| picture story books that explore and illuminate |
| Alley Oops Written by Janice Levy Illustrated by Cynthia Decker |
Alley Oops relates the painful and embarrassing aftermath of name-calling and bullying from the novel
perspective of the bully.
J.J. Jax has been tormenting an overweight boy named Patrick, calling him Pig-Pen and Porky, and
now Patrick is afraid to go to school. When Mr. Jax finds out, he tells J.J. a story about when he was a
bully, and how sorry he feels now. He explains about the two dogs inside us, one bad and one good,
that fight all the time. “Which dog wins?” J.J. asks. “The one you feed the most,” Mr. Jax answers.
Touched by his father’s words, J.J. bikes over to Patrick’s house to talk things over, and is surprised
to discover how much he and Patrick have in common: they both think getting yelled at is better than
being lectured, they both have little sisters who never get in trouble, and they both love the sport of arm-
wrestling. Patrick even has an official arm-wrestling table.
Patrick may be big, but he is also quite strong and an avid arm-wrestler. Trounced at the table, J.J. is
impressed with Patrick’s “hammer hand” and decides to become his manager! The boys’ shared
interest in arm-wrestling becomes the conduit for resolution and budding friendship.
Bullying is a worldwide problem with negative lifelong consequences – for the bully as well as the
victim. Nearly everyone knows a bully, has been bullied, or has bullied someone. Alley Oops is a story
about hurt and anger, empathy and hope, resilience and ingenuity. It’s about actions and consequences.
And finally, it’s about that “alley oops!” moment when a child experiences the empowerment and self-
esteem that come from doing the right thing.
perspective of the bully.
J.J. Jax has been tormenting an overweight boy named Patrick, calling him Pig-Pen and Porky, and
now Patrick is afraid to go to school. When Mr. Jax finds out, he tells J.J. a story about when he was a
bully, and how sorry he feels now. He explains about the two dogs inside us, one bad and one good,
that fight all the time. “Which dog wins?” J.J. asks. “The one you feed the most,” Mr. Jax answers.
Touched by his father’s words, J.J. bikes over to Patrick’s house to talk things over, and is surprised
to discover how much he and Patrick have in common: they both think getting yelled at is better than
being lectured, they both have little sisters who never get in trouble, and they both love the sport of arm-
wrestling. Patrick even has an official arm-wrestling table.
Patrick may be big, but he is also quite strong and an avid arm-wrestler. Trounced at the table, J.J. is
impressed with Patrick’s “hammer hand” and decides to become his manager! The boys’ shared
interest in arm-wrestling becomes the conduit for resolution and budding friendship.
Bullying is a worldwide problem with negative lifelong consequences – for the bully as well as the
victim. Nearly everyone knows a bully, has been bullied, or has bullied someone. Alley Oops is a story
about hurt and anger, empathy and hope, resilience and ingenuity. It’s about actions and consequences.
And finally, it’s about that “alley oops!” moment when a child experiences the empowerment and self-
esteem that come from doing the right thing.
Hardcover, 32 full color pages, ages 5-9, Publication: April 2005
To see more images from inside
"Alley Oops" click here.
"Alley Oops" click here.
Available at your favorite
bookseller or through:
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| Read some interviews with author Janice Levy here. |
Awards and Review Highlights
* A Delaware Diamonds Award nominee 2007-8
* A Storytelling World Award Honor Book 2006
"...The watercolor cartoons are lively and have contemporary details. ...the book may be useful to help initiate discussion on this
important topic." Jennifer Ralston, School Library Journal
Featured in Curriculum Connections Winter 2005: Using Children's Literature to Address Bullying, and included in the ADL's
Annotated Bibliography of Children's Fiction on Bullying
"a little gem...[that] will empower your children to wrestle with big choices and take a look at their own actions and reactions."
Barbara Gruener, Counselor at Westwood Elementary in Friendswood, TX, and writer of a guidance webpage on academicplanet.com
"Very highly recommended." Midwest Book Review
"...love of this sport ...bonds these pre-teens and provides the opportunity for Jonathan Jax to start feeding his good dog more often."
Kelly Roque, Children's Literature
"J.J. makes a wise decision and to his surprise, ends up being good friends with Patrick." Jennifer Lee, Nashville Parent Magazine
"'Alley Oops' is important, and can help bullies understand the impact of their hurtful behavior." Lee Littlewood, Kid's Home Library,
Copley News Service
"Are you being bullied? Are you a bully? If you've answered yes to either of these questions, the book Alley Oops is one that is a
must." Mary M. Alward, Suite101.com
"...I don't like books designed to teach kids a moral lesson. And I really don't like books that have a parent lecture the main character
on morality. Since both things happen in Alley Oops, I must dislike it, right? Well, no, not this time." Jan Fields, MyShelf.com
"With snappy dialogue & marvelous pictures... Alley Oops... needs to be read, again and again." Rebecca Brown, RebeccaReads.com
"Alley Oops illustrates bullying from the bully's perspective. It highlights a positive outlook and the importance to resolving the
bullying conflict and how everyone can be a winner in the end...Find out how this wonderful story turns out." Cheryl McCann,
ReviewBooks.com
"Unique drawings go perfectly in this story setting." Lisa D'Angelo, Book Review Cafe
"Playground bullies and aggressive behavior are frequently addressed in today's parenting magazines. Author Janice Levy offers a
completely new take on the subject... I highly recommend her book, "Alley Oops", for its insight, educational value, and
straightforward treatment of an age-old problem." Christine Hohlbaum, Blether.com
"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 of THE BEHAVIOR SURVIVAL
GUIDE FOR KIDS: How to Make Good Choices and Stay Out of Trouble, and professor of special education at Hunter College, NY, www.
behavioradvisor.com
See all reviews...
* A Delaware Diamonds Award nominee 2007-8
* A Storytelling World Award Honor Book 2006
"...The watercolor cartoons are lively and have contemporary details. ...the book may be useful to help initiate discussion on this
important topic." Jennifer Ralston, School Library Journal
Featured in Curriculum Connections Winter 2005: Using Children's Literature to Address Bullying, and included in the ADL's
Annotated Bibliography of Children's Fiction on Bullying
"a little gem...[that] will empower your children to wrestle with big choices and take a look at their own actions and reactions."
Barbara Gruener, Counselor at Westwood Elementary in Friendswood, TX, and writer of a guidance webpage on academicplanet.com
"Very highly recommended." Midwest Book Review
"...love of this sport ...bonds these pre-teens and provides the opportunity for Jonathan Jax to start feeding his good dog more often."
Kelly Roque, Children's Literature
"J.J. makes a wise decision and to his surprise, ends up being good friends with Patrick." Jennifer Lee, Nashville Parent Magazine
"'Alley Oops' is important, and can help bullies understand the impact of their hurtful behavior." Lee Littlewood, Kid's Home Library,
Copley News Service
"Are you being bullied? Are you a bully? If you've answered yes to either of these questions, the book Alley Oops is one that is a
must." Mary M. Alward, Suite101.com
"...I don't like books designed to teach kids a moral lesson. And I really don't like books that have a parent lecture the main character
on morality. Since both things happen in Alley Oops, I must dislike it, right? Well, no, not this time." Jan Fields, MyShelf.com
"With snappy dialogue & marvelous pictures... Alley Oops... needs to be read, again and again." Rebecca Brown, RebeccaReads.com
"Alley Oops illustrates bullying from the bully's perspective. It highlights a positive outlook and the importance to resolving the
bullying conflict and how everyone can be a winner in the end...Find out how this wonderful story turns out." Cheryl McCann,
ReviewBooks.com
"Unique drawings go perfectly in this story setting." Lisa D'Angelo, Book Review Cafe
"Playground bullies and aggressive behavior are frequently addressed in today's parenting magazines. Author Janice Levy offers a
completely new take on the subject... I highly recommend her book, "Alley Oops", for its insight, educational value, and
straightforward treatment of an age-old problem." Christine Hohlbaum, Blether.com
"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 of THE BEHAVIOR SURVIVAL
GUIDE FOR KIDS: How to Make Good Choices and Stay Out of Trouble, and professor of special education at Hunter College, NY, www.
behavioradvisor.com
- "Arm wrestling is a sport that just about everyone has participated in at one point in their lives. Alley Oops is a fun
and progressive story and we will enjoy reading it to our children. What an excellent way to teach virtues!" Allen
and Carolyn Fisher, the only husband and wife World Champions in the history of the sport of Arm Wrestling, www.
armpullers.com
See all reviews...
