WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE?: HOW ALICE ROOSEVELT BROKE THE RULES, CHARMED THE WORLD, AND DROVE HER FATHER TEDDY CRAZY! Written by Barbara Kerley and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

Review by Christi De Leon

1.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kerley, Barbara. What to do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008. ISBN 0439922313

2.    PLOT SUMMARY

This book is a biography about Teddy Roosevelt’s daughter, Alice. It begins by telling how life was for Alice growing up with her father and her many experiences while living in the White House. The biography continues by describing Alice as a young adult, eventually marrying and becoming a wife of a congressman. Signs of Alice’s rambunctious behavior are shown throughout the book.

3.    CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This entertaining picture book biography presents Alice’s high-spirited nature, as she was “eating up the world.” Many of Alice’s moments are clearly exaggerated in the illustrations with intent to illuminate the liveliness of her character. Examples include Alice’s way of getting rid of her leg braces, her ride down the White House staircase, and the abundance of gifts she received as she traveled. However, by exploring other books about Alice Roosevelt, similar descriptions of Alice Roosevelt are provided. The important facts, such as significant dates and turning points, are also precisely stated. Quotes are documented at the end of the book.

This book is organized with a story-like approach, informing readers about Alice Roosevelt’s life and experiences. Reference aids are not included within the story, but the significant events are mentioned as they occurred throughout Alice’s life.

How could one resist opening a book with Alice Roosevelt freely riding a bicycle through a flower garden in front of the White House? The colorful, vibrant illustrations made of mixed media simply enhance the text in portraying Alice’s adventures. The text itself occasionally changes in size, and the formatting varies to accommodate the illustrations.

Along with having an upbeat and pleasurable reading experience, readers will also learn all about Alice and her role as President Teddy Roosevelt’s daughter. This biography is bursting with facts, but does not dig deep into specific information. After being engaged by this book, readers are likely to be inspired to learn more about Alice Roosevelt from additional sources. Barbara Kerley and Edwin Fotheringham clearly demonstrate their admiration for Alice Roosevelt through the creation of this memorable biography.

4.    REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Sibert Honor Book

Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book

Irma Black Award Honor Book

Parents Choice Award

From Booklist: "Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was…. Kerley's text has the same rambunctious spirit as its subject, grabbing readers from the first line…. The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art."

From Publishers Weekly: "It's hard to imagine a picture book biography that could better suit its subject than this high-energy volume serves young Alice Roosevelt."      

From The Horn Book: "What to do about Alice?  Enjoy!" 

5.    CONNECTIONS

Gather other Barbara Kerley books to read such as:

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins. ISBN 0439114942

Walt Whitman: Words for America. ISBN 0439357918

Gather other books to read about Alice Roosevelt such as:

Kimmelman, Leslie. Mind Your Manners, Alice Roosevelt! ISBN 1561454923

Possible activities:

Research information about Theodore Roosevelt and his accomplishments.

Take students on a virtual tour of the White House and look for connections to the book.

DOWN, DOWN, DOWN: A JOURNEY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA by Steve Jenkins

Review by: Christi De Leon

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jenkins, Steve. Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2009. ISBN 9780618966363

PLOT SUMMARY

This informational book begins at the water’s surface and descends down through the ocean until reaching the floor. Details about each zone are given on the way down. Examples of creatures and sea life are also shown throughout the zones. More specific information about the creatures is given at the end of the book.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In this concept book, readers can escape “down, down, down” into an exploration deep into the ocean that is both fascinating and informative.  The author, Steve Jenkins, is known for writing stunning informational books that are also abundant with accurate facts like this one. In a Q & A with Steve Jenkins, he discusses the extensive ocean research conducted prior to creating this book. He also notes sources in a bibliography at the end of the book.

The layout of this book takes readers on a journey by traveling down to the deepest place in the sea. Each page contains a labeled sidebar that extends into the ocean to show the depth and temperature of the presented zone. Subheadings introduce the specific aspects of each zone. A reference aid at the end of the book provides diagrams comparing the size of each creature to an adult’s hand or human body. A small image of each zone shows creatures labeled by number. Below the image, the corresponding number contains additional details about the creature. This information is well organized and comprehensible.

At first glance, readers see a captivating cover with fish and other striking creatures woven through the letters in a way that almost appears three dimensional. Inside, illustrations have the same extraordinary effect consisting of cut and torn paper collage. The illustrations of the creatures not only complement the text, but they are clearly labeled in all capital letters. The design effectively communicates where certain creatures tend to reside along with the amount of light in each zone. Each illustration has its own details to offer. For instance, the Deep-Sea Lizardfish lives in the dark zone and reveals teeth that are sharp like needles. As light fades with the turn of each page, the reader is eventually led to the Marianas Trench, which holds the deepest spot in the entire sea.

This book has a style that keeps the reader’s attention in an exciting way, without providing too much information. The author’s interest in ocean exploration is made apparent through the clear presentation of facts and illustrations on every page. Appropriate vocabulary is consistent throughout the book giving readers a great learning experience.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From The Horn Book: "Jenkins takes his signature collage to the oceans, sinking readers from the surface of the Pacific Ocean down nearly 11,000 meters to the bottom of the Marianas Trench. His style works well here: with passage into each zone (from the surface to the sunlit zone to the twilight zone, etc.), the blue backgrounds shade darker and murkier, which allows the intricate cut-paper animal illustrations to pop."

From School Library Journal: "Depicted in Jenkins's signature handsome collages, the denizens of each level swim against ever-darkening backgrounds ranging from sunny blue to deepest black… he bold views tend to emphasize the weirdness of these little-known species, but the repeated message that humans have much to explore and learn in the deeper ocean is intriguing and inviting."

CONNECTIONS

Gather other Steve Jenkins books to read such as:

Creature Features: Twenty-Five Animals Explain Why They Look the Way They Do. ISBN 0544233514

Eye to Eye: How Animals See The World. ISBN 0547959079

Gather other books about the ocean to read such as:

Johnson, Rebecca L. Journey into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures. ISBN 076134148X

Pallotta, Jerry. The Ocean Alphabet Book. ISBN 0881064521

Possible activities:

Pair with a science lesson about the ocean habitat.

Read another nonfiction book on the same topic and compare the two books.

THE RIGHT WORD: ROGET AND HIS THESAURUS written by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Review by Christi De Leon

1.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bryant, Jen. The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus. Ill. by Melissa Sweet. Eerdmans Books, 2014. ISBN 0802853854

2.    PLOT SUMMARY

Peter Mark Roget was a shy young boy who enjoyed reading books. He even began writing his very own book when he was eight-years-old. In his book, he wrote lists of words. He frequently contemplated whether he used the right word when he spoke to others and created more lists. Deriving from the many lists he had written, Roget’s Thesaurus was eventually published.

3.    CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The information in this biography, presented with clarity and integrity, captures the power of Roget’s words in a spectacular way. School Library Journal specifically uses the terms, “Expertly researched…” in a review. A page is dedicated to the multiple sources that were fundamentally used, verifying how the information accurately aligns with the knowledge of experts. The talented and accredited author, Jen Bryant, expresses in the "Author's Note" what inspired her to create this biography, some her findings during the research process, and her gratitude to others who shared their expertise. In addition, Melissa Sweet delivers meaning and purpose to her illustrations in the “Illustrator’s Note.”

This book is framed in a story-like way, telling the true story of Peter Mark Roget. Although there are no defined reference aids throughout the book, the main events are clearly sequential in portraying the reality of his life. For instance, information about his struggles throughout childhood, alone time with his word lists, educational success, and marriage are all elaborated. His shy personality and ongoing determination are traits that remain constant.  Following the end of the story, a “List of Principal Events” outlines Peter Mark Roget’s life and concurrent World events in an organized way.

By viewing the cover’s objects overflowing out of a book, the reader is already captivated with curiosity and wonder. Typically placed after the readable text, the detailed artwork in this story brilliantly keeps the reader’s eyes busy and engaged. Dialog bubbles are added to many of the illustrations, allowing the reader to further comprehend Roget’s life. Much of the art also comprises of words and pictures from Roget’s lists. The illustrations have a vintage design consisting of watercolor, collages, and mixed media. The overall design of the story effectively brings Roget’s story to life.

The writing in this biography maintains the reader’s interest in a concise, dynamic way. The author expresses a sense of fascination through the writing, and vocabulary is used appropriately. After reading this book, learners will be even more intrigued by the Thesaurus.

4.    REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2015 Caldecott Honor Book

2015 Sibert Medal Winner

2015 Orbis Pictus Honor Book

From Booklist: "In brilliant pages teeming with enthusiasm for language and learning, Bryant and Sweet joyfully celebrate curiosity, the love of knowledge, and the power of words."

From School Library Journal: “Those who have relied upon a thesaurus… will gain a greater appreciation for the reference tool in this beautifully designed picture book biography of its creator, Peter Roget… Busy and exuberant, Sweet’s charming watercolor illustrations, layered over collages of vintage images and fonts, capture Roget’s passion for classification while also providing readers new opportunities for discovery… Expertly researched and well written, Bryant’s narrative not only details the creation of the thesaurus; it also conveys a sense of Roget the man… An excellent illustrated biography.”

From The Horn Book:  "Apt language and ingenious imagery… both decorous and warm."

5.    CONNECTIONS

Gather other books by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet such as:

A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams. ISBN 0802853021

A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin. ISBN 0375867120

Gather other books written by Jen Bryant such as:

Georgia’s Bones. ISBN 0802853676

Abe’s Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln. ISBN 1402762526

Possible activities:

Read A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, then do a compare and contrast activity.

Collaboratively view a selection of several pictures and describe each one by creating a list of synonyms. For each picture, choose the word that seems “just right.”