New Releases by Allan Wolf

"A riveting page-turner that will have readers eager to learn more about the topic." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) 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.

"Wolf''s latest weaves a dazzling tale. . . .Considering the vividly depicted events, the strong cast, and the young protagonist’s personal triumphs, there’s wow-worthy content aplenty here." —Booklist (starred review) 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.

"A terrific exposition of mindfulness, perfectly distilled for curious kids." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) 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.

"A lyrical, monumental work of fact and imagination." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Arrogance and innocence, hubris and hope — twenty-four haunting voices of the Titanic tragedy, as well as the iceberg itself, are evoked in a stunning tour de force. Slipping in telegraphs, undertaker’s reports, and other records, poet Allan Wolf offers a breathtaking, intimate glimpse at the lives behind the tragedy, told with clear-eyed compassion and astounding emotional power.

It was inevitable that residential landlords would challenge the foreclosure moratoria featured in state and federal COVID-19 emergency orders, regulations, and legislation. At the same time, commercial landlords and tenants are wrestling in court over the question of whether the pandemic and restrictions that governments imposed in response can excuse the nonpayment of rent. While these issues will continue to appear and percolate through state and federal trial and appellate tribunals, this Article provides an interim report on the progress (or lack thereof) of constitutional (Takings and Contract Clauses) and common-law (force majeure, frustration of purpose, impossibility of performance) theories enlisted to vindicate the alleged violation of property and contract rights or to support or oppose efforts to recover full rental payments during a global crisis.Even the U.S. Supreme Court, via its “shadow docket,” has had a word in this debate, invoking the newly emergent and problematic “major questions” doctrine. The Article closes with a consideration of the roles stare decisis and respect for precedent are playing in the emerging COVID-related real property jurisprudence.

"Humbled" and "honored" are the two words that come to mind when describing my reaction to the responses of Professors Daniel Mandelker and Patty Salkin to my recent article, Zoning Reformed (70 U. Kan. L. Rev. 171 (2021)). Like so many active in the field of land use law, I have long admired their insightful and useful contributions to the literature, seemingly boundless energy, and generous openness to new ideas. This essay provides (1) background information on the origins of Zoning Reformed, (2) reactions to the Mandelker and Salkin responses, and (3) some additional thoughts about the prospects of real reform for American zoning.

Violet and her family venture to a local park to partake in some late-night stargazing. Telescope and space book in tow, Violet is ready to explore and discover the night sky for herself, wherever that may lead.

Collects poems about the many wonders and lessons to be learned from a school garden.

Calling readers and daydreamers, word mavens and lovers of adventure! This celebration of the power of books is a rallying cry for letting imaginations soar. We learn important stuff from books. We learn to speak and think. We learn why icebergs stay afloat . . . and why Titanics sink. 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.

Hang on tight for a raucous bounce through the solar system and back — propelled by funny, fanciful, factually sound poems and exuberant illustrations. The universe poured into me. My brain was overloaded. It smoked and glowed red-hot. And then it actually exploded. 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.

The new normal of environmental law will likely feature reduced enforcement of existing federal environmental statutes, elimination of federal regulations deemed anti-business, slashed funding for climate change response programs, and state preemption of local sustainability initiatives. Attorneys representing environmental interests will be “bringing a knife to a gunfight” should they continue to attack such stalwart principles of conservative jurisprudence as federalism, textualism, and originalism, or to seek the reversal of strong precedents that narrow standing, limit the reach of the Commerce and Necessary and Proper Clauses, and expand the scope of the Takings Clause to include allegedly confiscatory environmental and land use regulations. What is needed is a litigation strategy that goes beyond accommodating, adjusting, or massaging conservative jurisprudence. Counsel should advance arguments that will most effectively result in victories for the side identified with environmental protection and sustainability. This article provides the framework for the adoption and advancement of conservative constitutional principles (a set of doctrines that I call “right environmentalism”), presents six illustrative scenarios, and discusses two examples from the early twentieth century of counsel successfully appealing to conservatives on the Court (Muller v. Oregon and Buchanan v. Warley), examples that can serve as models for today's very serious challenges.

Gorgeous illustrations surround a collection of poetry written for children about the magic, beauty, and promise of sea voyages.

Despite his odd manner and crazy bell bottoms, everybody likes Chris Goodman, so when he''s found dead no one can understand how something like that could happen.

This essay, written on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Fordham Urban Law Journal, discusses the urban settings for key regulatory takings decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, reviews the state of expert commentary before the rebirth of regulatory takings in the high court, explores the complex relationship between liberal justices and private property rights protection, reviews regulatory takings scholarship that has appeared in the pages of this journal, and closes with some thoughts about the future of urban regulatory takings.

In Land Use Planning and the Environment, the authors have dramatically revised and updated a classic, seminal casebook, Land-Use Planning. Designed primarily for the classroom, the book takes a comprehensive approach to the teaching of planning and zoning law, regulatory takings, and environmental topics. Throughout the casebook, the authors identify and explore intersections between land use planning law and environmental regulation. They also identify the hidden environmental "agenda" behind exclusionary zoning, the impact of urban sprawl on clean air and critical habitats, and other interconnections. Professors, students, and law and planning practitioners with strong backgrounds and exposure to "traditional" environmental law will find these intersections a wonderful opportunity to examine familiar topics from a fresh perspective. For other users, Land Use Planning and the Environment will serve as a valuable introduction to the environmental realm, a realm that, more than perhaps any other in American law, is subject to swift and dramatic changes that require the most current teaching materials.

Contains advice, ideas, writing activities, and encouragement from a working poet for aspiring poets. Includes poems by a variety of poets from the unknown to the famous, including Langston Hughes, e.e. cummings, Eve Merriam, and more.

Poems about elationships between young men and women.

More than three dozen poems describe individual parts of the body and what they do for us and for some parts, such as the face, the verses describe how we communicate nonverbally with other people. Reprint.

The letters and thoughts of Thomas Jefferson, members of the Corps of Discovery, their guide Sacagawea, and Captain Lewis''s Newfoundland dog, all tell of the historic exploratory expedition to seek a water route to the Pacific Ocean.

Believing that he is responsible for his grandfather''s death, Zane Guesswind takes off on a manic trip to his mother''s grave where he plans to kill himself until he meets a strange cast of mystical characters who forever change his life.

Over the last 30 years, we have made great progress in curbing the most obvious pollution largely due to effective enforcement of federal and state environmental statutes. Now, however, there is increasing skepticism of the efficiency and even the constitutionality of our bedrock environmental laws from all branches of the federal government, including the courts. This book is the result of lively debate at the conference Alternative Grounds: Defending the Environment in an Unwelcome Judicial Climate, held on November 11, 2004, and co-sponsored by the University of Florida''s Levin College of Law and the Environmental Law Institute. Topics ranged from U.S. Supreme Court trends in environmental law jurisprudence, to innovative federal and state constitutional and statutory arguments that defend environmental protections, to federal provisions most vulnerable to attack on federalism, takings, and separation-of-powers grounds. This thought-provoking and insightful collection of essays provides smart, realistic solutions to the profound and complex legal challenges facing defenders of our environmental protections. With contributions by: Richard J. Lazarus, Sean H. Donahue, Paul Boudreaux, William W. Buzbee, Robert L. Glicksman, Alyson C. Flournoy, Christopher H. Schroeder, Douglas T. Kendall, Susan George, J.B. Ruhl, Donald W. Stever, and Mary Jane Angelo.