poems titled, Immersed In Verse: An Informative, Slightly Irreverent & Totally Tremendous Guide to Living the Poet's Life (Lark Books), Haiku Stickies: 100 Haiku to Write and Leave Behind (Lark Books) and More Than Friends: Poems for Him and Her with poet Sara Holbrook (Wordsong/Boyd's Mill). He is a veteran traveler through all the diverse worlds of verse from poetry slams to public schools, salons to saloons. With literally hundreds of poems committed to memory, Wolf is always ready to spin out a stanza or two. Got rhyme?

Allan Wolf, Author and Poet
Wolf writes poems in a variety of styles and for a variety of audiences. His poems for children are carefully crafted and full of wonder. His children's poems never preach, but celebrate kids for who they naturally are-good and bad His poems for young adults and grown-ups tackle more complex themes. The author of seven books, Allan's writing has earned many honors, including a School Library Journal Best Book, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and an IRA Children's Book Award Notable. His books of poetry have been selected by Scholastic Book Club, Scholastic Book Fair, and the Children's Book of the Month Club. Wolf was also a finalist for the Southeastern Booksellers' Association Poetry Award.

Allan Wolf, Performer and Educator
Wolf's unique performance style results from his varied influences. He possesses the edgy intensity of a slam poet, the intellectual sensibility of an academic poet, the theatrical showmanship of an actor, the aw-shucks ease of an Appalachian storyteller, and a musicality drawn from his long tenure with The Dead Poets, the popular band that transforms classic poems into toe-tapping tunes. Allan's stage savvy is complemented by his experience and skill in the classroom. He works equally well with students, teachers and aspiring poets. Whether he's conducting an author visit, a writing workshop, a teacher in-service, or a performance clinic-Wolf's passion for words is contagious.

Something for Everyone

Look for Allan Wolf's new performance, More Than Friends: Poems of Him and Her, with Sara Holbrook available for booking January, 2009! The performance is great for youth and adults.

More Than Friends: Poems of Him and Her (Boyds Mills/Front Street)

This book and performance springs from a two-year e-mail correspondence between poets Allan Wolf and Sara Holbrook. As Allan and Sara's poems flew madly through the electronic ether, a fictional teenaged couple began to emerge. Many of the poems in this collection use traditional poetic forms (i.e. sonnets, villanelles, sestinas, and tankas) to explore teen subject matter that is anything but traditional. The result is a book that traverses, in poetic form, the gap between the genders--a gap that is sometimes vast, sometimes nonexistent.

General Audiences

Allan performs poetry from memory in the tradition of the Appalachian storytellers. His set is minimal, usually just a simple table and chair. He typically opens with a high-energy introductory poem, followed by a montage of shorter pieces in a wide variety of styles and subjects. Then he'll speak to the audience informally between clusters of poems connected by theme. One moment he will whisper a heart-felt story in verse. The next moment he will transform himself into a hungry Tyrannosaur driving a Volkswagen. He will rattle off a hip-hop piece and segue into a quiet sonnet. Then he'll pick up his guitar to add background to his spoken words, or sing a song about Emily Dickinson or Edgar Allan Poe. And from beginning to end, Wolf gradually reveals the mission he is on, urging audience members to be aware of the poems lurking at their elbows.

Family Audiences

Wolf's presentations for families are in the same dynamic style and format as his presentations for general audiences. The greatest difference will be the subject matter and poem selection. While Wolf's general shows may contain mature themes and language, his family shows do not. With nearly a thousand poems committed to memory, Wolf has deep pockets, allowing him to tailor his presentations for each individual audience. Family shows usually contain more participation and call & response. And Wolf is aware that family audiences contain future poets, so he makes a point of speaking about the joys of writing and living the poet's life.

OTHER OFFERINGS

Contact Loyd Artists to learn about these other offerings:

Author Visits
Writing Workshops
Performance Clinics
Teacher In-Services
Educational Presentations
Keynote Talks
Artist Residencies
Young Author Celebrations

Allan Wolf's Books/CDs

More Than Friends: Poems of Him and Her (Boyds Mills/Front Street)

THE SPLEEN IS CHOSEN AS A BOOK SENSE TOP TEN POETRY PICK FOR 2008!

THE BLOOD-HUNGRY SPLEEN AND OTHER POEMS ABOUT OUR PARTS (Candlewick Press) came in at number six on The Book Sense Poetry Top Ten Picks for 2008. This list, issued every April to celebrate National Poetry Month, includes books by Margaret Atwood, Robert Haas, Li-Young Lee, and Mary Oliver. THE SPLEEN is the only children's title to make the list.
New Books

Zane's Trace

My latest verse novel, Zane's Trace (Candlewick Press), has come out of the gate with the loud rumble of a 1969 Plymouth 'Cuda with a honking 440 Big Block engine! Zane was named number seven in the BOOK SENSE Top Ten Children's Books Picks for Autumn which has caused much joy in camp. Book Sense is a publication of thousands of independent booksellers across the country. It's an honor to be chosen by this group of die-hard booklovers. This little book, about a troubled teen who takes a road-trip to Zanesville, OH in order to kill himself at his mother's grave, may be a bit "edgy" for any of my readers under the age of 14. Like Zane Guesswind, the novel's hero, I used to write on my bedroom walls, an activity that helped me cope with adolescence, puberty, and other horrific adventures.

Haiku Stickies: 100 Haiku to Write and Leave Behind (Lark Books, 2007)

Kids can produce instant poetry, inspired by these partially-written haiku. Composed by Allan Wolf, author of Immersed in Verse, they range from silly to serious, realistic to fantastic. Each poem has blank spaces for children to fill in; earlier in the pad, they'll need to add only a word or two, while the later haiku will have kids writing nearly from scratch. Comes with pencil and built-in pencil sharpener!

Immersed in Verse: An Informative, Slightly Irreverent & Totally Tremendous Guide to Living the Poet's Life (Lark Books, 2006)

A Children's Book of the Month selection
School Library Journal Best Book

New Found Land: Lewis and Clark's Voyage of Discovery (Candlewick Press, 2005)

School Library Journal Best Book o ALA Best Book for Young Adults o IRA Children's Book Award Notable o SEBA Poetry Award finalist o Lion and the Unicorn Honor Award for Excellence in North American Poetry.

"an extraordinary, engrossing book that should definitely be added to any collection."
School Library Journal, Starred Review

" a must for libraries, a treasure for classrooms."
Kirkus Review, Starred Review

The Blood-Hungry Spleen and other Poems About Our Parts (Candlewick Press, 2003)

"sure to tickle the funny bone"
Publisher's Weekly

"Science and literature have rarely blended so merrily."
Washington Post

It's Show Time! Poetry from the Page to the Stage (Poetry Alive!, 1993) and Something Is Going to Happen: Poem Performance in the Classroom (Poetry Alive!, 1991)

Poem performance ideas for teachers. With poems scripted for readers' theatre or a fully staged poetry extravaganza.

The Dead Poets (Audio CD)

"Close harmonies, inventive rhythm and a healthy dose of humor."
C.L. Bothwell III, Moutain X-press

Allan Wolf is the gold standard for poetry performance. He masterfully entertains and dramatically inspires with original and classic verse, song, and story. His vast repertoire spans Shakespeare, Dickinson, Clint Eastwood, and Elvis. And his original poems are well-crafted gems. Everyone in the house left thoroughly satisfied.

Dr. Nile Stanley
Editor, Florida Reading Quarterly
Partner in Education, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

I've seen Allan perform poetry in elegant theatres and seedy bars. At high-brow literary teas and low-brow poetry slams. He possesses a rare blend of fine literary talent and dynamic presentational skill that make him equally brilliant on the page and the stage. Adults, kids, families, librarians or teachers-there seems to be no audience or occasion for which Allan does not have a poem to offer.

Bob Falls,
Founder of Poetry Alive!
Asheville, NC

Allan Wolf was the highlight of our Content Literacy and Learning Institute! His Keynote brought the crowd to its feet, and teachers begged for more sessions of his great writing ideas.

Janet Allen
Author and writing consultant
Orlando, FL

Allan Wolf used all aspects of the arts to excite his audience about the power and value of poetry. He recited his own wonderful verse. He acted out Shakespeare's Seven Ages of Man with audience "volunteers." And he sang about poet cows inspired by the "moos!" He captivated a hard to please crowd of alternative high school students with his wit and warmth, connecting equally well in both a performance and workshop setting. His two days with us was a highlight of our ten year anniversary celebration.

Carol Reinhard
Walnut Creek Campus
West Des Moines, IA

Allan, YOU WERE TERRIFIC!! No one in the audience will ever look at poetry in the same light again. We couldn't have found a speaker any more perfect for the night than you! Thanks for making this Southern Sampler event the best yet!

Ruth Boetsch
Southern Sampler Young Author Celebration
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC

[Allan] spent two days with us in February and the kids are still talking about him and want to know when he's coming back. It was the best author/guest visit we've ever had.

Julie Powell
Stillwell Junior High School,
Des Moines, Iowa

Allan's study guides

For study guides and additional educational materials, please go to Allan's website - see below.