Genre #4 Biography

WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE

Bibliography:

Kerley, Barbara. What To Do About Alice. Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. Scholastic Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0439922319

Plot Summary:

Barbara Kerley has created a thoughtful, interesting, and becoming biography of the precocious Alice Roosevelt. Alice is the oldest daughter of Teddy Roosevelt, and she is not limited to the refinement that one might expect as a politicians daughter. As it is mentioned Alice was a girl who played by her own rules. After overcoming physical aliments, Alice became a figure of goodwill and is described as "eating up the world." End the end we are left with an exciting look at the world for a young political figure. 

Critical Analysis:

Kerley and Fotheringham team up to create a delightful, lighthearted, yet educational biography of one of the most interesting children of the White House. The events of Alice's life are laid out in a logical order sequencing the events of her life. From time to time Kerley points out specific events that contributed to the individualism of Alice Roosevelt. For example, we learn that Alice had a physical alignment that required braces on her legs, from this point we see Alice as a resilient, strong girl who challenged social and gender norms in order to express her true self. Fotheringham's illustrations help describe the dynamic between Alice and her famous Father Teddy. In one picture we see the lower half of Teddy tapping his foot while Alice is already on her way out of the shot. The image sets the tone for the reader that Teddy had his hands full with Alice and struggled with following her bold lead. The illustrations coupled with a variety of sentence structure create a masterful biography that is easy to read, yet it does not water down the facts for the reader. At the end of the story we are awarded information about the life of Alice and her Mother who passed away shortly after her birth. Kerley's inclusion of this information allows the reader to elaborate about the history of this ingenious girl who like her father left a mark on American History.  

Accuracy:

Barbara Kerley is an accomplished nonfiction writer who has been published by National Geographic and Scholastic. Kerley has been awarded:

 Caldecott Honor Book

New York Times bestseller

ALA Notable Book

ABC Children’s Booksellers Choices Awards

Best Children’s Books -- Publisher’s Weekly

Reading Magic Award -- Parenting Magazine

Book Sense Book of the Year nominee

Borders Original Voices nominee

NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book

Best Book Award -- Oppenheim Toy Portfolio

Gold Award Winner -- The National Parenting Publications Awards

Garden State (NJ) Book Award

California Collections

Los Angeles 100 Best Books -- IRA/Los Angeles USD Library Services

Nominated for Young Reader awards in TX, KY, OK, RI, LA and CO

Nominated for the 2014 Bluestem Award, IL School Library Media Assoc

These awards alone prove that Barbara Kerley is a credible knowledgeable author of nonfiction. 

Review Excerpts:

"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."

    Booklist, starred review

"Kerley's text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject's antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp  her style, dives fully clothed into a ship's swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father's trusted advisers.... Fascinating 

      School Library Journal, starred review

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

     Publishers Weekly, starred review

"What to do about Alice?  Enjoy!"  Horn Book, starred review

Connections: 

Other popular nonfiction books by Barbara Kerley 

A HOME FOR MR. EMERSON (Scholastic Press, coming Feb 2014)

ISBN 978-0-545-35088-4

THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR YOU (National Geographic, 2013)

ISBN 978-1-4263-1114-7

THOSE REBELS, JOHN AND TOM (Scholastic Press, 2012)

ISBN 978-0-545-22268-6

THE EXTRAORDINARY MARK TWAIN (ACCORDING TO SUSY) (Scholastic Press, 2010)

ISBN 978-0-545-12508-6

ONE WORLD, ONE DAY (National Geographic, 2009)

ISBN 978-1-4263-0460-6

WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE? (Scholastic Press, 2008)

ISBNs 978-0-439-92231-9; 0-439-92231-3 

GREETINGS FROM PLANET EARTH (Scholastic Press, 2007)

Hardcover ISBNs 978-0-439-80203-1; 0-439-80203-2

Paperback ISBN 978-0-439-80204-8

A LITTLE PEACE (National Geographic, 2007)

ISBN 978-1-4263-0086-8

YOU AND ME TOGETHER: MOMS, DAD, AND KIDS AROUND THE WORLD 

(National Geographic, 2005)

ISBN 0-7922-8297-3

WALT WHITMAN: WORDS FOR AMERICA (Scholastic Press, 2004)

ISBN 0-439-35791-8

Content connections

As you can see Kerley has several titles that could be used as in an author study 

Use WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE for:

Introduction to American History in the early 1920's

Character study of women and politics 

Genre #4 Orbis Pictus/Sibert Award: Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

CLAUDETTE COLVIN: TWICE TOWARD JUSTICE

Bibliography:
Hoose, Phillip. Claudette Colvin Twice Toward Justice. New York: Melanie Kroupa Books Farrar Straus Giroux, 2009. ISBN: 9780374313227

Plot Summary:
The biography of Claudette Colvin recounts the story of the young Montgomery, Alabama resident who randomly decided to not give up her seat to a white woman which was against the laws at the time. The true account follows Colvin until her arrest and day in court. The book discusses the life of Colvin and the lack of support given to her from the Civil Rights groups after her bus boycott that was similar to that of Rosa Parks. The book discusses why the Civil Rights groups did not choose Colvin as the face of the Bus Boycott's, and gives a first person account using excerpts from interviews with Claudette Colvin. The book is divided into two major parts, and then an extensive author's note, afterword, bibliography, notes, acknowledgements, picture credits, index, and about the author. The second part of the book discusses Colvin's testimony in the Browder vs. Gayle. There are two major climatic points of the novel, the first being the situation in which Colvin refuses to give up her seat, and then her contributions to the Browder Vs. Gayle trial. 

Critical Analysis: 
Phillip Hoose organizes this novel using first person interview excerpts from Colvin herself, and then moves into the history, time period, and research he has done that support her accounts. Hoose offers his readers the opportunity to read snippets about the history terms or other Civil Rights leaders using a text box that is separate from the main prose. These boxes help clarify any terms or historical figures that might be mentioned within the main text. These boxes are ideal for a reader because they allow for clarification without actually having to leave the book and research the terms or people he is referring to. Hoose organizes this book by opening each chapter with a quotation from a prominent Civil Rights leader; then the chapters offer Hoose's research and facts followed by or, in some chapters, proceeded by Colvin's interview accounts. The interweaving of research and interview gives the reader a sense of investment. We feel for Colvin as she shares her story while we are simultaneously learning about the history of the time period. As mentioned, the book is written in two parts followed by an extensive closing. The first part covers the life of Colvin as she grows up in the Jim Crow Law eras; part two covers Colvin's testimony and the aftermath of Civil Rights in Montgomery, Alabama. The most interesting part of the organization of this book is the amount of time spent on the closing chapters. Hoose includes an afterword which is a collection of interviews and conversations he had with Colvin over the years it took him to write and prompt his book. Next, is the bibliography section of the book, and it is an excellent resource for any student, teacher, or person who wants to learn more about Colvin or the Civil Rights time period. Then, Hoose includes the "Notes" he took  for each chapter of the book while researching Claudette. Finally, Hoose has acknowledgements, picture credits, and an index. The final sections of this book reflect that of a textbook; however, the information in this book is more approachable and searchable for students of any age. Most importantly, Hoose includes in the closing his journey to writing Claudette Colvin's story, titled "Author's Note"; this part of the closing speaks not only to readers, as writers, on how to tackle a book of this caliber, but it speaks to the credibility of Phillip Hoose.  

Accuracy:
After reading the closing sections of TWICE TOWARD JUSTICE,  it is clear that Phillip Hoose is an expert in biography research and writing. He includes within his writing not just the story of Claudette Colvin, but the affect she had on an entire time period. He supports her influence by researching and reporting court cases, historical records, such as bus tickets and seating assignments. Hoose is not only a well established writer, but a member of The Nature Conservancy since 1977. It comes as no surprise that he won the following awards for his outstanding work in nonfiction: Newbery Honor, National Book Award, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Sibet Honor, Christopher Award, and Flor Steglitz Straus Award. Finally Phillip Hoose has a website www.philliphoose.com where you can learn more the extensive research he is currently working on. 

Review Excerpts: 

“Hoose’s book, based in part on interviews with Colvin and people who knew her—finally gives her the credit she deserves.”—The New York Times Book Review

 

“History might have forgotten Claudette Colvin, or relegated her to footnote status, had writer Phillip Hoose not stumbled upon her name in the course of other research and tracked her down. . . .The photos of the era are riveting and Claudette's eloquent bravery is unforgettable.”—The Wall Street Journal

 

“Before Rosa Parks, there was Claudette Colvin, a teenager who knew her constitutional rights and was willing to be arrested to prove it”—The Washington Post, a Best Book of 2009 selection

 

“Compelling.”—New York Daily News

 

“Hoose vividly recreates Colvin’s bravery.”—The New York Post
“Hoose makes the moments in Montgomery come alive, whether it’s about Claudette’s neighborhood, her attorneys, her pastor or all the different individuals in the civil rights movement who paths she crossed . . . . An engrossing read.”—Chicago Tribune

Connections: 

Other Phillip Hoose Books and Award Winners

Perfect, Once Removed: When Baseball Was all the World to Me

We Were There, Too!: Young People in U.S. History

Its Our World, Too!: Young People Who Are Making a Difference

Content Connections

Use as an introduction to a Civil Rights unit and research project

Use as a story in pictures project

Use as an author's study

Genre #4 Nonfiction Seymour Simon Choice:

Bibliography:

Simon, Seymour. Butterflies. New York: Harper Collins, 2011. 

ISBN: 9780061914935

Plot Summary/Organization:

The layout of the book BUTTERFLIES is done in chronological order that aligns with the cycle of butterflies. Each page has information and a picture that supports the text on the page. As the reader makes their way through the life cycle of a butterfly, they read about the details of the butterfly in each stage of its existence. The author uses descriptive verbs and adjectives to help the reader visualize what exact the insect is going through during a particular stage of life. There are no subtitles or headings to denote different stages of the life cycle, but the photography helps guide the reader to each phase. 

Critical Analysis:

The initial interest in this book is marked by the photography. The pictures themselves tell the story of the life cycle of a butterfly. A reader never feels lost or loses interest in the book because you want to turn the page to see the next piece of artwork. The design is attractive, and the pictures become part of the reading experience. The design of this book becomes the information of this book, meaning, that because the layout reflects a chronological order of a butterfly the reader can see the information they are reading in that moment; they immediately have a visual of what Simon is reporting which makes the information more memorable for the reader. 

The inside flap of BUTTERFLIES sparks the readers interest in learning about a common insect students have been hearing about since they began school. Simon's questions engage the reader with new information they might never have known about the unique essence of a butterfly; for example "Did you know that butterflies... taste with their feet?" this fact alone makes the reader want to visually see this happening, and the photography provides the reader with the opportunity to see such rare aspects of nature. In addition to sparking the interest of the reader through questioning, Simon provides the reader with descriptive details using age and content appropriate vocabulary. There is also a glossary provided in the back of the book for reader reference and to ensure that the facts and information are scientific. Furthermore, all information is cited on the first page, and a special thanks is given to American Museum of Natural History. All facts and information provide in this nonfiction book are found to be true, logical, and used to increase the knowledge of the reader about the topic, butterflies. 

Accuracy/Awards/ Recognition 

Seymour Simon's credentials is the number one reason someone should read BUTTERFLIES. He is known as the "dean of children's science collections." He has written over 250 acclaimed science books, and has been awarded some of the highest honors including, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award, New York Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature, Hope S. Dean Memorial Award, The Washington Post, and many more. The achievements this author has been awarded speak volumes to the accuracy of this book and any other books written and supported by Seymour Simon. 

Reviews for BUTTERFLIES include:

Publishers Weekly

Science writer Simon vividly explores the life cycles of butterflies and moths around the globe: “Butterflies and moths live in high mountains; in deserts and swamps; on cold, windblown Arctic tundra; and in warm tropical rainforests.” Simon’s often breathtaking photographs offer closeup views of the insects, demonstrating color variations and their incredible transformations from pupa to adult moth or butterfly. 

Good Reads
Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon invites readers to explore the world of butterflies and moths with fascinating facts and stunning full-color photographs.

Connections:
Other Seymour Simon insect and bug books:

ANIMALS NOBODY LOVES- ASIN: B0091DSOK0

Other Seymour Simon Animal books:

ANIMAL ABC'S- ASIN: B009M7TUJ4

PENGUINS- ASIN: B001O9CBKI

THEY WALK THE EARTH

Content Connections:

Seymour's books are classic contributions to any and all science classes at any and all levels. The information on his website would be a great resource for all teachers in any content. www.seymoursimon.com