Mind Your Manners, Alice Roosevelt!
Grade 1–3—Kimmelman's story, ostensibly about the irrepressible Alice Roosevelt, is as much about her father and his accomplishments. Each spread opens with a statement about what Teddy can handle (sickness, fighting, the vice-presidency, diplomacy), faced with a page of what he can't handle (one of Alice's many antics), and followed by the admonishment, "Alice, mind your manners!" Gustavson's realistic oil-on-paper illustrations convey the period while capturing the humor and vivaciousness of the Roosevelts. The author does not provide readers with much historical context, however (Alice's behavior may not seem so outlandish today), and emphasizes Teddy's frustration and parental incompetence. Barbara Kerley'sWhat to Do About Alice?(Scholastic, 2008) does a better job of conveying time and place and the president's appreciation of his daughter's individuality.—Lisa Egly Lehmuller, St. Patrick's Catholic School, Charlotte, NCEND