Across the Alley

Richard Michelson's 'Across the Alley' is a poignant and uplifting story about two boys, Abe and Willie, who navigate family expectations and societal prejudices in the 20th century United States. Abe's grandfather wants him to be a violinist, while Willie's father envisions him as a baseball pitcher. Secretly, the boys swap hobbies, finding joy and true friendship in each other's passions. The book beautifully illustrates how they overcome initial fears to reveal their bond, challenging the unspoken rules that keep them apart. E. B. Lewis's stunning watercolors enhance this moving narrative about courage, cultural understanding, and the power of friendship to bridge divides.

Jewish Abe's grandfather wants him to be a violinist while African-American Wille's father plans for him to be a great baseball pitcher, but it turns out that the two boys are more talented when they switch hobbies.