WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE by James Deem

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE. Illus. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780439922313

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Theodore Roosevelt had a small problem…his daughter, Alice.  She wanted to do things her way, go places, and meet people.  Nothing was too big or too small for Alice she wanted to enjoy all life had to offer.  Whether it was teaching herself, getting piggyback rides, traveling, or entertaining visitors with her pet snake she enjoyed it all.  Alice called it “eating up the world.”  She did not let any obstacle get in her way!

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In this book Kerley’s writing is informational yet entertaining.  Readers of all ages will enjoy getting a glimpse inside of the White House.  This story is of a young girl who let nothing stop her, not even her mother’s death or leg braces, nothing could slow this determined girl down.  This is a great story to teach children about an American heroine, determination, and good will.  

Fotheringham illustrations compliment this intriguing style of writing.  The colors are magnificent, the font and size interesting, and the designs impeccable.  The words match what is going on in each and every page.  Readers will be drawn to read this book. 

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*Starred review in 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.”

*Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:  “Kerley’s text gallops along with a vitality to match her subjects 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 ships swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her fathers trusted advisers.”

*Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: “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.”

*Starred review in HORN BOOK: “This sassy biography of Alice Roosevelt Longworth validates President Theodore Roosevelt’s famous quip about his oldest child: ‘I cannot possibly do both.’  With a palette that emphasizes Alice Blue, her signature color, the illustrations often match Alice’s spirit with zigzag streaks, circular pieces of spot art, and slanting figures.”

5.  CONNECTIONS

*Character Traits- Have the students create a character map of Alice’s traits

*Have the students choose a different first daughter to research.  The students will conduct their research and then compare and contrast the lives of the two children. 

*Other books about Theodore Roosevelt and family:

Kent, Zachary. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. ISBN 0516013548

St. George, Judith. YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY, TEDDY ROOSEVELT. ISBN 0399238883

Fritz, Jean. BULLY FOR YOU, TEDDY ROOSEVELT. ISBN 039921769

Parks, Edd Winfield. TEDDY ROOSEVELT, YOUNG ROUGH RIDER. ISBN 0689713495