What To Do About Alice?
Bibliography
Kerley, B. (2008). What to do about alice? New York. Scholastic Press.
ISBN: 9780439922319
Summary
What to do About Alice? by Barbara Kerley is a picture book tells the story of Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter, Alice. The book begins recounting the challenges that Theodore Roosevelt overcame, but the one thing that continued to give him headaches was his daughter. Alice’s mother died two days after Alice was born, but her father remarried and had more children. Kerley explains that Alice never conformed to societal standards, felt that she could do what boys did and was homeschool. According to Kerley, Alice was curious about law and was constantly searching out adventure. As her father’s career progressed so did Alice’s experiences and the press loved capturing all of Alice’s adventures. Theodore continued to use her as an asset and an advisor. Soon, she married a congressman and began a new role as a wife, but also continued her work with her father. The end of the story implies that Roosevelt never figured out what to do about Alice!
Critical Analysis
What to do About Alice? could be classified as a informational picture book or a non fiction picture book. The book has several qualities of each category, however this book does address the bulk of her life and is organized from the beginning to the end of her life. The style and design of this book has a storybook feel that I would classify as whimsical. Barbara Kerley and illustrator, Edwin Fotheringham worked to together to create a cohesive product. This feeling is carried throughout the illustrations and fonts used by the author and illustrator. Kerley highlights all of the quotes in the book by using a bolded font to help emphasize the importance. Barbara Kerley is a widely known writer that provides numerous support for her writing. After the story concludes, Kerley provides an author’s note that provides information on different parts of her life. She also includes a variety of sources that she used to gather information. This is an amazing product that helps readers of all ages learn about an interesting figure.
Review Excerpts
The New York Times - “In her award-winning picture book biographies of Walt Whitman and Waterhouse Hawkins, Barbara Kerley has shown an affinity for iconoclasts, as she does once again in “What to Do About Alice?” Kerley reveals the essence of Alice in an upbeat account of her life, dramatizing Alice’s love of “eating up the world,” as she put it.”
The Kirkus Review - “Taking her thematic approach from Alice’s own self-description, 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.”
Connections
One way to use this book in the classroom would be to read it aloud and then read another biography or article on Alice Roosevelt. Then students could compare and contrast the story variants between the two texts.
Teachers could also read The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) and then encourage students to look at the author’s style. Students can notice the styles, language and other similarities.
Teachers could also read What to do About Alice? and another type of biography. Encourage students to notice the different styles by different authors. This exercise could be used when discussing nonfiction texts.
The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)
Bibliography
Kerley, B., & Fotheringham, E. (2010). The extraordinary Mark Twain (according to Susy). New York: Scholastic Press.
ISBN: 9780545125086
Summary
The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) is written by Barbara Kerley and is the story of Mark Twain’s life from the his daughter Susy’s perspective. Susy felt that people did not know the real Mark Twain. The world only thought of his as a world famous author, but she knew there was so much more. She wanted to set the record straight on who was the real Mark Twain. Susy kept a diary about her father and when her father found out, he began to think aloud and provide material for her diary. The picture book details his interactions with his family, wife and the public. Kerley also includes an insert of Susy’s journal to show the her writing.
Critical Analysis
The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) could be classified as a informational picture book or a non fiction picture book. The book has several qualities of each category, however this book only centers on a specific time of Susy’s life when she was thirteen. The style and design of this book has a storybook feel that I would classify as whimsical. This is another product created by Barbara Kerley and illustrator, Edwin Fotheringham. This feeling is carried throughout the illustrations and fonts used by the author and illustrator. A technique that she used in other books is highlighting all of the quotes in the book by using a bolded font to help emphasize the importance. Barbara Kerley is a widely known writer that provides numerous support for her writing. After the story concludes, Kerley provides an author’s note that provides information on Mark Twain and Susy. The book also includes a timeline and tips on how to write a biography. Also, Kerley includes a plethora of sources that she used to create this book.
Review Excerpts
Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews - Based on Susy’s own words and on the words of her much-loved Papa, this picture book biography is a fascinating and entertaining read. By the end of the book, readers will have a very colorful and warm picture of one of America’s writers.
Publisher’s Weekly - Author notes about Susy and her father, a timeline of Twain’s life, and tips for writing an “extraordinary biography” complete this accessible and inventive vision of an American legend.
Connections
Teachers could also read What to do About Alice? and then encourage students to look at the author’s style. Students can notice the styles, language and other similarities.
Read The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) as a read aloud and then provide students with example texts by Mark Twain. This biography could be used a introduction to a class novel by Mark Twain.
Never Smile at a Monkey
Bibliography
Jenkins, S. (2014). Never smile at a monkey: and 17 other important things to remember. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
ISBN: 9780618966202
Summary
Never Smile at a Monkey: And 17 Other Important Things to Remember by Steve Jenkins is filled with reasons not to encounter a variety of wild animals. Jenkins spotlights eighteen wild animals and the reasons that certain encounters would be potentially dangerous. The creatures that are included are both large and small and all have a variety of ways that they protect themselves from predators or unsuspecting humans.
Critical Analysis
Never Smile at a Monkey: And 17 Other Important Things to Remember is an information trivia book that includes a variety of facts about wild animals. The focus of this book are the important things to remember when interacting with certain wild animals, and provides factual information. Steve Jenkins created the illustrations using a collage of torn paper. The illustrations that were created are extremely beautiful. Jenkins also used a specific font style throughout the book. He used one specific color and size for each explanation about each animal. The ‘Never’ statements are specifically crafted a certain way, too. The word ‘Never’ is the same color throughout the book and it is coupled with the fact that people should avoid. Jenkins was very specific on his choice of font style, size and color. Jenkins includes fact pages in the back of the book that includes information about each animal spotlighted in the book. Also, he provides a list of other books that could be read on the same topics. Jenkins created a well crafted book that captures the attention of readers.
Review Excerpts
The Kirkus Review - Illustrated with the author’s trademark ingenious paper collage, the animals look serene and unassuming, as is often the case in nature.
Book Depository - In this dynamic and fascinating picture book by Steve Jenkins, you'll find out what you should never do if you encounter one of these surprisingly dangerous animals.
Connections
This would be a great read aloud that would help springboard into a research project. After reading the book, the teacher could assign an animal from the book to each group. Then students would complete a research assignment on the animal from the book. This could be a great assignment for second or third grade students.
Another use for this book could be used to introduce the nonfiction genre. Nonfiction lessons require teachers to use a variety of nonfiction books and this would be a great read aloud.
Science teachers could use this book to introduce animal behaviors or adaptations. They would use this book as a read aloud, but then follow up the book with a discussion or research assignment. Students could also create a foldable about specific animals that are focused on within the TEKs.
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