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If You Were Me and Lived in… cultural series #8
If you were me and lived in... Australia: A Child's Introduction to Cultures around the World
BETHPAGE, N.Y. - Former social studies teacher Carole P. Roman has penned a new addition in her exiting explorations of foreign cultures and customs with "If You Were Me and Lived in ... Australia." In her years as a teacher, parent and grandparent, Roman noticed that there were few, if any, books about other cultures for young children. Roman has remedied the deficit and now introduces the new Australia installment in a series that educates kids, parents and teachers, alike. Roman recognizes that children love to discover the differences and similarities of other people and places in far-off lands. In this series, she describes details that kids can relate to. Tailored to children from 3-to-8-years old, her writing is simple but does not talk down to youngsters. Among the topics that are introduced in this journey to Australia are the unusual indigenous animals, the extraordinary Great Barrier Reef, the currency, the beloved game of cricket and the national holiday, Australia Day, as well as the special nicknames people have for one another and the curious taste sensation, Vegemite. "This series is just enough facts to begin a discussion without overwhelming the child and can be expanded or contracted to fit the age group," Roman explains. "Carole P. Roman has created a marvelous premise for her series of educational children's books: young readers are given the opportunity to realistically envision a foreign country without leaving their homes, libraries, or classrooms....Roman's formula allows for so much lovely variety in each book of this series that it hardly seems like a formula at all...If You Were Me and Lived in ...Kenya is a short, vibrant picture book, brightly illustrated in cartoon style. The text is scant, appropriate, and does not deviate from the central theme." ForeWord Reviews Clarion Review
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
26 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2014
1 person is currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Carole P. Roman
69 books2,200 followersCarole P. Roman is the award-winning author of over fifty children's books. Whether it's pirates, princesses, or discovering the world around us, her books have enchanted educators, parents, and her diverse audience of children. She hosts a blog radio program called Indie Authors Roundtable and is one of the founders of the magazine, Indie Author's Monthly. She's been interviewed twice by Forbes Magazine. Carole has co-authored two self-help books. Navigating Indieworld: A Beginners Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing with Julie A. Gerber, and Marketing Indieworld with both Julie A. Gerber and Angela Hausman. She published Mindfulness for Kids with J. Robin Albertson-Wren and a new joke book called The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids: 800+ Jokes!
She writes adult fiction under the name Brit Lunden and is currently helping to create an anthology with her mythical town of Bulwark, Georgia with a group of indie authors. She lives on Long Island near her children and grandchildren.
Her series includes:
Captain No Beard
If You Were Me and Lived in- Cultural
If You Were Me and Lived in- Historical
Nursery series
Oh Susannah- Early Reader and coloring book
Mindfulness for Kids with co-author J. Robin Albertson-Wren
The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids; 800 plus Jokes!
Navigating Indieworld- with co-author Julie A. Gerber
Marketing Indieworld- with co-authors Angela Hausman and Julie A. Gerber
Adult Fiction under the pen name Brit Lunden
Bulwark
The Knowing- A Bulwark Anthology
She writes adult fiction under the name Brit Lunden and is currently helping to create an anthology with her mythical town of Bulwark, Georgia with a group of indie authors. She lives on Long Island near her children and grandchildren.
Her series includes:
Captain No Beard
If You Were Me and Lived in- Cultural
If You Were Me and Lived in- Historical
Nursery series
Oh Susannah- Early Reader and coloring book
Mindfulness for Kids with co-author J. Robin Albertson-Wren
The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids; 800 plus Jokes!
Navigating Indieworld- with co-author Julie A. Gerber
Marketing Indieworld- with co-authors Angela Hausman and Julie A. Gerber
Adult Fiction under the pen name Brit Lunden
Bulwark
The Knowing- A Bulwark Anthology
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
November 3, 2015
Perfect for the little ones.
November 2, 2015
This entire series is so enriching. I love the discussions that it inspires when I read the different books to my child. My favorite part of this book was my daughter turned to me afterwards and said, "I want to go to Australia."
"Yes, me too, child. Me too."
I'm explorer and I love fostering that in her as well. Great book and great series. Check it out.
"Yes, me too, child. Me too."
I'm explorer and I love fostering that in her as well. Great book and great series. Check it out.
June 17, 2017
Which of Carole Roman's books to choose? She is so prolific and well-respected.
When I saw that Roman had written an educational series for youngsters, on different cultures from around the world, I was immediately drawn to the one about Australia. Through marriage, I'm international, so to find a book that I could give to my little English relatives about where their cousin comes from, was priceless.
Now, for the real test. Was the book any good and was it an accurate source of information about a foreign culture? I'm delighted to say that is was. Roman has researched Australia beautifully and targeted just the right sort of information to share with the pre-school and early primary/elementary school audience, as an educational, entertainment tool.
The Aussie ('Ozzie') references were representative of how we live down under and the gorgeous illustrations by Kelsea Wierenga, captured the colours of this antipodean nation.
Thanks for including Australia in your wonderful, wide-reaching series, Carole! I can see this book as a great resource for teaching in schools.
When I saw that Roman had written an educational series for youngsters, on different cultures from around the world, I was immediately drawn to the one about Australia. Through marriage, I'm international, so to find a book that I could give to my little English relatives about where their cousin comes from, was priceless.
Now, for the real test. Was the book any good and was it an accurate source of information about a foreign culture? I'm delighted to say that is was. Roman has researched Australia beautifully and targeted just the right sort of information to share with the pre-school and early primary/elementary school audience, as an educational, entertainment tool.
The Aussie ('Ozzie') references were representative of how we live down under and the gorgeous illustrations by Kelsea Wierenga, captured the colours of this antipodean nation.
Thanks for including Australia in your wonderful, wide-reaching series, Carole! I can see this book as a great resource for teaching in schools.
April 23, 2014
My kids are six and four years old and they are at that marvelous age where learning is fun and everything in school is exciting and new. They just soak it up like a sponge! Anything I read them outside of school I want to be educational as well, to take advantage of this time in their lives where they learn so much because I know it won't last forever!
They are growing up in a completely different technological age than I did and part of that includes E-books. My kids basically took over my Kindle a year ago and love to play games and read books on it. I think they may be better at using it than me! I recently read them Carole P. Roman's newest book If you Were Me and Lived in Australia.
Geography is one of those larger than life concepts to their age groups so having a book like this is a perfect opportunity to teach them about other Countries. Before the book even begins, it is explained how you can tap the words to make them larger and more readable. I appreciate this for two reasons.
My eyes are not what they used to be and I now need glasses so any help I can get, I take!
Reed is learning to read and it really helps him to see things boldly in black and white so that the words he recognizes jump out at him.
Once I explained that little feature to them, they were all about tap tap tapping my Kindle to play with the words. Each page is a wealth of information about Australia from how they talk to what they eat and wear. This prompted question after question from my kids. While I want reading to be educational, I finally had to tell them to hold their questions to the end because a lot of them were answered on the coming pages!
I really liked that the Australian words that are foreign to them were sounded out for them. This is especially helpful for young readers AND yes, for mommies on some words too!
The illustrations were appropriate for the pages and really helped get the points home, especially for my four year old who is still more visual. The book is recommended for ages 3 - 8 and she is on the younger end of that so the younger ones will definitely benefit from the fun pictures!
I have to admit If you Were Me and Lived in Australia was probably just as educational for me as it was for them and there is nothing more fun than learning together!
They are growing up in a completely different technological age than I did and part of that includes E-books. My kids basically took over my Kindle a year ago and love to play games and read books on it. I think they may be better at using it than me! I recently read them Carole P. Roman's newest book If you Were Me and Lived in Australia.
Geography is one of those larger than life concepts to their age groups so having a book like this is a perfect opportunity to teach them about other Countries. Before the book even begins, it is explained how you can tap the words to make them larger and more readable. I appreciate this for two reasons.
My eyes are not what they used to be and I now need glasses so any help I can get, I take!
Reed is learning to read and it really helps him to see things boldly in black and white so that the words he recognizes jump out at him.
Once I explained that little feature to them, they were all about tap tap tapping my Kindle to play with the words. Each page is a wealth of information about Australia from how they talk to what they eat and wear. This prompted question after question from my kids. While I want reading to be educational, I finally had to tell them to hold their questions to the end because a lot of them were answered on the coming pages!
I really liked that the Australian words that are foreign to them were sounded out for them. This is especially helpful for young readers AND yes, for mommies on some words too!
The illustrations were appropriate for the pages and really helped get the points home, especially for my four year old who is still more visual. The book is recommended for ages 3 - 8 and she is on the younger end of that so the younger ones will definitely benefit from the fun pictures!
I have to admit If you Were Me and Lived in Australia was probably just as educational for me as it was for them and there is nothing more fun than learning together!
May 2, 2014
About the Book:
Among the topics that are introduced in this journey to Australia are the unusual indigenous animals, the extraordinary Great Barrier Reef, the currency, the beloved game of cricket and the national holiday, Australia Day, as well as the special nicknames people have for one another and the curious taste sensation, Vegemite.
About the Author:
About the Author: A former social studies teacher, award-winning author Carole P. Roman has added a new book to her cultural education series titled "If You Were Me and Lived in … Australia." Other books in the series have featured France, South Korea and Turkey, and the book about Mexico was awarded the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs Pinnacle Award for Best in Children’s Interest in 2012. Roman loves to learn about many places, but there's no place like home and family in Long Island, N.Y.
My Review:
If you are new to the author, Carole P. Roman let me be the first to tell you that her books will help your child and you, the parent learn so much more about other countries and their culture. She thoroughly researches foreign lands to help educate our kids. I as a homeschool mom love using her books along with my children's history lessons. It opens up a whole new word to them. Her books are like short field trips packed in between a book cover.
Her latest release is to visit the continent of Australia, which is located in the Southern Hemisphere. We learn quickly as we delve into the great unknown of this land, that the people there are called Aussies and that the word "Australia" means south. If you are a child that lives there you might be named Jack or Sophie. And if you live there you are able to eat some mighty good eatin' such as a vegemite sandwich which turns out to be a type of vegetable paste. YUM! Many of the things that families enjoy are similar to the same things we do in the United States, such as roasting meat on the "barbie" could be compared to our barbeque grill.
There are many things to do in Australia such as snorkeling, spending time with your family, playing cricket, or celebrating Australia Day. It has been a true delight to learn more about this fascinating country.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author.
Among the topics that are introduced in this journey to Australia are the unusual indigenous animals, the extraordinary Great Barrier Reef, the currency, the beloved game of cricket and the national holiday, Australia Day, as well as the special nicknames people have for one another and the curious taste sensation, Vegemite.
About the Author:
About the Author: A former social studies teacher, award-winning author Carole P. Roman has added a new book to her cultural education series titled "If You Were Me and Lived in … Australia." Other books in the series have featured France, South Korea and Turkey, and the book about Mexico was awarded the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs Pinnacle Award for Best in Children’s Interest in 2012. Roman loves to learn about many places, but there's no place like home and family in Long Island, N.Y.
My Review:
If you are new to the author, Carole P. Roman let me be the first to tell you that her books will help your child and you, the parent learn so much more about other countries and their culture. She thoroughly researches foreign lands to help educate our kids. I as a homeschool mom love using her books along with my children's history lessons. It opens up a whole new word to them. Her books are like short field trips packed in between a book cover.
Her latest release is to visit the continent of Australia, which is located in the Southern Hemisphere. We learn quickly as we delve into the great unknown of this land, that the people there are called Aussies and that the word "Australia" means south. If you are a child that lives there you might be named Jack or Sophie. And if you live there you are able to eat some mighty good eatin' such as a vegemite sandwich which turns out to be a type of vegetable paste. YUM! Many of the things that families enjoy are similar to the same things we do in the United States, such as roasting meat on the "barbie" could be compared to our barbeque grill.
There are many things to do in Australia such as snorkeling, spending time with your family, playing cricket, or celebrating Australia Day. It has been a true delight to learn more about this fascinating country.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author.
April 30, 2014
As usual i received this book free in exchange for a review. Also as usual I give my candid thoughts below.
Unsurprisingly with a series of this size (I've got eight of them on my desk) they follow a pretty specific formula:
* Map page, show the country and name the capital
* Geographical overview, origin of capital's name
* Common names for boys/girls
* Words for mom/dad
* Words for money
* Common tourist attractions
* Common foods
* Most popular sport
* Annual festivals and Events
* Facts about school
* Pronunciation guide
The books are factual, straightforward and vividly illustrated and I could see a child reading a few of them but not all of them. I also don't see a lot of potential for multiple readings but they'd learn quite a few things even on the first trip around.
August 31, 2016
Australia is not just the land of kangaroos, the kids there have a lot of fun at the beach on Christmas Day and lots of other things to see and do as well.
The colour drawings add even more to the interesting facts presented.
See my review also at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...
http://www.amazon.com/you-were-lived-...
http://www.amazon.ca/product-reviews/...
http://www.amazon.com.au/product-revi...
The colour drawings add even more to the interesting facts presented.
See my review also at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...
http://www.amazon.com/you-were-lived-...
http://www.amazon.ca/product-reviews/...
http://www.amazon.com.au/product-revi...
April 25, 2014
A great way to introduce kids to other cultures
Written by Carole P. Roman, a former social studies teacher, the book If you were me and lived in... Australia: A Child's Introduction to Cultures around the World introduces children to Australian culture in a fun and light-hearted way. Written for children ages 3-8, this book touches upon interesting facts and information about Australia like popular names for boys and girls, the Great Barrier Reef, vegemite sandwiches (I still can’t hear the word “vegemite” without my brain instantly starting to sing the Men at Work song “Down Under”), and the game of cricket.
The illustrations are bright and simple, and pronunciations for some words are given within the text as well as at the back of the book. The pronunciations are the Australian way of pronouncing the words, not the way we Yanks pronounce them (such as “ba-ree-ya” for Barrier) – it’s fun to say the words aloud with the Australian pronunciations, it kind of makes me feel like Steve Irwin.
This was a fun book to read in addition to being educational – even as a grown-up, I learned some new things about Australia. When I read this to my kids, even my 13-year-old son (who was a huge Finding Nemo fan as a young child) was interested and listened as I read the entire book. It also opened the door to further discussion about Australia after we finished the book (which is quite short), and we spent quite a lot of time Googling images and information about the Great Barrier Reef.
We’ll definitely be checking out the other books Roman has written that are in the same series – some of the other countries she’s covered include Mexico, France, South Korea, India, and Kenya (among others). She’s also written books outside of this series, including I Want To Do Yoga Too and the Captain No Beard stories (which I have not read, but seem to touch on virtues like patience and sharing – with pirates! And really, isn’t everything better with pirates?)
Disclosure: I received a complimentary ecopy of this book for review purposes; all opinions remain my own.
Written by Carole P. Roman, a former social studies teacher, the book If you were me and lived in... Australia: A Child's Introduction to Cultures around the World introduces children to Australian culture in a fun and light-hearted way. Written for children ages 3-8, this book touches upon interesting facts and information about Australia like popular names for boys and girls, the Great Barrier Reef, vegemite sandwiches (I still can’t hear the word “vegemite” without my brain instantly starting to sing the Men at Work song “Down Under”), and the game of cricket.
The illustrations are bright and simple, and pronunciations for some words are given within the text as well as at the back of the book. The pronunciations are the Australian way of pronouncing the words, not the way we Yanks pronounce them (such as “ba-ree-ya” for Barrier) – it’s fun to say the words aloud with the Australian pronunciations, it kind of makes me feel like Steve Irwin.
This was a fun book to read in addition to being educational – even as a grown-up, I learned some new things about Australia. When I read this to my kids, even my 13-year-old son (who was a huge Finding Nemo fan as a young child) was interested and listened as I read the entire book. It also opened the door to further discussion about Australia after we finished the book (which is quite short), and we spent quite a lot of time Googling images and information about the Great Barrier Reef.
We’ll definitely be checking out the other books Roman has written that are in the same series – some of the other countries she’s covered include Mexico, France, South Korea, India, and Kenya (among others). She’s also written books outside of this series, including I Want To Do Yoga Too and the Captain No Beard stories (which I have not read, but seem to touch on virtues like patience and sharing – with pirates! And really, isn’t everything better with pirates?)
Disclosure: I received a complimentary ecopy of this book for review purposes; all opinions remain my own.
October 1, 2015
We love to travel. My kids can’t wait to travel the world. My son wants to go see “Thomas the Train” and my daughter is convinced she can make it to some imaginary island that only she knows the directions to. For now though, we’ll travel the world from the comfort of our living room couch.
“If You Were Me And Lived In…Australia” by Carole P. Roman will take you on an journey of discovery to the land down under. This is another installment of the “If You Were Me And Lived In…” Series.
Ms. Roman introduces us to the Australian culture. I love how she takes facts about the country and presents them in a way that excites the reader into wanting to learn more. My daughter loves to use these books as a launching pad to learn more about different cultures.
We enjoy learning about our similarities and differences between our cultures. Just today my daughter and I were talking about how some names are more popular in some areas than others. We learned that many of the names are the same as many of our friends here in Canada!
Ms. Roman has taken the time to create a Pronunciation Guide. As you read the through the book many of the words have the pronunciation key in parenthesis after the words so that you can sound it out as you are reading it, without having to turn to the official guide at the back of the book.
The illustrations are bright and colourful. They will help your child visualize what is talking about. I do wish that a couple of them were a little more detailed, but ultimately they are illustrations for kids and my son and daughter enjoyed looking at them. Their favourite pages were the underwater scenes.
“If You Were Me And Lived In…Australia” is a gentle introduction to Australia. We learned about favourite foods, money and even what they call Mom and Dad. The book helped my children learn that even though we can be oceans apart we are all basically the same.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my review. All opinions are 100% my own.
“If You Were Me And Lived In…Australia” by Carole P. Roman will take you on an journey of discovery to the land down under. This is another installment of the “If You Were Me And Lived In…” Series.
Ms. Roman introduces us to the Australian culture. I love how she takes facts about the country and presents them in a way that excites the reader into wanting to learn more. My daughter loves to use these books as a launching pad to learn more about different cultures.
We enjoy learning about our similarities and differences between our cultures. Just today my daughter and I were talking about how some names are more popular in some areas than others. We learned that many of the names are the same as many of our friends here in Canada!
Ms. Roman has taken the time to create a Pronunciation Guide. As you read the through the book many of the words have the pronunciation key in parenthesis after the words so that you can sound it out as you are reading it, without having to turn to the official guide at the back of the book.
The illustrations are bright and colourful. They will help your child visualize what is talking about. I do wish that a couple of them were a little more detailed, but ultimately they are illustrations for kids and my son and daughter enjoyed looking at them. Their favourite pages were the underwater scenes.
“If You Were Me And Lived In…Australia” is a gentle introduction to Australia. We learned about favourite foods, money and even what they call Mom and Dad. The book helped my children learn that even though we can be oceans apart we are all basically the same.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my review. All opinions are 100% my own.
December 17, 2014
I grouped my review together for these books. They are fantastic :)
These books are so fantastic for kids. I really wish my kids were still little, but I read them to my 10 yr old and he really enjoyed them as well. Each book tells you about where you can find each place. It tells about what kind of food they eat, what sports they like. It is fun to see the similarities in so many different cultures. AND the differences. What a great idea to write these books. Each book tells about an important day to each place, and what they would use for money. It's very insightful, for a children's book.
The illustrations are wonderful in the books. They are a quick and easy way to share with your children the difference and beauty of each culture in our world. Such a beautiful display of culture.
I enjoyed each book. They each had fun facts, and were interesting to read. If you have kids with friends from other countries this would be a fabulous way to introduce them to their culture. For me, I just wanted my son to see all the amazing people, and cultures that there are in our fabulous world. Each one is beautiful, and wonderful. I love this world we live in, and all the different people and cultures that add to that beauty.
Such a great idea!
Thanks to Carole P. Roman for your insight on each of these wonderful parts of our world.
Source: I was given these books by the author in return for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way for this review. These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the books.
These books are so fantastic for kids. I really wish my kids were still little, but I read them to my 10 yr old and he really enjoyed them as well. Each book tells you about where you can find each place. It tells about what kind of food they eat, what sports they like. It is fun to see the similarities in so many different cultures. AND the differences. What a great idea to write these books. Each book tells about an important day to each place, and what they would use for money. It's very insightful, for a children's book.
The illustrations are wonderful in the books. They are a quick and easy way to share with your children the difference and beauty of each culture in our world. Such a beautiful display of culture.
I enjoyed each book. They each had fun facts, and were interesting to read. If you have kids with friends from other countries this would be a fabulous way to introduce them to their culture. For me, I just wanted my son to see all the amazing people, and cultures that there are in our fabulous world. Each one is beautiful, and wonderful. I love this world we live in, and all the different people and cultures that add to that beauty.
Such a great idea!
Thanks to Carole P. Roman for your insight on each of these wonderful parts of our world.
Source: I was given these books by the author in return for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way for this review. These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the books.
June 26, 2014
I have a great Book Blogger/Author relationship with Carole Roman. She is so generous in sending me her books and items to go along with them. I have since donated all these books to our local library so that as many kids as possible can access these wonderful, educational and fun books. Be sure to check out all of Carole Roman's books
In all of the IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN.....books, Roman gives simple educational explanations about the country's language, customs, people, food, and places. These books answer the kinds of questions kids are wondering about when meeting someone from another country, learning about it in school, or traveling there. Forget about searching "Google" or "Wikipedia" and just get these books for your kids. Even a grown-up can learn from these books!
Reading about Australia just makes me want to visit there even more. They have such a long history, being separated from the rest of the world for so many years. I can only imagine the beauty and various creatures to see in the Great Barrier Reef. Share a bit of Australia with your kids by reading this book and learning together.
Children in early elementary school will really enjoy these books and not even realize they are learning about other cultures and countries. These books are engaging with bright illustrations that fit the country and culture being written about. A truly excellent series of books!
In all of the IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN.....books, Roman gives simple educational explanations about the country's language, customs, people, food, and places. These books answer the kinds of questions kids are wondering about when meeting someone from another country, learning about it in school, or traveling there. Forget about searching "Google" or "Wikipedia" and just get these books for your kids. Even a grown-up can learn from these books!
Reading about Australia just makes me want to visit there even more. They have such a long history, being separated from the rest of the world for so many years. I can only imagine the beauty and various creatures to see in the Great Barrier Reef. Share a bit of Australia with your kids by reading this book and learning together.
Children in early elementary school will really enjoy these books and not even realize they are learning about other cultures and countries. These books are engaging with bright illustrations that fit the country and culture being written about. A truly excellent series of books!
July 26, 2014
REVIEW
I have read quite a few of Ms. Roman's books. They are wonderful teaching and learning tools for children. It teaches in a fun way where children's attention is held. We all know, children's attention span is not very long. There are so many things about different countries that even adults don't know. Ms. Roman starts the book off with an illustration of the country of Australia, showing the capital. Ms. Roman introduced a fact that many of us may not know. Australia is not only a country but a continent also. The harder words have a pronunciation in brackets. She tells of the capital city of Canberra, which because of the mass of vegetation it is called the "bush capital." She tells of the different names that children may be called, what their mother and father were called and the the usage of the Australian dollar. The author lists places that you might visit if you went to Australia, foods that are eaten by the Australians and games the children play. Ms. Roman writes her IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN.... books for both children and adults. They are fun with lots of illustrations to go along with the story. Adults can learn from these books as well as children. These are books that would be good for keeping on your child;s book shelf as a collection to be read and re-read.
I was given a complimentary copy of IF YOU WEE ME AND LIVED IN...AUSTRALIA from the author, Carole P. Roman for my view of the book. No other compensation took place.
I have read quite a few of Ms. Roman's books. They are wonderful teaching and learning tools for children. It teaches in a fun way where children's attention is held. We all know, children's attention span is not very long. There are so many things about different countries that even adults don't know. Ms. Roman starts the book off with an illustration of the country of Australia, showing the capital. Ms. Roman introduced a fact that many of us may not know. Australia is not only a country but a continent also. The harder words have a pronunciation in brackets. She tells of the capital city of Canberra, which because of the mass of vegetation it is called the "bush capital." She tells of the different names that children may be called, what their mother and father were called and the the usage of the Australian dollar. The author lists places that you might visit if you went to Australia, foods that are eaten by the Australians and games the children play. Ms. Roman writes her IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN.... books for both children and adults. They are fun with lots of illustrations to go along with the story. Adults can learn from these books as well as children. These are books that would be good for keeping on your child;s book shelf as a collection to be read and re-read.
I was given a complimentary copy of IF YOU WEE ME AND LIVED IN...AUSTRALIA from the author, Carole P. Roman for my view of the book. No other compensation took place.
May 5, 2014
It seems I have missed something that other reviewers who gave this 5 stars saw. I don't want to be mean or critical, just honest. According to my Goodreads 2 star rating, the book "was ok". I just can't go higher than that and still be honest.
If you were 8 years old, sitting in the classroom and the teacher says, "you all need to read a non-fiction book and write a report on it", than I have to say that this is book is as good as any to do it. But seriously, if I'm being painfully honest... it's dry as dust.
Wikipedia-type facts and trivia about Australia are assembled into a storybook with pictures. There are pronunciation keys on every page. I thought these were distracting and unnecessary, especially when the story is interrupted to teach you how to pronounce such words as Jack, William, Mummy and Daddy. Interestingly, there is a page at the back of the book in which the pronunciation key is reproduced and I thought that that was a more reasonable place to put it. Why both? I'm puzzled...
So it's ok. Just know what you're getting.
I'm going to pass this onto my two nephews (age 6 and 8) who homeschool and I'm sure this will be useful for some class study.
*I received a free book from the author along with fun little bits and bobs- pencils, keychains, a blow up globe and Australian flag in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!
If you were 8 years old, sitting in the classroom and the teacher says, "you all need to read a non-fiction book and write a report on it", than I have to say that this is book is as good as any to do it. But seriously, if I'm being painfully honest... it's dry as dust.
Wikipedia-type facts and trivia about Australia are assembled into a storybook with pictures. There are pronunciation keys on every page. I thought these were distracting and unnecessary, especially when the story is interrupted to teach you how to pronounce such words as Jack, William, Mummy and Daddy. Interestingly, there is a page at the back of the book in which the pronunciation key is reproduced and I thought that that was a more reasonable place to put it. Why both? I'm puzzled...
So it's ok. Just know what you're getting.
I'm going to pass this onto my two nephews (age 6 and 8) who homeschool and I'm sure this will be useful for some class study.
*I received a free book from the author along with fun little bits and bobs- pencils, keychains, a blow up globe and Australian flag in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!
July 22, 2014
Ms. Roman has written another excellent book for children who want to learn more about other countries. If we wanted to visit Australia w3e would have to go to the Southern Hemisphere and that is where we would find Australia which in Latin means south.
Did you know that Charlotte, Ruby and Sophie are popular girls names in Australia. William, Jack and Oliver are also popular names so we have lots of things in common with them. Just like we call our parents mommy they call them mummy and when we say daddy they would say dadee
One of the best places to visit would be the Great Barrier Reef because you would get the opportunity to see jewel colored coral, colored fish, dolphins, turtles and whales all making their homes there.This has to be one of the favorite tourist attractions for children and adults.
The children take sandwiches for lunch like we do only they would eat vegemite, which is a dark brown paste that is spread on white bread. For dinner they would also use a barbie which is our bbq for dinner so we have lots of things in common.
What I love mostly about this book is that it teaches children as well as adults about living in this foreign place and what your life would be like. I think you will enjoy it and learn a lot about adults and children who live there.
Did you know that Charlotte, Ruby and Sophie are popular girls names in Australia. William, Jack and Oliver are also popular names so we have lots of things in common with them. Just like we call our parents mommy they call them mummy and when we say daddy they would say dadee
One of the best places to visit would be the Great Barrier Reef because you would get the opportunity to see jewel colored coral, colored fish, dolphins, turtles and whales all making their homes there.This has to be one of the favorite tourist attractions for children and adults.
The children take sandwiches for lunch like we do only they would eat vegemite, which is a dark brown paste that is spread on white bread. For dinner they would also use a barbie which is our bbq for dinner so we have lots of things in common.
What I love mostly about this book is that it teaches children as well as adults about living in this foreign place and what your life would be like. I think you will enjoy it and learn a lot about adults and children who live there.
August 4, 2014
Lily says:
This book is about Australia and all the things to do and see!
Once again the pictures are amazing and my favourite is the one of the coral reefs and the deep blue sea. I also loved the beautiful forest green pages and all of the amazing colours.
My favourite part was when they told you about the foods in Australia. It was my favourite part because the foods are a little weird and funny.
I learned how they have summer in January and how they learn in school about all the different cultures and the people native to Australia have been there for 40 thousand years and Australia was isolated until the 1700's when the Europeans arrived.
I think that lots of people would read this book, its a great story and Carole P. Roman is an awesome and informative writer.
Mom Says:
I really enjoy reading these books with my daughter, Carole P. Roman is a genius when it comes to writing and really knows what children what to know when it comes to the different cultures and countries.
I have always wanted to visit Australia and I feel a little like I have by reading this book with my daughter we loved our little trip and can't wait to read more! Carole's books are amazing!
This book is about Australia and all the things to do and see!
Once again the pictures are amazing and my favourite is the one of the coral reefs and the deep blue sea. I also loved the beautiful forest green pages and all of the amazing colours.
My favourite part was when they told you about the foods in Australia. It was my favourite part because the foods are a little weird and funny.
I learned how they have summer in January and how they learn in school about all the different cultures and the people native to Australia have been there for 40 thousand years and Australia was isolated until the 1700's when the Europeans arrived.
I think that lots of people would read this book, its a great story and Carole P. Roman is an awesome and informative writer.
Mom Says:
I really enjoy reading these books with my daughter, Carole P. Roman is a genius when it comes to writing and really knows what children what to know when it comes to the different cultures and countries.
I have always wanted to visit Australia and I feel a little like I have by reading this book with my daughter we loved our little trip and can't wait to read more! Carole's books are amazing!
April 6, 2017
Award-winning Carole P Roman's series If You Were Me and Lived in...is a wonderful way to introduce children, ages pre-K to 8 years, to cultures of people around the world. Australia, beautifully illustrated in full-color drawings and simply written, is sure to capture a child's interest and imagination. A pronunciation guide at the back enables children to learn simple Australian words and names of places. From learning that people who live there are Aussies to learning about Canberra, the capital city, from eating Vegemite sandwiches for lunch to playing cricket with friends and from celebrating Australia Day to going snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, kids will learn about Australia the country 'down under'. It is well known that books can take an armchair reader (or one sitting on a lap) anywhere and Roman does a fantastic job of globetrotting with her readers to Australia--a country and a continent all in one. Highly recommended for a child's library.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a review and the opinions are my own.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a review and the opinions are my own.
December 15, 2014
It is important to expose children to the existence of and social norms of other cultures at a very early age, the earlier the better. This book, written for the early elementary school child, features a boy and a girl exploring Australia. Their adventures include visiting some of the natural and artificial attractions such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Old Parliament house. Since Australians speak English, the language features describe ways in which the people of Australia (Aussies) use words differently than in other English speaking regions. For example, they use the word "barbie" for a barbeque grill.
The national sport of cricket is featured as well as the currency, the words for mother and father and the national holiday of Australia Day. This is an excellent, albeit brief introduction to Australia; the level of difficulty is low while the amount of information is high. I strongly recommend it for elementary school courses in multicultural studies.
This book was made available for free for review purposes and this review appears on Amazon.
The national sport of cricket is featured as well as the currency, the words for mother and father and the national holiday of Australia Day. This is an excellent, albeit brief introduction to Australia; the level of difficulty is low while the amount of information is high. I strongly recommend it for elementary school courses in multicultural studies.
This book was made available for free for review purposes and this review appears on Amazon.
June 28, 2014
If You Were Me and Lived in Australia is another informative book about the people and places around the world written for young readers. What kind of money would I use to buy something? Where would I visit, and what would I see? What would I eat, and what games would I play. Children will love to learn that they have so much in common with other children around the world, and still have many fun differences.
All of the books in this series are entertaining and will appeal to a wide age range. The recommended is age 3 to age 8. They are written in simple language, but with enough challenging material to appeal to older readers. I highly recommend this and all of the books in this series.
This book was provided in exchange for an honest review.
All of the books in this series are entertaining and will appeal to a wide age range. The recommended is age 3 to age 8. They are written in simple language, but with enough challenging material to appeal to older readers. I highly recommend this and all of the books in this series.
This book was provided in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2014
5th book in the series that I have read
The first book in this series that I read was "If you were me and lived in... South Korea" and it got me excited about reading the whole series. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading all the books in this series to my twin grandchildren.
There is a bit of history, a bit of everyday life, geography and a nifty pronunciation guide at the end of the book. Australia is a country I've always wanted to visit so that made this book extra interesting to me.
The illustrations are colorful and informative.
This is a great series to introduce younger children to different cultures around the world.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The first book in this series that I read was "If you were me and lived in... South Korea" and it got me excited about reading the whole series. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading all the books in this series to my twin grandchildren.
There is a bit of history, a bit of everyday life, geography and a nifty pronunciation guide at the end of the book. Australia is a country I've always wanted to visit so that made this book extra interesting to me.
The illustrations are colorful and informative.
This is a great series to introduce younger children to different cultures around the world.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 15, 2014
In this country, we'll learn about sea life, native cultures and again taste some of the local favorites. We'll be heading south for this trip. Really far south.. to Australia. They have a very old history and until the 1700's it was isolated from the rest of the world.
There is so much more to learn, so come on!
I love these books as a teaching tool. It is a wonderful way to teach children about other cultures and countries. It gets them excited about learning. Your littles will love these books.
I found no issues with this one.
I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because it's a fun way of teaching and learning. ~Copy of book provided by author in exchange for a fair review~
There is so much more to learn, so come on!
I love these books as a teaching tool. It is a wonderful way to teach children about other cultures and countries. It gets them excited about learning. Your littles will love these books.
I found no issues with this one.
I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because it's a fun way of teaching and learning. ~Copy of book provided by author in exchange for a fair review~
February 7, 2015
Carole has this terrific series of books for children - If You Were Me and Lived in.... I have all of them and they are a phenomenal way to introduce children of all ages to different cultures, in a way that captivates their interest. These books have just enough interesting information to entertain children but not so much that they will shy away thinking it is too much work. I call it their accidental learning. If you have not read any of these books with your children you should consider it. They are awesome and entertaining. They teach children about the diversity in the world and how we are all people with different beliefs and ways of life - but still all the same.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2014
If you lived in Australia, you would call your Mommy, "mummy" and your Daddy would be "daddy"!
If you were a girl, your name might be Sophie, Ruby, or Charlotte. If you are a boy, it might be Jack or William.
And if you wanted to grill out, you would be putting your food on the "Barbie".
If you haven't started picking up this series for your children, you really must invest in these books! This a great and informative series by author Carole P. Roman.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of the book for my review.
If you were a girl, your name might be Sophie, Ruby, or Charlotte. If you are a boy, it might be Jack or William.
And if you wanted to grill out, you would be putting your food on the "Barbie".
If you haven't started picking up this series for your children, you really must invest in these books! This a great and informative series by author Carole P. Roman.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of the book for my review.
April 24, 2014
I had the opportunity to read this book and it is delightful. I love to read because it opens up new worlds to the reader. this book is wonderful for inspiring kids to wonder about how people live in other places.
Carole presents the country the capital and the lingo all in a very easy to read style that is perfect for your young readers.
Carole presents the country the capital and the lingo all in a very easy to read style that is perfect for your young readers.
June 30, 2014
Former teacher, Carole P. Roman, writes children’s social study books that are an introduction to learning about other cultures. I am reviewing If You Were Me and Lived in Australia which has a little boy and girl showing the location of Australia on a globe. You learn first of all where Australia is located and that it is a continent all by itself.
Some of the basics of Roman’s culture books include names for Mommy and Daddy, types of food enjoyed in that culture, and activities – sports, etc. – they have. I found particularly interesting the page covering the Great Barrier Reef which is peculiar to the ocean around Australia.
Australia is English speaking but they pronounce their words differently from the English spoken in America. Roman provided a pronunciation guide in the back, with brief definition, of specific words.
To date, Carole P. Roman has written and printed the following If You Were Me and Lived in…… books: Mexico, France, South Korea, Norway, Turkey, Kenya, India, and Australia. Chat With Vera has reviewed most of these. I invite you to read my reviews and see if these might be good books to add to the library of that special child of yours. They are especially nice to have on hand in the home school library or school classroom library.
DISCLOSURE: The author provided a complimentary copy of If You Were Me and Lived In Australia in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Some of the basics of Roman’s culture books include names for Mommy and Daddy, types of food enjoyed in that culture, and activities – sports, etc. – they have. I found particularly interesting the page covering the Great Barrier Reef which is peculiar to the ocean around Australia.
Australia is English speaking but they pronounce their words differently from the English spoken in America. Roman provided a pronunciation guide in the back, with brief definition, of specific words.
To date, Carole P. Roman has written and printed the following If You Were Me and Lived in…… books: Mexico, France, South Korea, Norway, Turkey, Kenya, India, and Australia. Chat With Vera has reviewed most of these. I invite you to read my reviews and see if these might be good books to add to the library of that special child of yours. They are especially nice to have on hand in the home school library or school classroom library.
DISCLOSURE: The author provided a complimentary copy of If You Were Me and Lived In Australia in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own and I was not compensated for this review.
August 15, 2014
I loved the If you were me and lived in series of books by Carole P. Roman. The 6th is If you were me and lived in Australia. The colors used in the illustrations are realistic colors and show off the pictures well. Occasionally the print is over a picture or on a dark colored page, but the print is a good size and reads very clearly. This book, as well as the whole series, is enjoyable and educational at the same time. The book even has a glossary with a pronunciation guide in the back.
Home school parents would love these for their lesson plans, but even more, I can see children reading these with interest without much pressure because they make learning about it's specific country entertaining.
***The complete 10 book series of If You Were Me and lived in...series was won in a giveaway through The Children's Book Review given by the author.****
Home school parents would love these for their lesson plans, but even more, I can see children reading these with interest without much pressure because they make learning about it's specific country entertaining.
***The complete 10 book series of If You Were Me and lived in...series was won in a giveaway through The Children's Book Review given by the author.****
March 29, 2015
Is it possible for Australia to be a continent and a country? Yes, it is. Australia’s name means south in Latin, and is located in the southern hemisphere. If you were shopping in Australia you would use an Australian dollar. The Great Barrier Reef is located around Australia. It is the largest reef in the world and can be seen from space. Australians like to grill and eat vegemite sandwiches, bread with vegetable paste, and salads. Australians like to play cricket to pass the time.
Young readers, parents and teachers will love this series that shares cultures from around the world. Readers who are curious about Australia will learn about its celebrations, history, food, family and more. The back of the book has a guide that will help readers with pronunciation.
Young readers, parents and teachers will love this series that shares cultures from around the world. Readers who are curious about Australia will learn about its celebrations, history, food, family and more. The back of the book has a guide that will help readers with pronunciation.
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April 21, 2014I enjoy reading children books even though my son is a teenager. that being said my son enjoyed this book very much. He and i liked learning about a new country. We also liked how the author taught us the correct pronunciation of words. the illustrations are lovely to. My son of course found it to be a quick and easy read but very enjoyable. I to enjoyed it and as an adult actually learned a few things I didn't know. If you're looking for a fun way to introduce your young children to new cultures this is a great book to get them.
November 6, 2014
Carole P. Roman pens "If You Were Me and Lived In...Australia..." in a cute story line that teaches your child, and you, about the different animals, the Great Barrier Reef and so much more. A true learning experience for children and adults alike. I enjoyed reading about this new culture and even learned something from the book. Highly recommended for all readers.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
March 11, 2016
I read this series of books with my kids and we loved them! They had fun learning about the culture of each country, from what they eat, special celebrations, and translations to common words from each. I would recommend these books to anyone with kids, especially ones interested in geography. It's a great start for piquing their interest.
I received this series from the author through a giveaway. All opinions came from me :)
I received this series from the author through a giveaway. All opinions came from me :)
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