Young Aaron grows up in Brooklyn, sharing a room with his zayde (grandfather) and his many books. Zayde grew up in the Old Country where everyone spoke Yiddish. Aaron wants to learn how to speak the language of the Old Country. But Zayde thinks that Aaron, and all the new generation of American Jews, should speak English and play baseball—just like all Americans do. When Zayde becomes very old and can no longer see well enough to read his Yiddish books, Aaron decides it is time that Zayde teach him to speak the language of their heritage.