Book Review - What To Do About Alice?

1. Bibliography
Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What To Do About Alice? Ill. Edwin Fotheringham. New York: NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 978-0-329-70157-4.
2. Plot Summary
Alice, President Theodore Roosevelt's daughter, was hungry to go places, meet people, and do things. But she caused problems for he father.  Girls and women were expected to be seen, but not heard during this time period. But Alice was different. She entertained important international dignitaries and traveled abroad, all while going against all convention. She really "ate up the world." This lively biography gives readers a view of life inside the White House in a fun, entertaining presentation. 
3. Critical Analysis
Barbara Kerley has provided us with an excellent example of a picture book biography. Both the text and the illustrations grab the reader's attention from the beginning of the story where they immediately see an example of Alice's father's impatience with her.  The idea that Alice is so eager to explore and experience everything she encounters is expressed with both words and pictures.  Alice is drawn with a giant spoon to depict how she is ready to "eat up the world." Both author and illustrator cleverly share Alice's life and her adventures in a way that readers are anxious to turn the page to see what Alice will find herself doing next.
The dual purpose of being educational and entertaining is uniquely achieved in this book designed for children ages 5 - 9. However, it would be appropriate for children as old as 12.  Because of the text's perspective of Alice's work and whimsy, this book can serve as an inspirational text for anyone who feels restricted by societal boundaries but desires to do so much with their lives. 
4. Review Excerpts 
2009 Notable/Best Books (A.L.A.) 
2008 Booklist Starred: Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was.  
2008 Kirkus Review Starred:  Kerley's precise text presents readers with a devilishly smart, strong-willed girl.
5. Connections

Other stories/bibliographies by Barbara Kerley:
Kerley, Barbara. The Extraordinary Mark Twain. ISBN: 978-0545125086
Kerley, Barbara. One World, One Day. ISBN: 978-1426304606
Kerley, Barbara. A Cool Drink of Water. ISBN: 978-0792254898

 Provide opportunities for students to study the time period that Theodore Roosevelt was president.  Discuss social expectations for children, girls in particular, how people acted in formal situations, and other aspects of life during that time such as how children dressed, what school was like, etc.  Allow students to work in groups and present a product to demonstrate what they learned.  They could write a compare and contrast paper presenting how life was different then compared to now. Or use a web2.0 tool, such as glogster, to show life in the early 1900s. 

Guide students to research other presidents' children.  Find information about each of them and present their findings with the class.

After reading the story aloud, ask students to write an essay using this prompt: Write about what you would like most if your dad were president of the United States.