Books to Read & More!: WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE?

Bibliography:

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE? Ill. By Edwin Fotheringham. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439922313

Plot Summary:

Alice Lee Roosevelt, the daughter of the 26^th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt inherited her father’s adventurous spirit, curiosity and passion for politics. The outspoken Alice wanted to do everything “young ladies” were not supposed to do in the early 1900’s. This informational biography will place you in the life of the little girl who stole the heart of the nation.

Critical Analysis:

This is a great nonfiction book perfect for elementary students to read and learn social studies from. It is funny and entertaining. The reader adds humor telling historical events about how Alice Roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father Teddy crazy. “I can be president of the United States, or I can control Alice, I cannot possibly do both,” Theodore Roosevelt is quoted saying. The author, Barbara Kerley, uses quoted words and phrases with fun fonts to add to the comical feel of the book. Kerley also adds historical connections teaching the students about that era as they read.

The author writes a note in the end that includes background information about the Roosevelt family adding to the authenticity of the book.

The illustrations are child friendly and comical. The illustrator, Edwin Fotheringham, uses vibrant colors making the pictures pop out of page and perfect for that particular era. The illustrations added a mental image of how Alice must have been like, always on the go and “eating up the world.”

My 4^th grade students where drawn to the silly word choices and funny phrases.

Review Excerpts:

Sibert Honor Book

Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book

Irma Black Award Honor Book

Parents Choice Award

Washington State Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award

California Collections

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

An ALA Notable Book

New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

Nominated for Young Reader awards in Texas, Illinois, Utah and Tennessee

"Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was.... Kerley's text has the same rambunctious spirit as its subject, grabbing readers from the first line.... The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art."
Booklist, starred review

"Kerley's text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject's antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp her style, dives fully clothed into a ship's swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father's trusted advisers.... Fascinating." School Library Review, starred review

"It's hard to imagine a picture book biography that could better suit its subject than this high-energy volume serves young Alice Roosevelt." Publishers Weekly, starred review

"What to do about Alice? Enjoy!" Horn Book, starred review

"Superb." Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Connections:

Scholastic has a great download for before, during, and after reading the book “What To Do About Alice. http://www.ssww.com/downloadDoc.php?id=20953

Have students research and create short biographies about other famous presidents with similar adventures and create a newspaper with their new knowledge.