BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kerley,
Barbara. 2008. What to do About Alice?
Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 978-0-439-92231-9
PLOT SUMMARY
Theodore
Roosevelt’s daughter, Alice, is a “running riot.” This picture book biography
tells the story of Alice Roosevelt’s life from young childhood to the wife of a
congressman. Throughout the book, Kerley details the energetic lifestyle of
Alice and some of the hurdles she faced such as the death of her mother and her
need of leg braces. Alice was determined not to let anything hold her back.
Although she was home schooled, she took it upon herself to learn everything
she needed to know. After her father became president of the United States, it
was even more important that she be “well-behaved.” Despite her father’s
attempts to shape her, the country grew to love and appreciate her for her “outrageous”
lifestyle, as she embraces her new role as goodwill ambassador. She marries a
politician, keeping with what she knows, but she remains true to herself.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Kerley
accurately describes the early part of Alice Roosevelt's life with this children’s
biography. Adding to the authenticity, she includes quotes that were obtained
from other biographies such as Princess
Alice: A Biography of Alice Roosevelt Longworth by Carol Felsenthal. Kerley
also includes author's notes titled, Princess
Alice, Sister, and The Other
Washington Monument. Each text addition gives more detailed background
information that gives the reader a more in depth insight. The Other Washington Monument picks up where the book ended and gives
a brief summary Alice’s life after her marriage and throughout the years. I
think that this snippet of information gave the best glimpse into the
personality of Alice.
Although this book does not include many text features, dates are included which allow the reader to construct a timeline of important events in Alice’s life. Quotes and important text are bolded for emphasis. For example, “Alice ate up the world,” is the general theme of the book because it is how her father described her personality. The illustrations by Edwin Fotheringham are very cartoon-like, yet detailed. The drawings themselves closely represent the text. They give a fun representation to the life Alice lived.
Although this book does not include many text features, dates are included which allow the reader to construct a timeline of important events in Alice’s life. Quotes and important text are bolded for emphasis. For example, “Alice ate up the world,” is the general theme of the book because it is how her father described her personality. The illustrations by Edwin Fotheringham are very cartoon-like, yet detailed. The drawings themselves closely represent the text. They give a fun representation to the life Alice lived.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
2008
Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards Nominee
*Starred
review in Booklist:
"Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive
and exuberant as she was."
*Starred
review in 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
*Introduce students to biographies.
Discuss the differences between biography and auto-biography.
*Other books by Barbara Kerley:
Kerley, Barbara. 2010. The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to
Susy). Ill. by Ed Fotheringham. ISBN: 9780545125086
Kerley, Barbara. 2012. Those Rebels, John and Tom. Ill. by Ed
Fotheringham. ISBN: 9780545222686
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