Across the Alley

Across the Alley
by Richard Michelson
illustrated by E.B. Lewis

I began reading this book to my kids and after a few pages I stopped. It is about two boys who live across the alley from one another. They were great friends, though they never played with one another aside from tossing a ball across the alley from their bedroom windows. Willie was black and played baseball. Abe was Jewish and played the violin.

I stopped reading the book because I didn't like the stereotypes that were presented in the book, specifically by Abe's grandfather. However, I silently read further in the book and decided to proceed in reading it to my kids. I was pleased to see that the stereotypes were broken and in fact, Willie turned out to be quite the violin player and Abe turned out to be a quite a baseball pitcher.

Knick Knack Paddy Whack

Knick Knack Paddy Whack

by Steve Songs

Illustrated by Christiane Engel

This book is to the tune of the old classic song, Knick Knack Paddy Whack, but with a new spin on it. My kids liked counting along and even picked up the tune of the song and tried to sing along. Though we didn't hear it, the book does come with a CD version of the song. I liked the book because it reinforced counting with my younger boys. The books features children of all different colors.

Rainbow Joe and Me

Rainbow Joe and Me

by Maria Diaz Strom

We read this book when my daughter did her unit on colors. It is about about a girl named Eloise who loves to make colors. Her friend blind Joe also likes to make colors. Wanting to show Eloise how he is able to mix colors, Rainbow Joe pulls out his saxophone and the colors start to fly! He mixes strong red notes with little yellow notes to make bright orange notes. He blows deep blue notes and long lazy green notes along with pretty violet notes. Rainbow Joe mixes up a beautiful rainbow and Eloise sees every color!!!

Just the Two of Us

Just The Two Of Us

by Will Smith

Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

This book is based on Will Smith's hit song, "Just the Two of Us." I didn't recognize all the lyrics, but my husband said that the entire book consists of the lyrics to the song. I think the book was cute in how it expressed the love a father has for his son. But, I do think some of the words/lyrics were a more than I wanted my kid's exposed to at this time. I found that I skipped over some of the words (like when it talked about dating and the opposite sex). But, overall, the message is great!

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

by Kadir Nelson

Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

 

This book is so cute! It features a boy and his family with the lyrics of the old spiritual turned into a picture book. After a few pages we were singing along to the words of the song, "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." The kids had a blast trying to figure out what the next lyrics were based on the pictures, which, by the way, are awesome.