An Accelerated Reader book
Storytelling World Award Honor Title
The watercolor cartoons are lively and have contemporary details . . . the book may be useful to help initiate discussion on this important topic [of bullying]." —School Library Journal
"A valuable lesson about name-calling and hurting people's feelings." —Children's Literature
"A 'must have' for classroom teachers, counselors, or school libraries." —National Center for Youth Issues (NCYI)
"Alley Oops takes a novel approach in the anti-bullying campaign . . . providing a book for offenders. It can help bullies understand the impact of their hurtful behavior and the need to change their ways." —Tom McIntyre, Ph.D., author, The Behavior Survival Guide for Kids: How to Make Good Choices and Stay Out of Trouble
"A little gem . . . [that] will empower your children to wrestle with big choices and take a look at their own actions and reactions." —AcademicPlanet.com
"Powerful message without being goody-goody." —New York State Reading Association
"An entertaining book with a compassionate message." —Long Island Parenting magazine
International Reading Association has cited Alley Oops as a source for their title, Bright Beginnings for Boys: Engaging Young Boys in Active Literacy
This story relates the painful and embarrassing aftermath of name-calling and bullying from the perspective of the bully. J. J. Jax has been tormenting an overweight boy named Patrick, calling him Pig-Pen and Porky, to the point that Patrick is now afraid to go to school. Learning of his son's behavior, J. J.'s father lectures him to stop bullying Patrick. When that approach fails, Mr. Jax tries another tack and shares an experience he had as a youthful bully and the consequences he recently faced as a result of his actions. Touched by his father's words, J.J. reaches out to Patrick in a school arm-wrestling contest and experiences the "alley oops" moment of empowerment and self-esteem that comes from doing the right thing. Snappy dialogue highlights the harmful, lasting effects of bullying and the importance of finding common ground toward conflict resolution. Believable contemporary illustrations bring the story to life with expressive body language.
Janice Levy is the author of Abuelito Eats with His Fingers, Aubelito Goes Home, The Man Who Lived in a Hat, Spirit of Tio Fernando, and Totally Uncool. She is a three-time winner of the Writer's Digest Contest for Best Literary Short Story and a winner of the Japanese School Library Association's award for "Best Foreign Language Picture Book." She teaches writing at Hofstra University. She lives in Merrick, New York. C. B. Decker is the illustrator of Celebrate the Fire Within. She lives in Modesto, California.
View interior graphics from this book.
Sample spread (58K)
Childrens: Picture Books
Age Range: 5 to 8
32 pages, Cloth, 11 x 8 1/2
Distribution Rights: WOR
$15.95 (CAN $15.95)
9780972922548 (0972922547) Pub Date: May 2005
Flashlight Press