If You Were Me and Lived In..Ancient Greece

If You Were Me and Lived in..Ancient Greece is part of author Carole P. Roman's series An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time. This book was illustrated by Mateya Arkova, and is 54 pages long. It is recommended for ages 8-12, but I think it could be extended in both directions to younger and older readers alike. My almost 14-year-old son has been reading this series and enjoying it.

So much about Ancient Greece is covered in this book! Just to touch on some of the topics included-landscape, clothing, food, school, sports, and family life. The illustrations in If You Were Me and Lived in...Ancient Greece are beautiful! I love the soft, pastel colors and watercolor look. This book is great for kids to really get an idea of what life would have been like in Ancient Greece. Younger readers might need some help with some of the longer pages of text. Very helpful, in the back of the book, is a list of Gods and Goddesses, as well as a Glossary to look up unfamiliar words.

My family and I love all of author Carole P. Roman's books, and they are treasured parts of our home library. If You Were Me and Lived in...Ancient Greece would also make a great gift. I used to homeschool, and this series would have been perfect when we were studying history!

To learn more about this book and author Carole P. Roman's other books, including purchasing links, visit her website at www.caroleproman.com . She also has resource pages that go along with this book and others at her blog http://caroleproman.blogspot.com  .

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

If You Were Me and Lived In..Colonial America

If you've read my blog, you may have noticed that I have written several reviews of books written by author Carole P. Roman. She is a favorite author of mine, and my family loves her fun and educational books for children. Even the adults usually learn a thing or two (or ten!) with each book we read!

Today I'm reviewing If You Were Me and Lived in...Colonial America, part of the An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time series, written by Carole P. Roman and illustrated by Sarah Wright, with accompanying illustrations by Kelsea Wierenga. The paperback (ISBN 9781523234073) is 53 pages, with a glossary and a list of influential people from the time period at the back of the book. The suggested age range is 5-13, which seemed just right to me. There is a lot of text on some pages, so younger readers may need some help.

In If You Were Me and Lived in..Colonial America, the religious differences of the time are discussed to explain the reason for people to leave their country for a new land. The long, difficult trip on the ships and the harsh conditions of their new home are explained in detail. Clothing, chores, food, schooling, and play are some of the topics described.

Author Carole P. Roman did a fantastic job explaining and describing life in Colonial America. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and my 13-year-old son liked it as well. The adorable illustrations make it fun and draw kids' attention. The glossary was very helpful for the words my son was not familiar with. 

If You Were Me and Lived in..Colonial America would be a great book for home and schools. I think the entire set would make a great gift. You can learn more about author Carole P. Roman and her books, including links to purchase, at her website, www.caroleproman.com . She also has a blog with additional resources, at http://caroleproman.blogspot.com/ .

*I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Children's Book Review~Can a Princess Be a Firefighter?

Author Carole P. Roman has written another delightful children's book, Can a Princess Be a Firefighter? Illustrated by Mateya Arkova, the book is thirty-two pages long with just one or two lines of text on the pages. It would make a great gift for a beginning reader. 

In Can a Princess Be a Firefighter?  two little girls ask their father if they can still be princesses if they were to become firefighters. The father describes all the different occupations they can become when they are older-they can be anything they want to be, and still be princesses. 

Although it looks like a 'girly' book from the cover, my grandson Daniel enjoyed the book. The story rhymes, and the pictures are so cute! He likes to see the girls dressed up in all the different outfits for the different jobs. I love the sweet story and the beautiful, soft illustrations.

Award winning author Carole P. Roman is a former teacher turned 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.

You can learn more about the author and her books and order your own copy of Can a Princess Be a Firefighter?  at http://www.caroleproman.com/

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Children's Book Review~Rocket-Bye

Rocket-Bye is a sweet new book written by Carole P. Roman and illustrated by Mateya Arkova. It is thirty-two pages, with only one sentence on each page, making it perfect for an early reader to read on their own, or a great bedtime story to share.  The illustrations are whimsical, with beautiful, soft colors.

Rocket-Bye appealed to my four-year-old grandson immediately, with its rocket ship on the cover! He enjoyed the cute rhyming story, and loved the pictures of the planets, constellations, and stars. This book is frequently requested for his bedtime story.

Award winning author Carole P. Roman is a former teacher turned 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.

 To purchase your own copy of Rocket-Bye and learn more about the author and her books, visit her website.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Children's Book Review~If You Were Me and Lived in...Egypt

Author Carole P. Roman's series introducing children to culture around the world is a favorite in our home. We have all of the books in the series, and everyone enjoys when we receive a book on a new country. We have all learned so much-even the adults!

Each book has colorful illustrations throughout the pages. If You Were Me and Lived in Egypt was illustrated by Kelsea Wierenga. It is 28 pages long, with a helpful Pronunciation Guide at the back of each book.  Each book covers basic topics children would be interested to know about how other children of another country live. Topics such as school, money and shopping, names, landmarks,food, and sports.

We learned so much in If You Were Me and Lived in..Egypt! We really didn't know much about Egypt we realized quickly after beginning to read the book. I was surprised to learn that Egypt is a Transcontinental country, meaning it is located in both Africa and Asia!

These books would be a great resource for any family, especially homeschoolers! They would also make a great gift.

Learn more about the author and purchase her books at www.caroleproman.com

I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review. 

Children's Book Review~If You Were Me and Lived in...Italy

Author Carole P. Roman has a great educational series for children titled If You Were Me and Lived In... (Fill in the blank with a country name): A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World. My family has all of the books in this series, and we love them!  They are educational, but also fun and so interesting! I always learn at least one thing new with each book.

The book I'm reviewing today in this series is If You Were Me And Lived In...Italy: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World, written by Carole P. Roman and illustrated by Kelsea Wierenga. It is 28 pages long, with a handy pronunciation guide at the back of the book. Colorful illustrations are on at least every other page. The print is perfect for early readers, with not too much text on each page.

In If You Were Me and Lived In...Italy, we learned about where in the world Italy is, its capital, and its history. We learned about popular names for children, what they would call their parents and grandparents, and about their school.  Money, sports, food, and special holidays are also discussed. Each volume in the series covers these basic topics, which is great for consistency.

The If You Were Me and Lived In... series is great for any family to have, and a must-have for homeschooling families! I think the entire set of all of the books in the series would make a great gift for a child or family.  Both my 13-year-old son and 4-year-old grandson read the books, so I think the age surpasses the recommended age range of Preschool-4th grade. The Italy edition has been especially interesting for our family as our 21-year-old daughter is traveling to Italy this summer with a dance group!

In case you were wondering what new fact I learned in If You Were Me and Lived In...Italy, it is this: Rome is the only city in the world to have another country inside its borders! The Catholic Church is considered an independent state, and its capital, Vatican City, is located there. So, if you read these books with your children, you might learn a few new facts along the way!

Learn more about author Carole P. Roman and her books at her website, http://www.caroleproman.com/ . There are links there to purchase her books at Amazon. If You Were Me and Lived In...Italy is available at Amazon in paperback or Kindle.


*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Children's Book Review~Being A Captain is Hard Work!

Being a Captain is Hard Work is author Carole P. Roman's latest book in her Captain No Beard series. This adorable series for children has several titles already, and is illustrated by Bonnie Lemaire.

Book Description (from the back cover): Captain No Beard is determined to travel to Dew Rite Volcano. He won't listen when Mongo predicts a storm or Linus indicates they are headed in the wrong direction. He insists Polly cook in the galley even though the seas are getting rough. What's a crew to do with a stubborn, know-it-all captain? Will they convince the captain he is barreling headlong into danger, or will Captain No Beard jeopardize both his safety and the crew's with his single-minded determination to go where he wants?

What I Thought: My family has all of the books in the Captain No Beard series, and they are favorites. So, of course we were excited to receive Being A Captain is Hard Work! Once again, Carole P. Roman has produced a delightful story. There is always a moral to be learned, with lots of fun and some interesting facts as well! The characters are adorable, and the illustrations are colorful and whimsical. The amount and size of the words are perfect for younger early readers. In the back of Being A Captain is Hard Work is a Cloud Key, to teach kids about the different types of clouds. 

Being a Captain is Hard Work would make a wonderful gift for a child. You can learn more about the author's books and links to purchase them at her website, http://www.caroleproman.com/


*Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review and Giveaway~A Flag For The Flying Dragon

My family has enjoyed the Captain No Beard series by author Carole P. Roman for the past few years.  A new adventure has arrived, and this book is titled, A Flag For The Flying Dragon.  In this installment, a new crew member has joined the crew-Zachary!  He's a baby, so as the crew is busy with their duties, they are having a hard time finding a job suitable for Zachary. The Captain also needs to find a flag for his ship.  Soon enough, the crew finds a solution to both problems, and everyone on deck has a job to do.  The crew learned to work together to solve problems.

The Captain No Beard books are a delightful series targeted to the preschool and kindergarten age range, but our 12-year-old son and the entire family enjoy reading them together. The sentences are short and easy to read, and there's just enough silliness to balance out learning an important lesson. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and simply adorable. My grandson (3), does not lose interest in these stories, and has read so many that he knows the characters well.  He is thrilled when a new book comes out.  Here he is reading A Flag For The Flying Dragon:

You can purchase your own copy of A Flag For The Flying Dragon at the author's website: www.caroleproman.com, or on Amazon in paperback or Kindle. Also be sure to visit the author's Facebook page.

Giveaway!!!
I accidentally received two copies of A Flag For the Flying Dragon, so I am giving away my extra one!  Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.  Winner will be notified by email within 24 hours of the contest end.  Winner will then have 48 hours to respond to the email, or a new winner will be chosen.  Must be 18 or older and a resident of the USA.



a Rafflecopter giveaway
*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Children's Book Review~Fribbit the Frog and the Tadpoles

Fribbet the Frog and the Tadpoles is the latest book in the Captain No Beard children's series, written by author Carole P. Roman.  My family and I have already enjoyed several of the books in this series, and Fribbet the Frog and the Tadpoles is a delightful addition! 

In this story, Fribbet the frog is upset!  Things are changing at his house, and he doesn't know what to do!  There are hundreds of new little tadpoles at his house, and they are loud and take up all his parents' time.  His friends help him understand that he can always share his troubles with them, and that siblings can be wonderful! 

The Captain No Beard stories encourage children to use their imaginations, and in each story there are valuable lessons to be learned.  Children are reminded of important values and character traits that we parents want to instill in them.  The stories are in type that would be appropriate for elementary school age reading level, and the colorful, whimsical illustrations capture children's attention.  Both my sixth grade son and three-year-old grandson adore the Captain No Beard books.  I do too!

To learn more and purchase your own copy of Fribbet the Frog and the Tadpoles, visit http://www.caroleproman.com/ .  You can also visit the author on Facebook. 

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Children's Book Review~If You Were Me and Lived in...Hungary

Author Carole P. Roman has a wonderful series for children that introduces them to culture around the world.  The most recent book in the series that I reviewed is If You Were Me and Lived In...Hungary.  In this book, a girl and boy from Hungary tell you all about their country.  First they show you where Hungary is on a globe and map, and tell you about the capital city and other landmarks. 

Next, they share what names are popular for boys and girls, and what you would call your parents.  They also talk about toys, money,  and fun places to go.  You stop by their Nagy's (Grandma's) house and see what she is cooking.  They also tell you about a hero and holidays they have, as well as popular sports and school.  At the back of the book is a pronunciation guide. 

My family has enjoyed all of the books in this series.  They are a great way to teach kids in a fun and easy manner about other countries.  I always learn at least one thing (but usually more) in every book!  For example, in If You Were Me and Lived In...Hungary I learned that the Rubik's Cube was invented in Hungary!  This series is great to add to your family's book collection, perfect for homeschoolers, and would make a great gift. 

You can learn more about author Carole P. Roman and her books at her website. 


*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Children's Book Review~If You Were Me and Lived In...Scotland

If You Were Me and Lived In...Scotland: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World is a great book for children of all ages.  Author Carole P. Roman has done a wonderful job with this series, taking kids around the globe to learn about other cultures and customs. 

First, you see a globe and map of Scotland and learn what the capital and other important cities are.  You learn common names for boys and girls, and what you would call your mother and father.  Next you learn about food, sports, schools, and myths in Scotland.  At the back of the book is a handy pronunciation guide.

This series is a big hit with my family-even the adults enjoy reading them, and we always learn something new.  The illustrations are always bright and colorful.  If You Were Me and Lived in...Scotland is a great addition to our family's library. 

About the book:
If You Were Me and Lived in … Scotland by Carole P. Roman
ISBN: 978-1500531331
Publisher: CreateSpace
Date of publish: January 2015
Pages: 34
S.R.P.: $9.99

 

About the author:
Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of the If You Were Me and Lived in… series, which won the Pinnacle Award for Best in Children’s Nonfiction 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. Visit her website at www.caroleproman.com

 

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Children's Book Review~If You Were Me and Lived In...Greece

My family and I have been enjoying Carole P. Roman's series that introduces children to other cultures around the world.  I was especially excited to receive If You Were Me and Lived In...Greece because I come from a Greek family (you may have already figured that out by my name-Athena).  I have never been to Greece, but have heard so many stories and enjoy learning about our family's heritage. 

If You Were Me and Lived In...Greece starts out with two Greek children showing where Greece is on a map, and discussing Athens, the capital.  The kids discuss what popular names are for boys and girls, and what you would call your parents and grandparents.  My husband and I have continued on our family's tradition and we are Yaya and Papou to our grandson.  I love being a Yaya! 

Continuing on in the book, you learn about what currency is used in Greece and what toys you may buy with your money.  The children tell you what is good to eat in Greece, and popular attractions you would take visitors to.  The Olympics are discussed, school, and holidays.  At the back of the book is a very handy pronunciation guide. 

The If You Were Me and Lived In... series is wonderful for families.  It would make a great addition to homeschool curriculum as well.  Although it is written for children, our entire family has learned so much by reading this series!  It has color illustrations on every page, and is written in a type perfect for school age children to read. 

You can learn more about author Carole P. Roman and her books at her website.  You can purchase If You Were Me and Lived In...Greece at Amazon.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Children's Book Review~If You Were Me and Lived in...Peru

If You Were Me and Lived In...Peru is a great addition to author Carole P. Roman's children's series that introduces them to cultures around the world.  This series is a favorite of my family, and we have many of the books. 

Each of the books in the series follows a similar layout.  Two children from the country introduce you to their country by first showing you a map of where they live.  They discuss different areas in their country, such as major cities and different landscapes.  They tell you popular names for kids, what you would call your family members, and what money is called.  You will learn favorite foods from the region, popular landmarks, favorite toys and sports/games, and what school is like.  At the end of the book is a pronunciation guide. 

Every page has full color illustrations which are adorable.  The text size is perfect for school age children.  The story is engaging and keeps kids' attention.  This series is for children, but I must say I have learned so much!!  In If You Were Me and Lived in Peru, I learned many new things, one of which was that Peru produces potatoes, and there are over 4,000 types of potatoes!

To learn more about this fantastic book series, visit Carole P. Roman's website.  You can also purchase If You Were Me and Lived In...Peru at Amazon.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Children's Book Review~Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis

My family loves author Carole P. Roman and her Captain No Beard book series!  This series is wonderful for encouraging children's imaginations.  There is always a good value to learn in each story, too!

In her latest book, Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis, the crew is heading north!  The Captain has something he wants to take home without permission.  The entire crew is worried because they know it is wrong to take something without permission.  The captain tells them what it is he wants-the beautiful colors in the sky called the Aurora Borealis.  Hallie explains to him that the Aurora Borealis will only work in the north, but she has another idea that they could do at home.  Later, at home, beautiful, colorful pictures are hanging up that they colored with crayons!

This is a picture of my oldest son, Nick, and his son, Daniel (3), enjoying this latest Captain No Beard book.  They always hold his attention and he loves pretending to be a pirate himself after he reads them.  Daniel loves our Captain No Beard book collection!

To learn more about the Captain No Beard series and author Carole P. Roman, visit her website.  You can purchase Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis at Amazon. 

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Children's Book Review~If You Were Me and Lived in..Portugal

If You Were Me and Lived in...Portugal is a new addition to the popular children's series by author Carole P. Roman.  The series is an introduction to learning about other cultures, and there are many books in the series already.  What I love about this series is that it is written as if children from the other country are telling children reading the book about how they live. 

If You Were Me and Lived In...Portugal is a short softcover book targeted toward Pre-k to eight years old, but could be enjoyed by older children as well.  The illustrations are bright and draw the reader in.  The print is perfect for an elementary school child.  These are great books for homeschoolers as well, and to read as a family!

This book tells about where Portugal is, its capital city, and the names boys and girls may have there.  The history and land is also described, as well as school, food, sports, and celebrations.  I must admit, I learn at least one or two new things about each country we have 'visited' in this series. 

If You Were Me and Lived in...Portugal is available at the author's website and at Amazon in both paperback and Kindle editions. 

*Disclosure:  I received this book free in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Children's Book Review~The Crew Goes Coconuts!

The Crew Goes Coconuts is part of the Captain No Beard series written by author Carole P. Roman. There are several books in the series so far that we have enjoyed.  In The Crew Goes Coconuts, the crew finds themselves aboard The Flying Dragon thirsty, with not enough juice for everyone.  Everyone blames the goat, Mattie, who then feels bullied.  The crew learns that bullying is wrong and that they need to respect each other.   

Here is my grandson Daniel, who is two and loves The Crew Goes Coconuts!  The crew is adorable and consists of Captain No Beard, First Mate Hallie, Mongo the monkey, Polly Parrot, Linus the lion, and Fribbet the frog.  The illustrations are so cute and bright!  The stories in The Captain No Beard series teach important values while encouraging children to use their imaginations. 

You can learn more about author Carole P. Roman and her books at her website.  You can purchase The Crew Goes Coconuts there as well, and at Amazon.


*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Children's Book Review~If You Were Me and Lived in..Australia

My family has read several of the books in author Carole P. Roman's series that teaches children about the world around them.  The latest book we received to review from the series is If You Were Me and Lived In...Australia: An Introduction to Learning About Other Cultures.

We were especially excited to read about Australia!  My husband travelled there with the Navy, and he has always described what a beautiful place it is.  He would like to go back someday, and of course take us with him this time!

This series is meant for Pre-K to age 8, but both my 11 year old son and my 2 year old grandson love reading these books.  In the front of the book is a map of the country, showing the capital.  Throughout the book are bright, colorful illustrations, and a boy and girl show you what they eat, play, and what words they use for common items.  At the end of the book is a helpful pronunciation guide.  The book covers things children would be interested in knowing about daily life. 

If You Were Me and Lived in Australia is available at Amazon and on the author's website.  Carole P. Roman's website is full of lots of information.  Be sure to check out all the different countries available in the If You Were Me series!

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Children's Book Review~If You Were Me and Lived in..Russia

If You Were Me and Lived in...Russia: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World is the latest book in author Carole P. Roman's series teaching children about the world around them.  I've read and reviewed several of these with the help of my son Chad (age 11).  We both always learn many new things about the country we are reading about!

If You Were Me and Lived in...Russia has bright, whimsical illustration with easy to read text.  There is a map of Russia showing the capital, Moscow, at the front of the book, and a handy pronunciation guide at the back.  In between, a boy and girl from Russia teach you about many things-facts about their country, what they eat, what words they use for their family members, sports they play, and more!  I learned that the cute nesting doll set I had as a girl is called Matryoshka dolls. 

I think this collection of books is great for any child, and would be a perfect addition to a homeschool library!

You can purchase If You Were Me and Lived in...Russia at Amazon and at the author's website, www.caroleproman.com .  There you can also learn more about all of the author's other books!

*Disclosure: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Children's Book Review~ Pepper Parrot's Problem with Patience

My son, grandson, and I have had the pleasure of reviewing another delightful book by author Carole P. Roman-Pepper Parrot's Problem with Patience-A Captain No Beard Story.  We've previously read a few of the Captain No Beard stories, and both kids just love them. 

In Pepper Parrot's Problem with Patience, Captain No Beard and his trusty crew welcome a new crew member-a parrot named Pepper!  As they do their drills on deck, they quickly realize that Pepper Parrot doesn't know her right from her left.  The crew helps her learn, and together they successfully do their drills. 

In this story there is a theme of teamwork and helping one another, along with a subtle teaching tool for Dyslexia.  My son has Dyslexia, and I could see this story being helpful for any child, especially those with a learning disability. 

The Captain No Beard series has quickly become a favorite at my house.  The illustrations are bright and fun, and the stories are funny and engaging, with helpful character building themes.  Author Carole P. Roman is a talented author-you can learn more about her at www.caroleproman.com, and on Facebook.  Pepper Parrot's Problem with Patience is available at Amazon.

*Disclosure: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.