@internrachel @julia1

Last week, I read a fascinating biography of Alice Roosevelt Longworth by Barbara Kerley and Edwin Fotheringham. What To Do About Alice focuses on her unconventional childhood and outlook on life, as well as the complicated bond she had with her father. The sometimes strained relationship between Alice and Teddy Roosevelt is featured heavily: he once remarked “I can be president of the United States or I can control Alice. I cannot possibly do both.”

What To Do About Alice is a very fun and spirited read. The author and illustrator relish Alice’s oddities by utilizing deceptively simple statements such as “she wanted to own a pet monkey and wear pants” and pairing this with beautiful images of the daydreaming girl. The art is very energetic and contributes greatly to the story. It is very difficult to stop reading half-way through, this book demands attention. More importantly, this book is a reminder that it is possible for adults to retain a sense of playful adventure: not only does Alice grow up to be a smart and fiery woman, but the adult reader is forced to interact with text and pictures in ways they may not fully remember. This book is 44 pages.