Book Review: WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE?

Kerley, Barbara. (2008) What to do about alice? :how alice roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father teddy crazy. Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. Scholastic Press: New York. ISBN 9780439922319

PLOT SUMMARY

Join Alice on her adventure called life! President Teddy Roosevelt had seen and done it all but nothing prepared him for his daughter’s outlook of life and way of living. Ever since Alice was young she did what she wanted when she wanted and was not going to have it any other way whether it was joining an all-boys club, welcoming visitors with her pet snake at the white house, “playing her role as a goodwill ambassador”. She was liked by many and all. Following her passion of politics she became President Roosevelt’s most trusted advisors. Even after becoming a wife, her exciting life did not stop there as she, danced at balls, played poker, and rode horses. Still after President Roosevelt left the office was still not prepared for Alice’s outlook on life. The book ends with an author’s note.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Throughout the book certain words are emphasized in bigger text and bolded, to make statements, such as “THE POOR LITTLE THING”, “Alice ate up the world”, and ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH”. The book stands at 8.8 x 0.4 x 12.1 inches a little larger than most books, with that said the illustrations on both sides one very page brings authors Barbra Kerley’s words to life. The reader feels and truly gets a sense of what they are reading. Illustrations leave nothing to the imagination, as illustrator Edwin Fotheringham does a wonderful job of showing Alice and her adventurous life.

REVIEW EXCERPT (S)

-Booklist starred (2008) “Kerley’s text has the same rambunctious spirit as its subject, grabbing readers from the first line:”

-Horn Book Magazine (2008) “Both text and illustrations can depict a demure Alice (on her wedding day, for example), but that decorum is short-lived as she dances the turkey trot or plays poker with "the boys."

-School Library Journal (2008) “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.”

*Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor, 2009

*ALA Notable Children's Books, 2009

CONNECTIONS

Students could fill in KWL chart before they read about Alice Roosevelt they write down what they know, what they want to know and after reading they write in what they learned. These charts could also be used along with the following books:

Kerley, Barbara (2001). The dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins: An Illuminating history of Mr.

Waterhouse Hawkins, artist and lecturer. Ill. by Brian Selznick. ISBN

9780439114943

Bennett, Doraine. (2012). Theodore Roosevelt. Hamilton, GA: State Standards Publishing.

ISBN: 9781935884521