What To Do About Alice? by Barbara Kerley

Bibliography:

Kerley, Barbara. What to do About Alice? Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008. ISBN 9780439922319

Plot Summary:

Theodore Roosevelt's eldest daughter, Alice, was born in 1884 and her mother died two days later. Roosevelt remarried and had other children, but it was Alice who kept him on his toes. The family often moved because of Roosevelt's career. Alice "ate up the world"...she did everything and anything it was possible to do. She loved to read and was taught at home. When Alice got older, she would have to wear braces because her legs were not growing correctly. She would not let this slow her done either. Alice was supposed to attend boarding school, but she talked her father into letting her study in his library instead. "She came up with her own solution for her education. She said to Father, 'LET ME LOOSE IN YOUR LIBRARY.' She taught herself astronomy, geology, even Greek grammar."

Alice became interested in politics as her father's career took off. He became president in 1901, and the family moved into the White House. Alice became a goodwill ambassador for her father and made him very proud. However, she still had lots of fun and everyone loved her. She even had a song and a color named after her! Alice traveled with the American delegation to Asia and had a wonderful time dancing, swimming, touring, and receiving many gifts. She returned after four months with many boxes and lots of gifts...she also came back with a fiancé...Congressman Nicholas Longworth! She excelled as a congressman's wife and also as a trusted adviser and champion of her father's. AND...she still had fun!!!

Critical Analysis:

Author Barbara Kerley has won several awards for her picture books, including a Caldecott Honor award and an ALA Notable Book award for The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins. She also received the Sibert Honor Book for Walt Whitman: Words for America. An author's note is included at the end of the book which gives more biographical information about Theodore and Alice Roosevelt. This information will give children just enough knowledge about Alice to want to find out more about her.

 

The story is organized in a comprehensible progression beginning when Alice was born to her later life as a wife and advocate for her father. The book is playful, inviting and very readable. The illustrations complement the text and give readers an exceptional picture of who Alice's character and life. The illustrations fit the story of Alice very well...they are whimsical, lively and exciting...just like Alice! The style and clothing is reminiscent of the 1800’s and 1900’s. The illustrations have the feel of old time pictures even though they were achieved in digital media. Bold text is used throughout the story to emphasize important thoughts or statements. "I can be president of the United States, or I can control Alice I cannot possibly DO BOTH."

What to do About Alice? makes an excellent read aloud book. I enjoyed learning about this unconventional woman and I think children would also.  I do not think they would pick it up on their own, however, so I would definitely incorporate it into a lesson for my students.

The book got me interested in learning more about Alice, and I found out that she did live a very interesting life and lived it by her own rules. Some of it is probably not appropriate for elementary students, but older students would find her and her travels through life fascinating.

Review Excerpts:

• Sibert Honor Book
• Boston Globe-Horn Award Honor Book
• Parents Choice Award
• Irma Black Award Honor Book
• A Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year
• A School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
• A Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year
• An ALA Notable Book
• New York Public Library: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
• From Booklist (starred review)"Irrespressible Alice Roosevelt get 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." 
  
• From School Library Journal (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."
• From Publishers Weekly (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."
                  

Connections:

Students can learn more about Alice and see some great photographs of her, visit:
http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/alice.html
http://www.stacycordery.com/books/alice-roosevelt-longworth/

What is it like to live in the White House?  Learn about other kids who grew up in the White House:
K-3:  K-3 First kids

4-8:  4-8 First Kids

Learn more about Roosevelt's family, visit:
Roosevelt Family

Read other books about the Roosevelt family, such as:
Mind Your Manners, Alice Roosevelt! by Leslie Kimmelman ISBN 9781561454921
Who was Theodore Roosevelt? by Michael Burgan ISBN 9780448479453
America's First Families by Carl Sferrazza Anthony ISBN 9780684864426