LSSL 5360 Module 4- Book Review #3- WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE? by Barbara Kerley

Module 4- Biographies- Book Review #3
What to do about Alice? by Barbara Kerley, Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kerley, B. (2010). What to do about Alice? New York, NY: Weston Woods Studios. ISBN-13:978-0-439-92231-9

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

I truly loved this book! Barbara Kerley tells a story of a strong-willed, sassy, and unique girl named Alice who “ate up the world” and drove her father, Theodore Roosevelt, crazy! This delightful picture book takes us through a journey of Alice’s life, painting a picture of her wild adventures and rambunctious personality.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Kerley’s stylish writing tells a story of a young girl who lived her life with no apologies, “running riot” and taking the world by storm. Yet, Kerley paints a picture of a mischievous daughter that grows up to be a beloved, intelligent, and admired woman that the reader grows to love as well.

Fotheringham has a zest for witty illustrations that truly match the sass of Alice and I think really fits the time period well. I loved the cartoon-like illustrations that still have a very realistic feel, and I appreciated how well Alice’s sassy expressions were portrayed in the full-page pictures.

We also see the development of maturity where Alice starts as a young girl, left without a mother, but refuses to let anyone feel sorry for her. Kerley gracefully shows a progression in this great biography of “Princess Alice,” and in the end we read about a diplomatic, intelligent woman, still very adventurous and one-of-a-kind in every way.

I love the curriculum connections you can make in this book, and you could take a lesson so many directions in the classroom. Historically, of course, we can take a deeper look into the Roosevelt family. Also, it’s a great way to discuss women’s rights and the progression of equality of the sexes, as Alice certainly blazed a trail for women who may not fit a specific mold in history. Among other topics we could connect to, it would be a great book to just connect to the time period of the early 1900’s, during Roosevelt’s presidency and Alice’s young adult years.

4.   REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

“Fotheringham’s digital illustrations perfectly evoke the retro styles of an earlier age, depicting a confident Alice sailing through life and tackling every challenge with delight and aplomb. The illustrator takes every opportunity to develop Alice’s character further; one memorable spread shows a blandly smiling Alice leading her smaller siblings in riding trays down the White House stairs while the text merely remarks, “She watched her younger brothers and sister so her stepmother could get some rest.” It’s a gleeful celebration of a fully, unapologetically led life. (author’s note) (Picture book/biography. 5-10)” –Kirkus Review

*The Robert F. Sibert Honor Book (2009)
*Irma Black Award Nominee (2009)

5. CONNECTIONS

This is a great book for History and English lessons alike! I love the idea of using this as a unit for biographies, and tying it to a research project about Alice and the Roosevelt family.

Although I think Alice will be loved by all, another great biographical option that may appeal to your male students is Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman by Marc Tyler Nobleman.