About the Author

Allan Wolf is the author of many award-winning books for children and teens, including The Blood-Hungry Spleen and Other Poems About Our Parts. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

Anna Raff is the illustrator of several books for children, including World Rat Day by J. Patrick Lewis and A Big Surprise for Little Card by Charise Mericle Harper. She lives in New York City.

Reviews

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 review)

The pen and pencil ink- washed collages capture the mood of each poem and add humor, whether portraying Mars as a Roman centurion or introducing Saturnista Fashionista. Some poems are designed for multiple voices, one is a round, and all beg to be read out loud. Visually compelling, this will capture and hold the attention of young stargazers.
—Booklist (starred review)

Wolf writes funny and fact-filled verse that revolves (no pun intended) around the sun, moon, and universe...Back matter includes notes on the poems’ subjects and a glossary of terms, providing an opportunity for readers to broaden their knowledge of the galaxy and beyond.
—Publishers Weekly

This celestial collection of original poetry, filled with vivid illustrations that paint faces on planets and stars, begins with a sonnet for the sun and a romantic and scientifically accurate ode to the planet Venus.
—Virginian-Pilot

Goofy illustrations on fields of star-spangled black and an abundance of cheeky verses combine to riotous effect in ‘The Day the Universe Exploded My Head’...Anna Raff’s pictures keep the energy high in this rowdy interstellar adventure for readers ages 7-13.
—The Wall Street Journal