WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE? HOW ALICE ROOSEVELT BROKE THE RULES, CHARMED THE WORLD, AND DROVE HER FATHER TEDDY CRAZY! by Barbara Kerley

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kerley, Barbara.What To Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! . Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York, Scholastic. ISBN 0545123259

PLOT SUMMARY
“Theodore Roosevelt had a small problem….Her name was Alice.” So begins a simplified yet personal picture book biography of Alice Lee Roosevelt – Teddy Roosevelt’s oldest daughter. This book presents a spirited young woman, determined not to conform to the expectations of the society. While she loved reading the books in her father’s library, she also loved to run through the parks in Washington pretending to be a horse. She roamed over the capital city at all hours of the day and night. She welcomed visitors to the White House draped by her pet snake, Emily Spinach, “named for its color and its resemblance to a very thin aunt.” She played cards, bet on the horses, and danced the hula on a visit to Hawaii. After Alice married, she participated in political advising and continued to eat “up the world” in her own way.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

What to do About Alice? portrays true events in the First Daughter's life. Kerley describes Alice’s impetuous childhood, the frustrations her father felt trying to get her to behave, and how she scandalized many in the society at the time who felt she was too forward, doing things no young lady should be doing. While primarily focusing on her childhood and teen years, an Author's Note at the end describes elements of her mature years and her lifelong interest in politics.

This biography is presented with a simple plot, creating an easy to read story. Barbara Kerley trimmes her book with excellent word choices and perfectly selected dialogue. Quotation marks used throughout the book imply that the writer researched well the facts and bring a sense of authenticity. The text is informative, yet fast-paced and keeps the tone light and playful.

The eye-catching design of the book compliments the content.Beautiful classic looking pictures are as colorful as Alice herself and add gaily to the engaging spirit of the text. The illustrator, Edwin Fotheringham, in his debut picture book, creates artwork that conveys the energy and spunk of Theodore Roosevelt’s first daughter. His dynamic, animated style and his whimsical illustrations with lots of Alice blues and vibrant reds popping on every page resemble Alice’s personality.

Kerley’s accessible, expressive style engages young readers while exposing them to some of the lesser known aspects of history. With both humorous and touching moments, What to do About Alice? is a great choice for read alouds.


REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist, starred review: "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."
School Library Review, 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."
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."


AWARDS
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
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
ALA Notable Book
Capitol Choices
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Nominated for Young Reader awards in Texas, Illinois, Utah and Tennessee

CONNECTIONS
- The author’s website offers a wonderful teacher’s guide for the book. Creative suggestions range from asking children to imagine what living in the White House would be like, to having them chart Alice’s Asian journey on a map while learning about the various points of interest.
http://www.barbarakerley.com/TRAlice.html
- Use the book as an introduction to history lessons about presidents. Pair with titles about Teddy Roosevelt such as:
Brown, Don.Teedie: The story of young Teddy Roosevelt. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 9780618179992.
Keating, Frank.Theodore. Ill. by Mike Wimmer. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. ISBN: 9780689865329.
St. George, Judith.You’re on your way, Teddy Roosevelt. Ill. by Matt Faulkner. Penguin Group. ISBN: 9780399238888.