What To Do About Alice? How Alice Roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her Father Teddy CRAZY! is a picture book biography written by Barbara Kerley and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham about the life of Alice Roosevelt, President Roosevelt's daughter.
"I can be President of the United States, or I can control Alice. I cannot possibly do both." ~Theodore Roosevelt"Theodore Roosevelt had a small problem" (Kerley 2008). The problem was not the numerous political positions he had, but the problem's name was Alice. Alice Lee Roosevelt was the daughter of Theodore Roosevelt, and her mother passed away two days after she was born, leaving Teddy a single father with a handful of a child. Teddy did remarry, but Alice remained a riot, "hungry to go places, meet people, do things" (Kerley 2008). This humorous biography tells of the shenanigans that Alice got into: owning a pet snake, playing pranks on visitors, and turning every new experience into an adventure. Even though the biography depicts Alice as a naughty child, it shows her strength and determination to succeed in a time that most women could not. Alice became a world traveler, advisor, and respected and loved person by many people around the world. This book is a must for your biography collection.
Kerley, Barbara. What To Do About Alice? Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008. ISBN 9780439922319.
In his debut picture book, Edwin Fotheringham illustrates the book adding depth and humor to the text. The illustrations are done in digital media and appear cartoon like. Even the newspaper articles are illustrated, which will appeal to the younger reader that this book is intended for. Fotheringham does a fantastic job of illustrating Alice as an adventurous person always looking for fun, with her hair a mess in some pictures and sliding down the stairs on another page. On the final pages of the book you will find "Author's Notes" that provide more information into Alice Roosevelt's life. Barbara Kerley includes a bibliography citing her sources used and sources her quotes included throughout the book are used, giving the reader certainty that the facts from the book are accurate. Barbara Kerley also gives thanks to Carol Felsenthal, the author of several biographies, for fact checking her text.
The design and style of the book are both energetic, as was Alice Roosevelt. The picture book style of the book will appeal to young readers, as well as encourage them to read more biographies. Through the text, you can perceive that Barbara Kerley was fascinated with Alice Roosevelt's life, and the reader will be equally fascinated.
Awards for What To Do About Alice?
- Sibert Honor Book
- ALA Notable Book
- Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
- Irma Black Award Honor Book
- Parents Choice Award
- Best Books of the Year -- Publishers Weekly
- Best Books of the Year -- School Library Journal
- Best Books of the Year -- Kirkus Reviews
Reviews for What To Do About Alice?
"It's hard to imagine a picture book biography that could better suit its subject than this high energy volume serves young Alice Roosevelt." ~ Publisher's Weekly
"Superb!" ~ Kirkus Reviews
Connections
After reading What To Do About Alice?, teachers might also want to read a biography of Theodore Roosevelt. Students can compare and contrast Alice and Teddy Roosevelt using a mind map or Venn Diagram.
After reading the biography, teachers can point out the bold words and phrases in quotations throughout the book, such as: "ate up the world", "picnic on the beach", "she gamboled through the park... pretending to be a fiery horse", and "she read voraciously and drank up Father's tales". With the class, discuss a few of the idioms used and together or with partners, have students decide on the theme of the book. Example answers for the theme would be: enjoy life, have a zest for life, or lead an exciting life.
Teachers and librarians can share the information on the author's website to help children in writing their own biography.
Other biographies by Barbara Kerley
The Extraordinary Mark Twain. Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. Scholastic Press, 2010 ISBN: 05451215081
A Home for Mr. Emerson. Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. Scholastic Press, 2014. ISBN: 0545350883
Walt Whitman: Words for America. Illustrated by Brian Selznick. Scholastic Press, 2004. ISBN: 0439357918
Those Rebels, John & Tom. Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. Scholastic Press, 2012. ISBN: 0545222680
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