If You Were Me and Lived in..China: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World, by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in...China ~ A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World

Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...

Author: Carole P. Roman

Illustrator: Kelsea Wierenga

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Date: May 14, 2015

Paperback: 30 pages




My Take
I really like this, If You Were Me and Lived in..., series. I think it is the most created line of books that were ever created for children. To have them be able to "travel" from country to country through a book is an awesome way for them to learn. These books are packed with a lot of information. I will honestly say that I have learn quit a bit, from reading these with my child.

If You Were Me and Lived in...China shows a boy and a girl pointing to a world where you would be able to find china on a globe. Inside you will find an outline of China with a star where the capital of China, Beijing, is located. Then, begins the journey into China and all that it offers.

Your child will first lean about the history of China and how it received its name. They will also learn about the vegetation and the amount of people that reside there. Next, they will learn about Beijing and all its glory. From its expressways to its gardens and even the Forbidden City. You will learn about the names of family members, some names of toys, and the currency that is used. I thought the part of history and the giant terracotta was interesting as my daughter just learned about that this year in school. Up next is food, games and holidays, most importantly, the Chinese New Year.

What I like most about these books, besides the wonderful information, is the colourful pages. Also I like how there are one or two pages that have real life pictures mixed with cartoon pictures. I think this gives the reader a really good feel for how something might actually look over there. The pronunciation guide is a nice thing to have in the book too. My daughter has picked up a couple of words from different countries by reading these books. That is always a good thing.

So, if you haven't already heard of this series, which I am sure you have, you need to start purchasing them to have for you child's collection.

About the Author

Award winning author Carole P. Roman is a former teacher turned businesswomen. She has successfully run a family business with her husband. Her most favorite job is being grandmother to her many grandchildren. She currently lives on Long Island with her husband.

Her first book, "Captain No Beard - An Imaginary tale of a Pirate's Life" has been named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 as well garnered the star of remarkable merit. Three more Captain No Beard books are in the works. Also available, "I Want To Do Yoga Too," a children's introduction to yoga.

A Flag for the Flying Dragon, by Carole P. Roman

Title: A Flag for the Flying Dragon

Series: A Captain No Beard Story

Author: Carole P. Roman

Illustrator: Bonnie Lemaire

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Date: April 9, 2015

Paperback: 46 pages




About the Book
It's business as usual on the Flying Dragon. Their mission is to find a flag for the ship. Captain No Beard sighs, "Being a captain is hard work," as he watches the busy crew preparing the vessel for their next adventure. Polly is giving out pretzels; Linus is polishing a lamp. Matie is cracking coconuts, Cayla is stuffing holes, and Hallie is swabbing the deck. High overhead, trouble is brewing, and it is not the weather. Mongo does not want any help from the newest crew member, and it is creating a hurricane of a mess on board. The team must come together and find a task that will fit Zachary without interfering with their own fun. On the way, they acquire a flag that will unite them as both friends and crew. Join the problem-solving crew of the Flying Dragon as they find a flag for their ship and a job for Zach.


My Take
I really love these books. Every time I get one, my daughter immediately picks it up and starts reading them. It is nice to see a book that is written for children that have learning lessons in them. It is simplistic enough for them to actually understand the lesson themselves.

This time around, the "crew" go out on the seas again. This time, the captain is looking for a flag to be flown from the ship. In the mix of all of this, a new crew member is trying to find his place amongst the crew. Everything that he is told to do doesn't go well. Then finally, the captain finds something for him to do. It is one of the most important jobs.

In this story, the crew learns how to get along. Every place that Zach (the new crew member) tries to help, he makes a mess and doesn't wind up helping. Most of the time, the other crew members don't want him to help. One thing they have to learn is how to all get along and find something for everyone to do. This is what makes a great crew.


About the Author

Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of the Captain No Beard series. Both Captain No Beard-An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life and Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis have received the Kirkus Star of Exceptional Merit. The first book in the series was named to Kirkus Reviews Best 2012. Each book has won numerous awards, namely the NABE Pinnacle Award, ERIK Award for 2013, ForeWord Review Five Star, Rebecca Reads, and Reader's Views Children's Book of the Year 2013. Recently it was awarded the Marble Book Award for Best Illustration in a series for Bonnie Lemaire's stunning illustrations.

This complimentary book was given to me by Red Feather Productions for my honest review.

If You Were Me and Lived in... Peru: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World, by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in... Peru: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World

Series: If You Were Me

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Date: October 14, 2014

Paperback: 30 pages


About the Book
An exciting introduction to world cultures written for young readers ages three through eight, this new expedition takes kids to South America and gives them a colorful glimpse into what living in Peru is like. Highlighting a myriad of topics, including language, cuisine, climate, and history, this book teaches kids about diversity while also revealing to them the important truth that we are all connected.


My Take
As always, she has created another amazing book for children to learn about a new culture. The way she tells her stories keeps them coming back for each book that she brings out. The cartoon characters and colours are also another amazing thing about these books.

At the beginning of the book, you see where Peru is located on the globe and you also learn/see where the capital, Lima, is located. You and your children will learn the different names of some of the people in Peru, see all the colourful things they were and have. You will learn about the famous places, foods they eat (cuy, which is fried guinea pig), games they play and holidays they celebrate (Carnival in February).

When you get to the end of the book, you will find a pronunciation guide, which is reiterating all the new words that you and your child learned while reading the book.

I love this series and think that everyone should have them in their homes and feel as though all schools should carry them too. I know my daughter has learned from every single one she has read.


About the Author

Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of the much lauded children's book Captain No Beard: An Imaginary tale of a Pirate's Life. her experience as a former social studies teacher is wonderfully apparent in her popular If You Were Me and Lived in... series, which now includes more than ten books.

This complimentary book was given to me by Bostick Communications and the author for a honest review.

If You Were Me and Lived in...Greece, by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in...Greece

Series: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Date: September 23, 2014

Paperback: 32 pages





About the Book
It’s never too early to start teaching children about the world around them. In If You Were Me and Lived in…Greece, early learners get a taste of what their life would be like if they lived in Greece while being introduced to the birthplace of democracy.

This book is the latest installment of the educational series about the cultures of the world that speaks to young children about the topics that interest them, such as the foods people eat, the names of boys and girls, and the activities that children their age living in a foreign land are likely to engage in. This exciting visit to Greece also introduces the important concept of democracy to children and highlights some of the other cultural contributions that Greece has made to Western civilization. Basic information is offered in a playful way that won’t overwhelm children.

My Take 
Like all the other books in this particular series, my daughter and I enjoyed this one just the same. It is so nice to be able to sit down with my child and have a book that she can understand and learn about another country. She is learning so much since we have been reading these books. 

All the books are set up the same. It is the pictures and information that are different. The fact that they do keep the same format is great, because you know what to expect. Like, you know at the beginning of the book you are going to see where Greece is on the globe and you are also going to see what the capital is and learn more about it. You will learn different names that children in Greece are given and what you would call your parents and grandparents. What I really love is how you learn about the important history through story and pictures. You also learn about the kinds of foods that they eat and special holidays. But let's not forget the most important of them all, you learn about the Olympics!

At the end of the book, you find a huge pronunciation guide, so that you can say the words correctly. The pictures are very colourful and give you an idea of what people and things look like in Greece.

Like I stated before, this is a really awesome series and if you collect all the books, your child will have a full knowledge of a lot of countries around the world.

About the Author

Carole P. Roman is an award-winning children's book author whose book, Strangers on the High Seas: A Captain No Beard Story, was named Best Children's Book of the Year by Reader Views in 2013. She is continuing to expand her children's world culture series to new and exciting countries. The author lives on Long Island with her husband and near her children and grandchildren.

If You Were Me and Lived in...Turkey/Norway, by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in...Turkey

Series: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Date: November 29, 2013

Paperback: 26 pages

My Take

I am doing something new today. I am reviewing two books at once, seeing how they are from the same series. As I have stated in past posts, I love these books. They are very helpful when trying to learn about new cultures. They are filled with a lot of information. I know for a fact that every time my daughter reads one of these books, she actually learns something new. 

Just like the other books in the series, If You Were Me and Lived in..., they start out showing you where the country is located along with the capital of that particular country. We are then given an interesting fact about the capital/country. For instance, Oslo (the capital of Norway) has 343 lakes and two rivers and Istanbul (a city in Turkey) is the second largest city in the world. As the journey continues, we learn about the different foods that are eaten, names children might have, money that one would use, and much more. The part that really excited my daughter is learning about holidays and traditions that take place in other countries. At the end of the book there is a list of pronunciations.

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in...Norway

Series: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Date: September 12, 2013

Paperback: 30 pages

The art work is just as amazing. Bright vivid colors along with cartoon like drawings help draw children in and keep them interested in the book.

Like I have stated before, I really like this series and think that everyone would benefit from having them in their homes. It would be even better if you would go out and purchase your child's school a couple of them so that they can learn about the different cultures around the world.

About The Author

Award-winning author Carole P. Roman has added Turkey and Norway to her delightful series, If You Were Me and Lived in... A former social studies teacher, she loved helping children understand and connecting them to different cultures around the world. Roman's first book, Captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life, received The Star of Remarkable Merit and was named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012.

I received these complimentary books in return for my honest review.

Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis, by Carole P. Roman

Title: Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis

Series: A Captain No Beard Story

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Plateform

Date: September 23, 2014

Paperback: 42 pages





About the Book
Captain No Beard's a brave pirate, with a loyal and hearty crew. Usually Hallie, Cayla and the rest of The Flying Dragon's crew are ready for any adventure, but as the captain sails ever-northward, they start to worry.

It's cold on the arctic seas. Icebergs float by, and every one's timbers are shivering. More alarmingly, Captain No Beard doesn't want to tell the crew where they're going or why.

When the crew finally learns their mission, they're shocked. The captain wants to steal something beautiful. The crew of The Flying Dragon may be pirates, but they all know stealing is wrong. Can they talk Captain No Beard out of his plan before he does something very bad?


My Take
Every time I read one of the Captain No Beard stories, I think this is a really great story. Can it get any better then this? Yes, each of the stories are great, but I have to say hands down, this is one of my favorite ones. I really like this story and the message that you receive when you read it.

Winter is coming and what better time to read this story with your children. On this adventure, the captain and his crew head north, while dealing with cold weather and icebergs. While traveling, they learn about the North Star, how it is wrong to steal, and the aurora borealis. Children will not only learn new things, but there is an art project that they do at the end that you can have your children do.

Just like the other books, this one has great artwork. The cover alone made me want to read the story. When you open the book, you get that nice winter feel from the pictures. The little snowflakes, the icebergs, and the warm clothes the characters wear.

I really enjoyed this book and do think that it should be added to your shelf.

About the Author

Award winning author Carole P. Roman is a former teacher turn businesswoman. She has successfully run a family business with her husband. Her most favorite job is being grandmother to her many grandchildren. She currently lives on Long Island with her husband.

Her first book, "Captain No Beard - An imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life" has been named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 as well garnered the star of remarkable merit and was just named as one of Children's Indy Best - The Pinnacle Award of 2013. "Strangers on the High Seas" was named Readers Views Kids Award - Best Children's Book of the Year.

This complimentary book was given to me for my honest review.

Captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life, by Carole P. Roman

Title: Captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life

Series: Captain No Beard

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform 

Date: July 3, 2012

Paperback: 40 pages





About the Book
Captain No Beard and his pirate ship The Flying Dragon set sail for a voyage of the imagination with his fearless crew of four: First Mate Hallie, Mongo the Monkey, Linus the loudmouthed lion, and Fribbet the floppy frog. Normally a young boy named Alexander, his cousin Hallie, and three stuffed animals, once they board his bed their world is transformed into a magical vessel sailing the seven seas on dangerous and exciting adventures!

My Take
This is another cute series that my daughter and I have been lucky enough to read together. The adventures they go on are amazing and you will find some sort of message in each one of them. The story is written simply enough to where your child can read the book to you or by themselves. With a little imagination and  your child jumping onto their bed, just like Alexander (Captain No Beard) and his cousin Hallie (First Mate Hallie), they can be taken on a journey along with their "stuffed" friends.

In this story, they go on a trip and the waters get rough. In order to make sure everything goes well, they have to work together to make sure everyone makes it to safety. Captain No Beard learns that being the main person in charge isn't as easy as he thought it would be.

The graphics are just as amazing as the story. They are so cute. You can really feel what the characters are going through because of the expressions on their faces. They are very detailed. The colors are very vibrant, which will keep your children wanting to read the story.

I really like this series and think that you will too. So, go out and purchase it and add it to your collection.

About the Author

Captain No Beard An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life is Carole P. Roman's first book in this series and was named to Kirkus Best 2012, received the Star of Remarkable Merit, the Pinnacle Award for 2012, and just recently The Erik Metzroth Award for Best Children's book 2013.


I received this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review.

If You Were Me and Lived in...India, by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in...India: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World

Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Date: January 30, 2014

Paperback: 28 pages




About the Book
If You Were Me and Lived in...India: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World - the fun and exciting series that takes children around the world is back with and interesting new country and an educational look into the culture of India. Focusing on what life would be like for children if they lived in another major city or country, the series continues to show young readers the diverse world around us and the value of all different cultures. The travel channel for children in book form , this captivating adventure takes children on and exciting journey to the mesmerizing county of India!

My Take
I am a big fan of this series. Every book that my child and I read together is another learning experience about a place we have never gone. Like all the other books, it starts out with a picture of the country and where the capital is located. I really like this because not only does my child get to learn about the country, she gets to see what it would look like on a map and then it is shown what it looks like on a globe. As we take a "trip" around India, we see the sights, sounds, and cultures. We learn what your name would be if you were a boy/girl, how you say mom/dad, a famous place, games you would play, foods you would eat and a famous holiday. In the back of the book is a pronunciation guide and also some of the colors from India are used throughout the book. There is also a little building by the numbers of each page (which I just love). With the book also being in cartoon form, it makes it more interesting for children to read.

So if you already haven't, add this one to your collection. And if you don't have the collection, go out and get it. Trust me, you will not regret it.


About the Author









Award winning author Carole P. Roman is delighted to add India to her growing series. She has recently completed If You Were Me and Lived in...Portugal, Greece, and Russia; which she researched and wrote with her five year old grandson, Alexander. Her first book Captain No Beard An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life was named to Kirkus Best 2012, received the Star of Remarkable Merit, the Pinnacle Award for 2012, and Just recently The Erik Metzroth Award for Best Children's book 2013.


This complimentary book was given to me for my honest review.

If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World, by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World

Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Date: October 24, 2013

Paperback: 30 pages



About the author: 
 Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of the If You Were Me and Lived in... series, which won the NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in 2012. She collaborated on this installment in the series with her five year old grandson, Alexander. Roman also writes the Captain No Beard series, the first of which was named a Kirkus Best of 2012, received a Star of Remarkable Merit, and won The Pinnacle Award in 2012.

About the book:
If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World is back with a brand new expedition. This amazing children's series by Carole P. Roman is heading to Africa! Focusing on what life could be like for children in another land, this series continues to show the customs and cultures that inhabit our great globe.

My take:
It has been another great adventure for my daughter and me, as we take a trip to Kenya through the If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya book.

Just like the other books in the If You Were Me and Lived in... series, there is enough information to let us know a lot about the particular country. The book starts out with the shape of the country of Kenya with a location of the capital, Nairobi. Then it shows on a globe where it is located in Africa. Through the different cartoon drawings, we are shown what Kenya looks like, from the city parts to the country parts. We learn about the different foods they eat, like chapati and samosa and how they like to play cricket and celebrate Mombasa Carnival.

I don't know if this was in the other books, but I did like how one of the colors of Africa was used on the pages and then how there was a tiny little giraffe at the bottom of the pages. There is also a pronunciation guide in the back of the book to help out with words that one might not know how to say.

This is a really cute book and like I said before, they are great learning tools and I feel like every school and home library would benefit from having this series in them.

This complementary book was given to me for my honest review.

Stuck in the Doldrums: A Lesson in Sharing - A Captain No Beard Story, by Carole P. Roman

Title: Stuck in the Doldrums: A Lesson in Sharing

Series: A Captain No Beard Story

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Date: March 20, 2013

Paperback: 36 pages






About the author:
Award winning author Carole P. Roman is a former teacher who now works in her family's business and publishes works in the Captain No Beard series. The first Captain No Beard- "An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life" was named to the Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 and received the star of remarkable merit.

About the book:
When the wind stops blowing, Captain No Beard and his crew, including First Mate Hallie, Linus the Lion, Fribbet the Frog, Mongo the Monkey and Polly the Parrot, are stuck on a desert island. Maroon with nothing to do, they begin to play and enjoy themselves. However, Captain No Beard has other ideas, bossing his crew around and making playtime cheerless for everyone. Soon, Captain No Beard decides he has had enough and storms off. When his ship is attacked by a giant squid, he realizes he needs his crew more than ever. Captain No Beard and his crew show young readers that's it's important to cooperate and share your belongings. The crew teaches us that if you want to have friends, then you must be a friend too.

My take:
I really like this series. Any book that has a learning lesson for a child is good. This particular one is based on learning how to cooperate and not be bossy. This is a lesson that a lot of children need to learn (adults alike). The story shows what will happen if you try to boss your friends around and how to show forgiveness and help someone in need.

The author's writing style is very carefree and lively. Just enough dialogue mixed with the story keeps children interested. The wittiness of the interactions make the story very interesting. Also, the artwork is very cute. You can see the expressions come out in all the characters through the drawings and it helps you empathize with the just a little more. The book is very colorful, so it is appealing to the eyes.

If you haven't read one of these books in the series, you need to pick one up now. Not only will your child like it, so will you.

This complimentary book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

If You Were Me and Lived in Mexico...A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World, by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in...Mexico

Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...

Author: Carole P. Roman

Paperback: 26 pages

Date: March 22, 2013





About the author: 
Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of the If You Were Me and Lived in... series, which won the NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in 2012. She collaborated on this installment in the series with her five year old grandson, Alexander. Roman also writes the Captain No Beard series, the first of which was named a Kirkus Best of 2012, received a Star of Remarkable Merit, and won The Pinnacle Award in 2012.
  
About the book:
If You Were Me and Lived in...Mexico...A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World is the first entry in an informative  and exciting new children's series that focuses on learning and appreciating the many cultures that make up our small planet. Perfect for children from Pre-K to age eight, this book is a groundbreaking new experience in elementary level education. Interesting facts and colorful illustrations help children realize that although the world is large, people all over the globe are basically the same.

My take:
I am a big fan of this series. I wish they had books like this when I was young or even if they did, I wish my parents found them. I know my daughter has learned a lot from this series. Every time I hand her one of these books, she comes back with more knowledge than she had before.

Like all the other books, it starts out with a had drawn picture of Mexico and it shows right where Mexico City is located. Then as soon as you turn the page, you see where it is located on the globe. Children will also learn about Mexico City and one of the historic buildings, Palacio de Bellas Artes. You also will learn what some children's names are and how you would address your parents if you lived in Mexico. You also get to learn about the different foods that they eat and the name they use for money. Children will also learn the popular sport that is played and what you would call a doll, if that is something that one liked to play with. There is also information regarding going to school and a famous holiday that they celebrate.

The pictures are just as engaging as the story. The cartoon like colorful characters will no doubt draw your child's attention to the book and keep them engaged in the story. Also, the actual pictures are in cartoon form, not just the characters, which I know a lot of children will like.

Toward the back of the book is a pronunciation guide to help you out with the words that are in another language. So not only do you get to learn about a new country, you can pick up on some of the words and use them in your every day life.

This complementary book was given to me for my honest review.

The Treasure of Snake Island: A Captain No Beard Story, by Carole P. Roman

Title: The Treasure of Snake Island

Series: A Captain No Beard Story

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Date: January 30, 2014

Paperback: 37 pages





About the Author: Award-winning author Carole P. Roman has produced another book for her "Captain No Beard" lineup. The first book in the series, "captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life" was named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012, with a Star of Remarkable Merit, and was presented with a National Association of Book Entrepreneurs Pinnacle Award in 2013. Roman, a former teacher, is the mother of four and grandmother to many. She currently resides on Long Island with her husband.


About the book: This time the mateys of the Flying Dragon are threatened by a serious looking set of storm clouds. While the friends gobble their sandwiches, the storm comes to a head and everyone has to help bail out. Since they were forewarned, they are forearmed and are able to get through the storm in ship-shape. When the dust settles, the Captain leads his crew to Snake Island in search of buried treasure. As X marks the spot, the crew starts digging and starts flying until a solid thud stops the excavation. So, what's in the treasure box?


My take: Just like her other children books, this is a keeper. I really like her style of writing. She really knows how to keep children engaged in a book.

First of all, the characters in this story are cute. The use of animals and humans is a real attention grabber. They are very colourful and their expressions are priceless. When they are suppose to be exasperated, whether it be an animal or a person, their expressions go right a long with the story.

The story is written simplistically, but with enough action and adventure children will want to keep reading to find out what happens next. Not only is it just a story, it has a bit of learning in it also. Within this story, it speaks highly of books and why they are so important. I thought this was a good thing for children to read. Another thing children will learn from reading this story is how to overcome their fears.

This is a really cute series that I think everyone's child will benefit having amongst their other books.

This complementary book was given to me for my honest review.

If You Were Me and Lived in...South Korea: An Introduction to Learning About Other Cultures, by Carole P. Roman

  

Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace

Date: June 14, 2013

Paperback: 28 pages


Ages: 3 - 7





About the author:

Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 for her first book, award winning author Carole P. Roman started writing as a dare from one of her sons. She just finished the first of six books in a groundbreaking new nonfiction series about culture around the world. "If You Were Me and Lived in..." combines her teaching past with her love of exploration and interest in the world around us.

About the book:

"If You Were Me and Lived in...South Korea: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World" is the third installment in Carole P. Roman's remarkable series about countries all over the globe. Roman opens up a world of wonder while highlighting the fact that underneath it all we are far more alike than we might have imagined. Like a children's version of The Travel Channel that is filled with entertaining and educational facts, this astonishing journey to the southern end of Asia's Korean Peninsula will captivate our child with amazing and fun filled facts!

My take:

Just like the other books in this series, this one starts out with a picture of South Korea and shows what and where the capital is located while going into a small history. The next thing you learn is the different names one might have depending on if you are a boy or a girl. Your children will also learn about the different shops they go to, what type of foods they eat, a holiday that they have and information about their schools. Like the books before this one, it also contains a pronunciation guide at the back of the book.

I also really like the colorful cartoon like drawings that are in the book. It contains just the right amount of pictures to keep our children interested, but not too much to leave them without knowledgeable information about the country.

I am a big fan of this series and so is my child. Every time she sees one of these books she gets really excited because they have created a strong yearning of cultural knowledge in her. I do believe that teachers should buy them and put them in their classrooms.

This complementary book was given to me for my honest review.

If You Were Me and Lived in... France: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the Wrold, by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in...France

Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace

Date: May 2, 2013

Pages: 26

Ages: 3 - 7

About the author:

Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 for her first book, award winning author Carole P. Roman started writing as a dare from one of her sons. She just finished the first of six books in a groundbreaking new nonfiction series about culture around the world. "If You Were Me and Lived in..." combines her teaching past with her love of exploration and interest in the world around us.

About the book:

"If You Were Me and Lived in... France: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World" is the second book in Carole P. Roman's remarkable series about countries all over the globe. Roman opens up a world of wonder while highlighting the fact that underneath it all we are far more alike than we might have imagined. Focusing on what life would e like from a child's viewpoint, she examines the diversity of the people who make up our planet.

My take:

My daughter is more of a sensory rather than a pencil and paper learner. So, when it came to me wanting her to learn about different countries around the world, the perfect book series is of course, If You Were Me And Lived In...A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World, by Carole P. Roman. 

This time we read the one on France. And like all the other books in this series that we have read, she learned from this one too. She woke up on the 14th of July and said, "Mom, today is a holiday for the people in France. Just like we celebrate the 4th of July, they celebrate on the 14th." I love how she does this.

A big picture of France and its capitol are at the beginning of the book, which is also shown on the next page on an actual globe. I really like how this is done because children are shown where to look on a globe and find it. Just like the other books in this series, this one has the brightly colour pictures with happy cartoon characters all throughout. There are hand drawn pictures of what France looks like and the places there. For example, a flower shop, a bakery, and of course the infamous Eiffel Tower.

The writing is very easy for children to read themselves, which I like very much. The fact that she can read it will give her a better understanding of it versus me reading it to her. The words on the pages go no longer than a small paragraph, so it doesn't make them feel like the book is super long. They learn something new on each page, so they are kept interested in what they are reading. At the end of the book there is a pronunciation guide. I must say, I was looking forward to seeing more french words that my daughter could have learned. All in all, this is a really great book and think you should add it to your collection.

This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.