What to do about
Alice?
Citation:
Kerley, B. (2008). What to do about Alice? New
York: Scholastic Press.
Plot Summary:
WHAT TO
DO ABOUT ALICE? is a biography about Alice Roosevelt Longworth, the daughter of
Theodore Roosevelt. The story begins with Alice as a child before her father is
elected President of the United States, and the book recounts what Mr.
Roosevelt has done, but how he cannot figure out what to do about Alice! Every morning
Teddy Roosevelt would carry Alice to breakfast, piggy back style. Alice had to
wear braces on her legs for several years and she refused for anyone to take
pity on her. Roosevelt decided it was time for Alice to attend boarding school,
but Alice convinced her father that she could teach herself from his library.
Alice grew up and became a goodwill ambassador for our nation. She christened
yachts, went to Cuba and Asia, and became known as Princess Alice. She came
back from abroad with many gifts from friends and strangers she has met, and a fiancé.
Alice became the wife a congressman, but she continued to enjoy life wherever
she went.
Critical Analysis:
WHAT TO
DO ABOUT ALICE? was a biography is written by Barbara Kerley and illustrated by
Edwin Fotheringham. It was also a Texas Bluebonnet Nominee for the 2009- 2010
school year. The text is descriptive and hilarious with repetitive phrases that
would make it easy to share with a child. The illustrations are colorful,
amazing, and capture the essence of the Alice’s character and Kerley’s writing.
The freedom of inhibition exhibited by this young woman is to be admired by any
young person, and she is an excellent role model for young girls.
Reviews:
Booklist: "Irrepressible
Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she
was....The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for
spectacular art."
Kirkus: "Theodore
Roosevelt s irrepressible oldest child receives an appropriately vivacious
appreciation in this superb picture book.... Kerley s precise text presents
readers with a devilishly smart, strong-willed girl who was determined to live
life on her own terms and largely succeeded."
School Library Journal: "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. Fotheringham s digitally rendered, retro-style illustrations
are a superb match for the text."
Connections:
-
Activities
-
Other books by Barbara Kerley
o
GREETINGS FROM PLANET EARTH
o
SONGS OF PAPA’S ISLAND
o
A COOL DRINK OF WATER
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Other Texas Bluebonnet Nominees from 2009-2010
o
HELP ME, MR. MUTT! By Janet Stevens and Susan
Stevens Crummel
o
SOMEONE NAMED EVA by Joan Wolf
o
TWO-MINUTE DRILL by Mike Lupica
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