| picture 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.
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.
Hardcover, 32 full color pages, ages 5-9,
Spring 2005, ISBN 9780972922548
Spring 2005, ISBN 9780972922548
To see more images from inside
"Alley Oops" click here.
"Alley Oops" click here.
| Read some interviews with author Janice Levy here. |
Awards and Review Highlights
* A New Mexico Land of Enchantment Picture Narrative Book Award nominee 2010-11
* 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
From Dr. Laura Schlessinger:
"This one is good for you to buy if you are the parent of a bully! Yes! This is a bully-friendly book… to give to bullies -
which is a novel approach in the anti-bullying campaign - a book for offenders. It’s fun. It’s well done. It’s macho, in a
sweet way. So if you have a kid, and you get reports that you want to deny or blame on the other kid, if your kid says
mean things...like this kid, J.J., …this book discusses the harmful lasting effects of being bullied and the importance of
discovering common ground. It’s cute. And it’s the first book I’ve found that is for bullies. It’s fun to read, and hopefully
will touch them. If you are a grandparent or you are a teacher, this would be a cool book to read to that kid who’s just
tickling the edge of being a little monster, and it’s very sweet."
Cited as a source for Learning about Respectfulness from a Picture Book Character in Bright Beginnings for
Boys: Engaging Young Boys in Active Literacy by Debby Zambo and William G. Brozo, published by the International
Reading Association (January 2009). The IRA calls Bright Beginnings an "essential resource on getting young boys
hooked on reading at an early age" and has made it an IRA Book Club Selection for January 2009. "It was a pleasure to
use Alley Oops in our book because it contained important content for boys," said Debby Zambo, author and educator. To
learn more about Bright Beginnings for Boys, click here. For a free download of the first chapter from the IRA ,
including the mention of Alley Oops, click here.
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
Featured on Practically Paradise, a top blog on School Library Journal.com. Diane Chen blogged: "Make sure you have
this in your collection.... I particularly like the humorous approach the author uses to communicate between the
generations. You'll recognize yourself there."
A Picture Book of the Day on the 6 Traits blog by Anastasia Suen.
"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
Read full reviews here
* A New Mexico Land of Enchantment Picture Narrative Book Award nominee 2010-11
* 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
From Dr. Laura Schlessinger:
"This one is good for you to buy if you are the parent of a bully! Yes! This is a bully-friendly book… to give to bullies -
which is a novel approach in the anti-bullying campaign - a book for offenders. It’s fun. It’s well done. It’s macho, in a
sweet way. So if you have a kid, and you get reports that you want to deny or blame on the other kid, if your kid says
mean things...like this kid, J.J., …this book discusses the harmful lasting effects of being bullied and the importance of
discovering common ground. It’s cute. And it’s the first book I’ve found that is for bullies. It’s fun to read, and hopefully
will touch them. If you are a grandparent or you are a teacher, this would be a cool book to read to that kid who’s just
tickling the edge of being a little monster, and it’s very sweet."
Cited as a source for Learning about Respectfulness from a Picture Book Character in Bright Beginnings for
Boys: Engaging Young Boys in Active Literacy by Debby Zambo and William G. Brozo, published by the International
Reading Association (January 2009). The IRA calls Bright Beginnings an "essential resource on getting young boys
hooked on reading at an early age" and has made it an IRA Book Club Selection for January 2009. "It was a pleasure to
use Alley Oops in our book because it contained important content for boys," said Debby Zambo, author and educator. To
learn more about Bright Beginnings for Boys, click here. For a free download of the first chapter from the IRA ,
including the mention of Alley Oops, click here.
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
Featured on Practically Paradise, a top blog on School Library Journal.com. Diane Chen blogged: "Make sure you have
this in your collection.... I particularly like the humorous approach the author uses to communicate between the
generations. You'll recognize yourself there."
A Picture Book of the Day on the 6 Traits blog by Anastasia Suen.
"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
Read full reviews here
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