What To Do About Alice?

 What To Do About Alice? By Barbara Kerley

1.Bibliography 

Kerley, B. (2019). What to do about Alice?: how Alice Roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father Teddy crazy! Ill. Edwin Fotheringham. Findaway World, Llc. ISBN: 9780439922319 

 

2.Plot Summary 

Alice Roosevelt is the daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt. Alice’s mother passed away 2 days after she was born and even though many people thought “The poor little thing!” That was not how Alice wanted to be seen. She was extremely high energy and was always looking for the next great adventure. Alice did not conform to the expectations of a young girl; she was more of a tomboy. She was known as the one “who ate up the world.” Alice was also known for meeting visitors at the White House with her pet snake Emily Spinach. Even with Alice’s unconventional behavior she was an asset to her father when he was president. She enjoyed the social scene and supporting her father's political career. Later, she would support her husband's political career too. She traveled to many places and everyone who met her enjoyed her escapades. 

3. Critical Analysis 

Barbara Kerley has written a biography in such a way that the reader feels like they are bouncing through Alice Roosevelt’s life. Kerley’s choice of words written in bold in the book escorts the reader to understand how independent Alice was growing up and the sense of humor that she and her father shared with each other. The illustrator Edwin Fotheringham illustrations matched the words of Kerley and added to the humor in the book. The illustrator also has many pages that have dots traveling through the pages of the book that illustrate the fast-paced track of Alice as she moved through life or in this case as she moved through the pages of the book. His illustrations also show the period of the books with the details of how the characters are dressed. The youngest of readers to the oldest of readers will enjoy reading about Alice. 

4.Review Excerpts 

Publishers Weekly, 03/31/2008 

A fun biography of a little-known historical figure and a great addition to Women's History Month celebrations. 

School Library Journal, Starred review 03/2008  

Fotheringham’s digitally rendered; retro-style illustrations are a superb match for the text. The energy in his pictures is palpable, as when Alice is turned loose in her father’s library and five Alices dart about followed by lines that trace her frenetic path as she reads eclectically and voraciously. 

Awards: 

The Robert Siebert Honor Book: Honor 2009 

Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award: Honor 2009 

ALSC Notable Children’s Book Award: Commended 2009 

Boston Globe-Horn Book Award: Honor 2008 

 

5. Connections 

• Read The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Suzy) by Barbara Kerley Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. Discuss with a partner how this book is similar/ different to What to do about Alice? 

• Refer to the story and discuss character traits of Alice and support with text evidence. 

• Choose a challenge that Alice faced and write about how she overcame it.