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Across the Alley
Abe and Willie live across the alley from each other. Willie is black and Abe is Jewish, and during the day, they don't talk. But at night they open their windows and are best friends. Willie shows Abe how to throw a real big-league slider, and Abe gives Willie his violin to try out. Then one night, Abe's grandfather catches them — will Abe and Willie have the courage to cross the alley and reveal their friendship during the day?
Like the bestselling The Other Side, E. B. Lewis's striking, atmospheric watercolors bring to life a moving story of baseball and music, and how two young people try to bridge the divide of prejudice.
Like the bestselling The Other Side, E. B. Lewis's striking, atmospheric watercolors bring to life a moving story of baseball and music, and how two young people try to bridge the divide of prejudice.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 5, 2006
3 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
February 23, 2017
So this book had a really great theme in it and great lessons for everyone. It talked about race and religion and how it shouldn't keep us apart. It also talked about how even though we are born into a specific race or religion it doesn't mean that we should be good at the activities that that group tends to excel at. This book is all about not putting people into boxes.
Sadly, this book was very confusing at the beginning and it took myself and my students a long time to figure out what the book was trying to get at.
Sadly, this book was very confusing at the beginning and it took myself and my students a long time to figure out what the book was trying to get at.
September 30, 2017
Across the Alley tells the story of two young boys whose bedroom windows face each other across the alley in the city in which they live. They don't know each other beyond their bedroom windows because one is Jewish and the other African American, but they become best friends and teach each other new things. Willie teaches Abe about baseball, and Abe teaches Willie about the violin. The boys keep their friendship a secret until their families find out. This book is a heartwarming story of how children see people as people before they see race or other differences. It shows how two boys share interests and build an unlikely friendship by talking to one another and learning about the other, which helps them each to discover their own gifts.
This realistic fiction book is appropriate to read aloud to any grade level. It is full of rich language and vocabulary. Some of the content vocabulary may require some explanation for younger students, or older students, depending on their experiences. In my first grade class, we’ve been spending time using the illustrations and details from texts to describe the characters, setting, and beginning, middle, and end of the story. This story is great to practice those elements together. It is also fantastic for comparing adventures and experiences of characters, because Abe and Willie are so different, but also so similar. Finding some of the differences would require some inferencing skills and background knowledge, which can be built and added to with some research and reading of other books.
I had been hunting for a while to find a realistic fiction picture book that was newer and that I haven’t already used in class. It was a difficult search! This book is a WOW book for me because of the story that it tells, the great illustrations, and the rich language used to tell the story. The line from the first page “During the day, we don’t play together, but at night, when nobody’s watching, Willie and I are best friends.” hooked me immediately, and the story that followed kept me turning the pages. The friendship built between the two boys is the kind of friendship that children need to see in others today. I like the way that the boys learned from each other in this story, rather than relying on adults to teach them. It’s something that I want to instill in my young students, but never quite know how. Abe and Willie are lucky to have adults who are just as accepting and supportive as they are. As Willie’s daddy says: “Ignorance comes in as many colors as talent.” These families recognize what true friendship means.
This realistic fiction book is appropriate to read aloud to any grade level. It is full of rich language and vocabulary. Some of the content vocabulary may require some explanation for younger students, or older students, depending on their experiences. In my first grade class, we’ve been spending time using the illustrations and details from texts to describe the characters, setting, and beginning, middle, and end of the story. This story is great to practice those elements together. It is also fantastic for comparing adventures and experiences of characters, because Abe and Willie are so different, but also so similar. Finding some of the differences would require some inferencing skills and background knowledge, which can be built and added to with some research and reading of other books.
I had been hunting for a while to find a realistic fiction picture book that was newer and that I haven’t already used in class. It was a difficult search! This book is a WOW book for me because of the story that it tells, the great illustrations, and the rich language used to tell the story. The line from the first page “During the day, we don’t play together, but at night, when nobody’s watching, Willie and I are best friends.” hooked me immediately, and the story that followed kept me turning the pages. The friendship built between the two boys is the kind of friendship that children need to see in others today. I like the way that the boys learned from each other in this story, rather than relying on adults to teach them. It’s something that I want to instill in my young students, but never quite know how. Abe and Willie are lucky to have adults who are just as accepting and supportive as they are. As Willie’s daddy says: “Ignorance comes in as many colors as talent.” These families recognize what true friendship means.
November 11, 2018
Mid-20th century Brooklyn is the backdrop for Willie, an African American boy, and Abe, a Jewish American boy, to innocently cross race and culture lines with music and baseball. See, Abe loves to pitch, but his grandfather believes he should play the violin. Willie, on the other hand, can make the strings sing, a direct contrast with his abilities on the ball field. Can the boys find a way to celebrate their individual talents despite stigmas?
The tone and story line reminded me of The Other Side, and ironically the gorgeous illustrations here are done by E.B. Lewis who also illustrated that book and others by Jacqueline Woodson.
I love the message, and the backstory, and the characters. Richard Michelson definitely deserves to be in a category with Woodson and Patricia Polacco for Across the Alley.
The tone and story line reminded me of The Other Side, and ironically the gorgeous illustrations here are done by E.B. Lewis who also illustrated that book and others by Jacqueline Woodson.
I love the message, and the backstory, and the characters. Richard Michelson definitely deserves to be in a category with Woodson and Patricia Polacco for Across the Alley.
June 4, 2012
This book caught my eye at the library and tells the story of two boys, across the alley in separate apartments in old-time Brooklyn when the population is changing from predominantly Jewish to African-American. They talk mostly about baseball, but Abe also plays the violin & must practice like Willie must practice pitching. There are some nice moments when everything comes together happily, and the watercolors by E.B. Lewis are beautiful. This could be used to talk about cultural differences and compromise as well as inclusion instead of exclusion. It's also a great mentor text about story organization.
May 18, 2010
A very special story about two boys who live across the alley from each other in the 1950's NY. One boy is African American and the other is Jewish. The boy who is Jewish teaches his friend to play violin. The boy who is black teaches his friend to pitch. Though they feel that they can't really be friends publicly, it is through music and baseball that they finally conquer prejudices. The illustrations really are beautiful.
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January 6, 2017Captivating storytelling. Important story.
November 22, 2017
This book is about two little boys Abe and Willie, Abe is Jewish, and Willie is African American these two boys live next two each other. However, they do not socialize during the day because of their race, but one winter night Willie writes “HI” on the inside of his window and Abe opens his. They boys talk and develop a friendship, willie loves baseball his father is a pitching coach, and Abe plays the violin his grandfather teaching him. One night willie asks if he could play the violin Abe agrees and teaching willie hot to play, Willie is a natural at playing, in return willie teaches Abe how to play baseball and how to pitch. Abe is outstanding at pitching, one night abe tells Willie how his grandfather was a great violinist, but it ended for him because of the war, and the Nazis worked him like a slave. Willie responds by stating that he did not know white folks could be slave his grandfather was a slave. One night Abe’s grandfather walked in while Willie was playing Abe's violin, but he did not get upset he just showed Willie how to position the violin better and continued teaching how to play.
The themes in this book are racism and friendship; the boys are separated during the day because of their skin color. However, they develop a friendship and create such a bond that is unbreakable.
Personally, I liked this book because of the friendship that was developed between the characters. I also enjoyed that it showed that both children were extremely talented at different things, thus showing not to judge someone just the way they look.
I would recommend this book because it would be a great tool to use to demonstrated that a friendship could overcome prejudice.
The themes in this book are racism and friendship; the boys are separated during the day because of their skin color. However, they develop a friendship and create such a bond that is unbreakable.
Personally, I liked this book because of the friendship that was developed between the characters. I also enjoyed that it showed that both children were extremely talented at different things, thus showing not to judge someone just the way they look.
I would recommend this book because it would be a great tool to use to demonstrated that a friendship could overcome prejudice.
September 22, 2017
Richard Michelson's picture book, Across the Alley, tells the captivating story of two boys of different race who talk from their windows at night and become best friends. Abe is Jewish and his Grandpa expects him to master the violin, while Willie is colored and expected to play baseball like his dad. However, Abe ends up teaching Willie how to play the violin and Willie teaches Abe how to pitch. One night, Abe's Grandpa walks in and sees the boys from their windows. Willie is playing the violin and Grandpa shows him how to hold it properly. The next day, the two boys, Grandpa, and Willie's dad go to the temple and a baseball game together.
This story not only focuses on overcoming racial differences, but also on the idea that people don't always grow up to do what they are expected to do, like in the case of Willie and Abe. The topic and theme are pretty sophisticated for a younger audience, but author Richard Michelson and illustrator E.B. Lewis do good job of connecting the text and pictures. Most of the pages have a full bleed of beautiful illustration, which easily captivates a younger reader's attention. Also, the pictures of the boys at their windows are depicted from different points of view, so the reader feels connected when Willie is learning how to play the violin or Abe is pitching. Overall, I really enjoyed the picture book for its ability to discuss such a touchy subject to young readers.
This story not only focuses on overcoming racial differences, but also on the idea that people don't always grow up to do what they are expected to do, like in the case of Willie and Abe. The topic and theme are pretty sophisticated for a younger audience, but author Richard Michelson and illustrator E.B. Lewis do good job of connecting the text and pictures. Most of the pages have a full bleed of beautiful illustration, which easily captivates a younger reader's attention. Also, the pictures of the boys at their windows are depicted from different points of view, so the reader feels connected when Willie is learning how to play the violin or Abe is pitching. Overall, I really enjoyed the picture book for its ability to discuss such a touchy subject to young readers.
February 7, 2020
Bold and beautiful, Richard Michelson's "Across the Alley" address both anti-semitism and racism in a way that children can understand and in a way that can still touch teenagers. Young Willie's dad is a baseball coach and he is on the baseball team; across the alley in Brooklyn, New York, his neighbor, Abe, a young Jewish boy, has been playing the violin seemingly all his life. The two boys end up exchanging hobbies through the windows in their apartments and shake the foundations of discrimination with their friendship.
Yesterday was World Read Aloud Day and I ended up reading this book to my middle school students. You might think that middle schoolers would be bored to death having to read a "kid's book," but these students had a special connection to this book: they're all Jewish. They were enchanted. It reminded me of when I would read out loud when I taught 1st grade and all of the students would be enrapt by the pictures in the books. Well, my students didn't seem to care too much about the pictures anymore, but they cared a lot about the story.
(The pictures were beautiful, though.)
It was validating for them, as well as eye-opening, too. It's easy to think that it's just your group that is being discriminated and focus on that, but when an author can bring two discriminated groups together, tell a story that isn't about one struggle, but multiple, well... that is bridging the gap between us all.
Yesterday was World Read Aloud Day and I ended up reading this book to my middle school students. You might think that middle schoolers would be bored to death having to read a "kid's book," but these students had a special connection to this book: they're all Jewish. They were enchanted. It reminded me of when I would read out loud when I taught 1st grade and all of the students would be enrapt by the pictures in the books. Well, my students didn't seem to care too much about the pictures anymore, but they cared a lot about the story.
(The pictures were beautiful, though.)
It was validating for them, as well as eye-opening, too. It's easy to think that it's just your group that is being discriminated and focus on that, but when an author can bring two discriminated groups together, tell a story that isn't about one struggle, but multiple, well... that is bridging the gap between us all.
June 28, 2017
1. This is a story of two boys of different races, Abe, a white, Jewish boy, and Willie a young back boy. They hide their friendship and only interact at night from across the alley. Willie’s pitches a baseball, and plays the violin. They both take a liking to each others hobby; when it is dark, the boys open their window and teach each other. Until one night Abe’s grandpa walks in and sees Willie playing Abe’s violin and Abe throwing Willie’s baseball. Shortly thereafter, with the support of their families, the boys share their friendship with the world.
2. This is a great story to use with students because it depicts a few realities of race. One is the social expectation that blacks and white belong in two different societies. And the other that baseball was for African Americans and music was for white people. It also discusses acceptance within racism.
3. This book can be tied to The Other Side. This is a very similar story, which involves two young girls of different races facing a similar issue.
4. “Ignorance comes in as many colors as talent.”
2. This is a great story to use with students because it depicts a few realities of race. One is the social expectation that blacks and white belong in two different societies. And the other that baseball was for African Americans and music was for white people. It also discusses acceptance within racism.
3. This book can be tied to The Other Side. This is a very similar story, which involves two young girls of different races facing a similar issue.
4. “Ignorance comes in as many colors as talent.”
August 27, 2020
A lovely story of two boys, one black and the other Jewish, doing something completely innocent in secret. So great that in this story the reactions of the adults' are wise and accepting, too bad that isn't always the response.
There is a message of anti-racism here, but there is also a larger message about letting people be who they want to be. Too often parents force their children to pursue certain things like playing the violin or baseball, but it isn't what the kid is good at, it isn't their passion. This story addresses that common issue that isn't regulated by religion, race, or ethnicity.
Also really loved the part where Abe, the Jewish boy, talks about how his grandfather was treated like a slave by the Nazis and Willie says that his great-grandfather was a slave. Willie then says, "I never knew any white folk that were."
So poignant and powerful.
There is a message of anti-racism here, but there is also a larger message about letting people be who they want to be. Too often parents force their children to pursue certain things like playing the violin or baseball, but it isn't what the kid is good at, it isn't their passion. This story addresses that common issue that isn't regulated by religion, race, or ethnicity.
Also really loved the part where Abe, the Jewish boy, talks about how his grandfather was treated like a slave by the Nazis and Willie says that his great-grandfather was a slave. Willie then says, "I never knew any white folk that were."
So poignant and powerful.
November 19, 2017
Realistic fiction/Historical fiction. 2006. I love this book. The story shows that religion and skin color does not determine friendships or abilities in any way. The two boys who live across the alley have different skin colors, expectations from their parents/society, and religions. The story takes place during the time that white and blacks were not socially acceptable to be around each other. The boys form a friendship by teaching each other how to play baseball and the violin during the night so that no one knows. Eventually, the boys' parents find out and their families become to accept one another. It has a good ending!
July 21, 2017
If you want to talk about diverse book...this is it. If you're looking for something about discrimination...this is it. If you're searching for books about racial and ethnic profiling...this is it. It's a book about two boys, one black and one Jewish who face discrimination every day but learn to ignore it and become who they are meant to be...even if it isn't what is expected of them because of the culture into which they were born. I thought this was a beautifully written book with a very powerful message. Highly recommended.
October 4, 2020
Copyright Date: 2006
Genre: Historical Fiction
Theme: Segregation, Acceptance, Friendship
My favorite part of this book is when the two boys, Grandpa, and Willie's dad go to the temple and a baseball game together. This shows the love and acceptance of each other no matter what your skin color is. I could use this book to teach my students about racism and what life was like during times of segregation. Also, it teaches students no matter who you are, you can be friends with anyone of any color or culture. Friendship is more important than what your friends look like.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Theme: Segregation, Acceptance, Friendship
My favorite part of this book is when the two boys, Grandpa, and Willie's dad go to the temple and a baseball game together. This shows the love and acceptance of each other no matter what your skin color is. I could use this book to teach my students about racism and what life was like during times of segregation. Also, it teaches students no matter who you are, you can be friends with anyone of any color or culture. Friendship is more important than what your friends look like.
February 4, 2022
This is a sweet one about an interracial friendship in the 1960's (?) where two kids form a friendship through their bedroom windows even though they're not really supposed to socialize down in the street. Does a great job of showing how sometimes people excel at things others don't expect, and gives warm fuzzies as the boys teach eachother their ill-fitting hobbies of baseball and violin. Thought it was great, my 4 year old enjoyed it ok but I think I'll take it out again when she's a bit older as it was a longer story.
September 12, 2020
Star rating: 5
Copyright date: 2006
Theme: Different cultures, friendship, sports and music
My favorite part of this book is when Abe teaches Willie to play the violin. Then when they come together at the end of the book to play the sports and violin they've been practicing secretly, made me really happy. I would read this in my classroom to show friendship and coming together to support each other. Be friends with everyone!
Copyright date: 2006
Theme: Different cultures, friendship, sports and music
My favorite part of this book is when Abe teaches Willie to play the violin. Then when they come together at the end of the book to play the sports and violin they've been practicing secretly, made me really happy. I would read this in my classroom to show friendship and coming together to support each other. Be friends with everyone!
December 13, 2017
This book takes place either during or before the cival rights movement when a young jewish boy and an african american boy become friends in secret by playing with eachother in their rooms from across the alley. Eventually their parents find out and they encourage the boys to be friends. I think this is a great book that shows a differnec more encouraging side of that era.
October 24, 2025
There are some books that I have a hard time not sobbing while reading it aloud to my child. This was definitely one of them and I was somehow totally blindsided. I knew nothing about this book except that it apparently came up on my late night "put everything on hold that has a violin in it" library blitz. Glad I did.
February 24, 2022
A touching story about two boys from different backgrounds (one Black, one Jewish) forming a friendship that brings their families together. A good read about accepting your children's interests/talents, as well.
November 19, 2018
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org
November 20, 2019
I loved it when the grandfather came in and helped adjust his form on the violin with no judgment. I would use this book to discuss uniting cultures.
November 11, 2020
A lovely story. Some of the language is a bit dated, but the message is so important.
December 11, 2020
Great historical fiction picture book about overcoming prejudice. Good for upper elementary.
September 25, 2025
A good book about a black kid and a Jewish kid who become friends across the alley, through their windows. Deals with racism and antisemitism, but honestly only lightly.
September 9, 2014
In the book Across the Alley by Richard Michelson, a young white Jewish boy named Abe lives with his grandfather in an apartment building and right across from him lives a young African American boy named Willie. Abe and Willie are secretly best friends who talk and play with each other each night from across the alley windows. Although during the day, Abe and Willie aren't friends and don't play together. Abe and Willie met each other one summer ago when Willie introduced himself by spelling out "Hi" on the frost of the window. Willie teaches Abe how to play baseball and Abe teaches Willie to play the violin, each of them learn to love the hobby they learned more than the hobby they taught each other. Although, Abe's grandpa believes that he should strictly stick to practicing the violin instead of wasting his time playing baseball. Abe progressively becomes better at baseball and Willie becomes better at playing the violin. Willie and Abe then connect through their ancestors and their history. Willie's ancestors were slaves and Abe's ancestors were put into concentration camps. One weekend then Willie and Abe stay in their rooms without leaving, they hangout together playing the violin and playing catch. One night when Willie is practicing the violin and Abe is practicing his pitching, Abe's grandpa comes in and sees what is happening, instead of becoming mad he's happy and accepting and even proud for the two boys. He even helps Willie on his violin playing. That Tuesday Willie and his dad go with Abe and his grandfather to church together, where they receive many stares and judgement from the other people, some people even move away from Willie and his dad. Willie then performs the violin and impresses all the people in the church and revives an outstanding round of applause from everyone. After church, they all go to the baseball fields where Abe is schedule to pitch for a team. He pitches strikes and all the people on the sidelines cheer him on.
This book has very creative watercolor illustrations but also has a very intricate storyline with a lot of meaning behind it. The text of the book is a lot longer than most picture books and requires more reading, although it has many similes and metaphors within the text, which can help children learn about comparing and using descriptive analogies within their own writing. This story also has a lot of meaning behind it about how two children from different backgrounds can teach each other new things and become friends even if it is against societies morals. This can teach children about looking deeper into books and looking for a deeper meaning and possibly lesson being taught. In this book, Michelson also made a lot of references to famous people which I believed to be a useful way of telling a story more clearly to children and can even teach them about referring to people in their own writing. I enjoyed this very much and highly recommend it for teachers and parents to read it to their children and discuss with them what they believe is the deeper meaning behind this story is.
This book has very creative watercolor illustrations but also has a very intricate storyline with a lot of meaning behind it. The text of the book is a lot longer than most picture books and requires more reading, although it has many similes and metaphors within the text, which can help children learn about comparing and using descriptive analogies within their own writing. This story also has a lot of meaning behind it about how two children from different backgrounds can teach each other new things and become friends even if it is against societies morals. This can teach children about looking deeper into books and looking for a deeper meaning and possibly lesson being taught. In this book, Michelson also made a lot of references to famous people which I believed to be a useful way of telling a story more clearly to children and can even teach them about referring to people in their own writing. I enjoyed this very much and highly recommend it for teachers and parents to read it to their children and discuss with them what they believe is the deeper meaning behind this story is.
December 10, 2013
This is a fantastic book that brings people of different cultures together. I love how the two boys communicate with each other across the alley. I love how as they talk to each other they soon realize that the other one is talented in the area they need help with. It's such a different approach to dealing with multicultural issues in the past, but it is really awesome. There are multiple lessons to be learned in this book. This book encourages friendship regardless of culture or race, and that is extremely important for children to learn. The illustrations were perfectly done for this book and made me feel like I was a part of the story.
**This book is about Jewish Abe and African American Willie who are growing up "across the alley" from each other. At this point in time it is not really acceptable for them to be friends. Willie can throw a baseball and Abe can play the violin, well at night they talk and soon learn to help each other with their talents. Finally, they decided to maintain their friendship during the day for all to see, not caring what others think. They take a stand against prejudice. This book could be used inside a classroom to teach a lesson on standing up for what you believe in, and for doing what is right even when others disagree with you. I could use this to teach my students also on our history and how far America has come since the days of the past when we were segregated.
**This book is about Jewish Abe and African American Willie who are growing up "across the alley" from each other. At this point in time it is not really acceptable for them to be friends. Willie can throw a baseball and Abe can play the violin, well at night they talk and soon learn to help each other with their talents. Finally, they decided to maintain their friendship during the day for all to see, not caring what others think. They take a stand against prejudice. This book could be used inside a classroom to teach a lesson on standing up for what you believe in, and for doing what is right even when others disagree with you. I could use this to teach my students also on our history and how far America has come since the days of the past when we were segregated.
May 28, 2016
This is a story about two boys who live across the alley from one another. Willie is black and Abe is Jewish. Every night, when the lights go out, the two open their windows that face each other:
“During the day we don’t play together, but at night, when nobody’s watching, Willie and I are best friends.”
It turns out that Willie’s dad wants him to be a baseball player, and Abe’s grandpa wants him to play the violin. Neither one of them is on board with these plans, and in fact, each wants to do what the other is supposed to do. So at night, they teach each other; Abe hands Willie his violin and shows him how to play, and Willie helps Abe practice baseball.
One night Grandpa hears the violin through Abe’s closed door, comes in, and sees it is Willie who is playing. Abe holds his breath, but then Grandpa says to Willie, “You’ll be the next Jascha Heifetz” and shows him the correct position of the bow. Then Grandpa invites Willie to play the violin at his synagogue.
As the four of them walk down the street, Willie’s dad says:
“Let people stare. . . . Ignorance comes in as many colors as talent.”
After that, Willie’s dad helps Abe pitch, while Grandpa is on the sidelines with the other black parents, cheering away.
Light, lovely watercolors by E. B. Lewis capture the emotions of the characters just right.
Evaluation: This winning story has lots of good messages and beautiful artwork.
“During the day we don’t play together, but at night, when nobody’s watching, Willie and I are best friends.”
It turns out that Willie’s dad wants him to be a baseball player, and Abe’s grandpa wants him to play the violin. Neither one of them is on board with these plans, and in fact, each wants to do what the other is supposed to do. So at night, they teach each other; Abe hands Willie his violin and shows him how to play, and Willie helps Abe practice baseball.
One night Grandpa hears the violin through Abe’s closed door, comes in, and sees it is Willie who is playing. Abe holds his breath, but then Grandpa says to Willie, “You’ll be the next Jascha Heifetz” and shows him the correct position of the bow. Then Grandpa invites Willie to play the violin at his synagogue.
As the four of them walk down the street, Willie’s dad says:
“Let people stare. . . . Ignorance comes in as many colors as talent.”
After that, Willie’s dad helps Abe pitch, while Grandpa is on the sidelines with the other black parents, cheering away.
Light, lovely watercolors by E. B. Lewis capture the emotions of the characters just right.
Evaluation: This winning story has lots of good messages and beautiful artwork.
April 8, 2016
Abe and Willie become best friends by talking to each other each night through their neighboring bedroom windows. Abe's family wants him to be an amazing violinist while Willie's parents want him to be a professional baseball player. The boys begin teaching each other their skills and find that they are each much more talented at the others activity. How will the boys tell their parents this news without upsetting them?
This short, and beautifully illustrated picture book is packed with strong messages. The first being that children should try a variety of activities in order to find their true talents instead of being set upon only one choice. The next issue is that of race. This book does a great job at showing how multiple races were and are impacted by racism and that even parents can get caught up in their own race's stereotypes. However, the most important lesson comes when the boys' two families surpass these racial boundaries and become great friends. The beautiful and realistic water color illustrations also help convey these messages through the detailed facial expressions of the two boys and their families.
This short, and beautifully illustrated picture book is packed with strong messages. The first being that children should try a variety of activities in order to find their true talents instead of being set upon only one choice. The next issue is that of race. This book does a great job at showing how multiple races were and are impacted by racism and that even parents can get caught up in their own race's stereotypes. However, the most important lesson comes when the boys' two families surpass these racial boundaries and become great friends. The beautiful and realistic water color illustrations also help convey these messages through the detailed facial expressions of the two boys and their families.
December 10, 2013
Jewish Abe and African American Willie live "Across the Alley" from one another. Their destinies are passed down to them by their elders, but they soon figure out they are meant to fulfill each other's. They demonstrate acceptance by their actions and friendship which is clearly foreign at the point in time. It isn't until the end of the story that the young friends are walking side by side for people to stare all they wish. It is a beautiful story line with an even better message.
**I love the generational tradition at the start of this book and the difference it has compared to the finish. Abe and Willie are destined to be what their father's were expected to be and so forth. The two young boys live "Across the Alley" from one another and come to realize that they are to fulfill each other's destiny; which in turn fulfills a much larger destiny than what is initially at hand. This book is perfect to use in the classroom when teaching the history of segregation and displaying how different times were compared to now.
**I love the generational tradition at the start of this book and the difference it has compared to the finish. Abe and Willie are destined to be what their father's were expected to be and so forth. The two young boys live "Across the Alley" from one another and come to realize that they are to fulfill each other's destiny; which in turn fulfills a much larger destiny than what is initially at hand. This book is perfect to use in the classroom when teaching the history of segregation and displaying how different times were compared to now.
December 4, 2011
I really enjoyed reading this book! It is a book that was written not to long ago and shows that prejudice can be addressed and there is no need to be scared. This book is about two young boys in New York City one is Jewish Abe and one is black Willie. They live across the alley from one another and their bedroom windows face each other. They met each other during the summer time when the windows were open to stay cool and they became friends. Abe taught Willie how to throw a slider and Willie played his violin for Abe to enjoy. Then one night Abe's grandfather caught them. He affirmed to them that their is no reason they can't be friends, and their friendship blossoms. Willie plays in the Jewish baseball league with Abe, and Abe plays his violin in the synagogue for the Jewish people. The illustrations in this book are great and beautiful. They depict the story wonderfully. I really enjoyed this book and would have it in my classroom!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews