If You Were Me and Lived In...India, Kenya, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Turkey

If You Were Me and Lived In...
India  ISBN: 9781494030861 
Kenya ISBN: 9781481979917
Norway ISBN: 9781481979948
Portugal ISBN: 9781495379932
Russia ISBN: 978149378980
Turkey ISBN: 9781481979849
A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World
Carole P. Roman Author/Illustrator
Amazon Digital Services
Charleston, South Carolina
2013/2014
$ 9.99
30 pages

"If You Were Me and Lived In..." is a wonderful journey experiencing life in other countries with different languages, foods, and customs.   How can anyone be completely prepared to visit any country?   Reading a book by Carole P. Roman is the perfect introduction into other ways of life in other parts of the world.

Each short fact-based book is beautifully illustrated with pictures that perfectly match the words on the page giving the reader more than the information but utilizing the words into a realistic setting that is common for each country.

The basic format is similar for each book beginning with the geography and showing each country's place in regards to the world describing the country, the usual weather, the continent, bodies of water, and usually facts specific to the individual country.  This is followed by a quick description and picturesque setting of the capital city.

With the focus being "If You Were Me and Lived In...", the you and me are very important with the next page including common names for children and how they address their parents while the illustrations are grounded in the home and family life.

Shopping is also included with a brief explanation of the money system and shopping in a local market while also showing how people are commonly dressed.

The most famous vacation spots are the next focus with the Taj Mahal in India, the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, the Hagia Sophia in Turkey, the Azores in Portugal, the Kirkenes Snowhotel in Norway, and Red Square in Moscow.

The food pages explain the common dishes, what is in them, how to eat them, and how to pronounce them as well as illustrating the usual method of cooking and eating these foods whether seated at a table or on the floor.

The sporting activities such as skiing in Norway, soccer in Portugal and Turkey, cricket in Kenya and India, as well as ice hockey, chess, and hide-and-go-seek in Russia continue to demonstrate the common aspects throughout the world.

Celebrations including the pronunciations along with a brief description of the reasons behind the event conclude the books with a compiled list of the foreign words on the last page.

Carole P. Roman is a retired social studies teacher who continues to educate the public through this series of books.  She has won both the Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 and the Pinnacle Award- Best Children's Book in 2013 with her pirate series, Captain No Beard- An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life as well as the Clarion Five-Star Review for both the India and Kenya books.

For children of all ages, Carole P. Roman's books are a wonderful way to travel.