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If You Were Me and Lived in… cultural series #12

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

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You’ll never guess what crazy dish the ancient Incan kings ate. But you can read all about it, and more, in If You Were Me and Lived in…Peru, the latest book in Carole P. Roman’s fun travel series for kids.

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.



Parents, grandparents, and teachers alike will love opening their children’s eyes to the world around them in a fun and easy way—and they’ll be happily surprised when they end up learning a few things themselves. Fair warning, parents: your kids will want to start celebrating a new February holiday after reading this book. But don’t worry. You can always tell them you’re making a certain special, royal Inca dish for dinner.

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 14, 2014

4 people are currently reading
179 people want to read

About the author

Carole P. Roman

69 books2,198 followers
Carole 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

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Sarah.
Author 279 books1,492 followers
December 16, 2015
The pronunciation guides on this particular book was super helpful. Another great installment in this series.
Profile Image for Linda B.
402 reviews9 followers
January 8, 2015
If you would like to take your child on a cultural trip around the world, Carol Roman’s If You Were Me and Lived in….series is the perfect place to start. This educational series describes the life, activities and people around the world. If You Were Me and Lived in…Peru again introduces children to the local area, activities, and local culture. The book answers questions that children would ask about names, foods, games, toys, school and holidays. The print is large and easy to read and the illustrations are fun with bold colors and designs. There is a pronunciation guide in the back for unfamiliar words.

The books are ideal for pre-school and elementary school aged children. I also think they are ideal for Sunday Schools to cultivate an interest in missions around the world.

A copy of this book was provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Melanie Adkins.
802 reviews24 followers
November 21, 2014
Time to check out Peru! The country is a lively one with old customs. It's scenery will take your breath away. We can learn so much from talking with the locals and visiting historic places. I know we will all have fun.

This book really makes learning a joy. I found littles who enjoyed every word. They had tons of questions too. The writing and illustrations help parents make learning an adventure not a chore. Your littles will love this book too.

I found no issues.

I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because it's a wonderful joy to read. ~Copy of book provided by author in exchange for a fair review~
Profile Image for Chris Meads.
648 reviews11 followers
January 19, 2015
What a wonderful teaching aid for children to learn about other countries. Kids learn how other kids look; their skin and hair colors, their clothing, to even what kind of names they could be called and what they eat. The books are colorful and have easy pronunciation guide plus definitions of all the new words in the child's culture.

I learned so much about Peru, things I didn't know. So these books would give adults a bit of history of Peru (or any other country). My hat's off to Carole P Roman

Carole sent me this book in exchange for a review.
712 reviews4 followers
January 4, 2015
In this book of the series we visit Peru and the first thing that stood out to me were the foods. If you lived in Peru you would enjoy fried donuts with syrup, see what else we would eat. Very good children's series.
1 review
May 5, 2019
Very well written, has accurate information

I loved the book. It reminded me home and things I did as a child. I use it to explain my toddler where her mami comes from and how different things are in Peru. She likes it when I read the book to her.
Profile Image for Jalynn Patterson.
2,220 reviews41 followers
December 3, 2014
About the Book:

You’ll never guess what crazy dish the ancient Incan kings ate. But you can read all about it, and more, in If You Were Me and Lived in…Peru, the latest book in Carole P. Roman’s fun travel series for kids.

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.

Parents, grandparents, and teachers alike will love opening their children’s eyes to the world around them in a fun and easy way—and they’ll be happily surprised when they end up learning a few things themselves. Fair warning, parents: your kids will want to start celebrating a new February holiday after reading this book. But don’t worry. You can always tell them you’re making a certain special, royal Incan dish for dinner.

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. Passionate about writing for young readers, she enjoys every opportunity to introduce young minds to the fascinating world that awaits them by expertly infusing fun stories with quality learning. Her experience as a former social studies teacher is wonderfully apparent in the engaging and educational travel books she writes for young readers. Now with more than ten books in her popular If You Were Me and Lived in… series, she’s beginning to rake in the accolades from ForeWord Reviews, Reader Views, and Rebecca’s Reads, as well as winning NABE Pinnacle awards for multiple titles. Roman and her husband live on Long Island, New York, in close proximity to their children.

My Review:

If You Were Me And Lived In...Peru, is a great book to teach your little one about a country in South America that is rich in culture. Peru's capital city Lima overlooks the ocean and the population there is huge raining in at 9 million people. Now that's a lot!!! Lima means "talker". Hugo would be a popular boy name in Peru and a popular girl name would be Carmen. Mami and Papi would be what you called your parents, if you lived there. The civilization there is very old, Incas use to inhabit Peru. I really believe this old world has many stories to tell in its culture as well as its people.

The people there prepare and eat many interesting foods, fried doughnuts sounds yummy! Potatoes are quite popular there and they have several different types for many different taste buds. A old country world full of people, great food and lots of old culture is found in the fascination country of Peru. If you would like to learn more, you can at this link.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author.
Profile Image for Penny Minding Mom.
231 reviews1 follower
November 12, 2015
My kids love to explore the world around them. They know that there are thousands of places to travel to someday, and they are already planning some of those vacations!

"If You Were Me And Lived In... Peru" by Carole P Roman is another installment in her "A Child's Introduction to the Cultures Around The World". These stories are the perfect way for your child to explore the world around them from the comfort of home.

Explore the fascinating world of Peru. In this book your child will discover the differences and similarities of living in Peru. My kids love to see what children in other parts of the world call their mom and dad.

We live in a place where potato farming is one of our biggest exports. The kids loved to learn that Potatoes are found around the world...even all the way in Peru. Who know there were 4000 different kinds of potatoes?

The book has a pronunciation guide that helps you understand how to pronounce certain words. This is a great feature not only for adults who may be reading the story aloud, but for little readers who are still learning.

Since I have reviewed other books in this series my daughter has started reading on her own. She did find one page in this book a bit intimidating as it contained one full page of text and she found the font choice a bit difficult to read. The spacing between words is a little closer than what she is used to as well as she is she is used to reading fonts that are sans serif. She has just started Grade 1 in French Immersion so the language used in the book was a little beyond her comfortable reading level, but both my children loved to sit down and listen to this book as it was read to them.

The illustrations in the book are fun. They fit along with the story perfectly. One of the skills that my daughter has learned to help her with her reading is to look at the pictures to figure out the words. She is able to put this skill into action on several pages like the one about the dolls and again on the page about sports.

"If You Were Me And Lived In... Peru" is a great introduction to life in Peru for younger children. When studying new cultures it's often easy to get overwhelmed with facts. Ms. Roman has created a book that shares selection of facts about Peru that will gives your child a wide overview of the culture. You will learn new words, games, food and historical facts as you explore Peru in this book.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my review. All opinions are 100% my own.
Profile Image for Gayle Pace.
1,110 reviews22 followers
December 29, 2014
REVIEW

Sometimes we don't have any books for the small children that will allow them to begin to understand the ways of the culture of other countries. Ms. Roman has given us a series about small countries and their ccultures. Theese are a collection that keep grrowing all about the smalller countries and how they live. Beautiful books, not just for children but adults also. I've learned quite a few things a bout the smaller countries and can't wait for more. My sister has a small grandson and he gets the books when I am done with them. He absolutely loves them. The books are written in a language of which smaller childreen can understand. The colors are so bright and vibrant to keep the little ones attention. These books are so intersting that childrena ctually elarn the different countries and all their ways, cultures, religions, what they eat and how they go about their everyday lives. This is a book that should be added to the rest of Ms. Roman's books on the child's shelf to keep for brother or sister or rread again. They're wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.REVIEW

Sometimes we don't have any books for the small children that will allow them to begin to understand the ways of the culture of other countries. Ms. Roman has given us a series about small countries and their ccultures. These are a collection that keep growing all about the smalller countries and how they live. Beautiful books, not just for children but adults also. I've learned quite a few things a bout the smaller countries and can't wait for more. My sister has a small grandson and he gets the books when I am done with them. He absolutely loves them. The books are written in a language of which smaller childreen can understand. The colors are so bright and vibrant to keep the little ones attention. These books are so interesting that children can actually learn the different countries and all their ways, cultures, religions, what they eat and how they go about their everyday lives. This is a book that should be added to the rest of Ms. Roman's books on the child's shelf to keep for brother or sister or rread again. They're wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.

FIND OUT WHAT CRAZY DISH THE ANCIENT INCAN KINGS ATE?


I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author, Ms. Carole Roman for my honest view of the book. No other compensation took place.

Profile Image for Becca.
419 reviews30 followers
December 17, 2014
I grouped my review all 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.
Profile Image for Tara.
Author 4 books264 followers
November 24, 2014
Did you know that 1/3 of the Peruvian population (9 million people) live in a single city? (Can you guess which one?) Carole P. Roman's "If You Were Me and Lived in… Peru" introduces children to the history and culture of the Republic of Peru in this newest addition to her cultural series.

Kids will enjoy learning about what kids in Peru might be named, their names for their mom and dad, the holidays they celebrate, and what games they play.

Roman is always able to come up with interesting facts (including some lesser-known facts) about the countries in these books, and Peru is no exception. One piece of information that's included is names and descriptions of foods commonly eaten in the country – one particular meal that in the past was eaten only by Incan kings may surprise (or disgust, or dismay) both you and your kids. Beyond the cultural and historical information, other facts are introduced where appropriate (like what a terrace is, in terms of farming) to enhance the child's understanding of the material.

As with the other books in this series, there's a (much appreciated) pronunciation guide at the end of the book that provides the correct spelling, the phonetic pronunciation, and the equivalent English word.
Designed for elementary age children, even adults will probably learn something new from this book. (I know I did!)

I received a complimentary ebook for review purposes; all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Marjorie.
835 reviews68 followers
November 20, 2014
Given To Me For An Honest Review

If You Were Me and Lived in...Peru: A Child's Introduction to Cultures by Carole P. Roman is one book written and included in a fun travel series. This is a great read together and gives children a brief educational history trip of Peru. On one page is what is read and next to it is the picture showing just what you have read. The pictures are very clear and the colors are excellent. In the back of the book is a list of words that was used. It shows the correct pronunciation and meaning of the words. It explains the different foods that are eaten by name and the flavors used. Also shared is the most popular holiday is Carnival. Carnival has many traditions and special treats. This book can be used for children up to middle school. It is a very good helper if a child is having to do anything on Peru. It can be read in one sitting. I loved reading it. I am sure anyone reading it will of course end up using it as a re-read. I gave this book 5 stars but it really deserves many more. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I look for more from Carole Roman.
Profile Image for Allergykidmom's Book Reviews.
58 reviews3 followers
March 24, 2015
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.
Profile Image for Anne Rightler.
2,004 reviews35 followers
January 8, 2016
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. Peru, beautifully illustrated by Kelsea Wierenga and simply written, is sure to capture a child's interest and imagination. A pronunciation guide at the back and embedded within the book enables children to learn simple words and names of places in Peru. From going to the market to visiting Machu Picchu, an ancient mountain city, from eating roasted guinea pig (a favorite of Incan kings) to playing sapito with friends and from celebrating the amazing February Carnival to going to school, kids will learn about Peruvian traditions, foods, and geography. 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 taking her readers to Peru, a place of beauty and age-old customs. Highly recommended for a child's library.
I received my book from a contest.
Profile Image for Vera Godley.
2,039 reviews60 followers
January 18, 2015
In If You Were Me and Lived in Peru, you discover South America and gain 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.

I like that the author has touched on the history of the Inca in Peru and the ancient city built on a mountain. Also, that the potato is indigenous to Peru and a staple in their diet.

The books "Greece" and "Peru" follow the stylized pattern that Roman has established for this series. To date she has published books on the following: South Korea, France, Norway, Kenya, Turkey, India, Australia, Russia, Portugal, Greece, and Peru.

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of these books by the author in exchange for my review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Profile Image for Shelly Itkin.
468 reviews1 follower
April 14, 2015
If you want to learn more about Peru the Ms. Roman’s book is perfect for young children. The pictures are beautifully illustrated and fun to read or follow along with.

Peru is located in the western part of South America. The climate is not the same in all places since the Amazon rain forest is wet and the dry plains.

Many of us might of heard of Lima which is the capital and has a population of over nine million people. Lima means talker, which is an old Indian word.


Teresa, Carmen and Rosario are the common names for girls and Fernando, Gerardo and Hugo are the most popular names for boys.

A popular and fun game is called sapito. You place a palm size toy frog I the center of many boxes and try to throw a coin into its mouth, whoever gets the most coins in would be the winner.

Girls play volleyball and boys play futbol and love these games with their friends.

Once again, a very enjoyable read to learn about a new country.
Profile Image for Stacie.
1,948 reviews123 followers
July 3, 2015
Introducing your child to different countries and cultures around the world is so important to the growth and acceptance of those who are different from them. Roman's series teaches children to appreciate those differences through learning about all the unique qualities that various countries hold. In IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN...PERU, you can teach your child about the changing climates, the various land forms, the language, and food. I'm pretty sure your child would love to try the fried doughnuts (picarones) served for dessert. If you happen to visit Peru during February, be sure to have a towel because you may be ambushed by a bucket of water during their Carnival.

There are lots of fun things to learn about Peru and by sharing this book with children, you are giving them a way to learn about other countries and the people that live in them.
Profile Image for Autumn.
2,368 reviews47 followers
November 25, 2014
We received this book to give an honest review.

I love these books. You get to learn about new places around the world and have fun pronouncing some of the words.
With Peru we learned that they liked to eat Guinea Pigs back when Kings were around. EWWWW for us we think it is gross but to them it is was delicious. Glad we didn't live back with the Inca's.
This is a series of books that I highly recommend elementary schools carry. It is amazing to learn what goes on in other countries, and it is easy to understand.
K loves where we get to know what other places call their schools.

If you need help with pronouncing some of the words then at the ending of not only this book but all of them in this series you have a guide to help you out.
Profile Image for Athena Nagel.
286 reviews181 followers
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.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
2,460 reviews69 followers
November 21, 2014
Traveling to Peru this time around

I have enjoyed all the books in this travel series by author Roman. It allows children to get an idea about other cultures and people.

There is history going back thousands of years, food, money, names. There is a handy pronunciation guide at the end of the book.

Illustrations are colorful and pertinent to the story.

I highly recommend this entire series of books. Even adults will learn new things from each book.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for N.N. Heaven.
Author 6 books2,172 followers
September 3, 2015
In this installment of the If You Were Me and Lived in…, Carole P Roman takes us to Peru. Each page is filled with historical facts, interesting tidbits (You would call your mommy, Mami. When you see your daddy, you would call him Papi.), easy-to-read text and beautiful illustrations. I loved learning about what life is like in Peru and children everywhere will love it too.

It’s no wonder this book has won a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award. It’s well-crafted and a must-read.

My Rating: 5 stars
Profile Image for Dylena Menard.
40 reviews2 followers
August 16, 2015
Peru is a country that I have always wanted to visit and I am so excited to review this book. The book contained quite a few facts about Peru. For example the kids and I learned about the popular tourist sites in Peru, what’s popular to eat over there, popular games and about a festival that sounds awesome. The pictures were super cute and now everyone in the household wants to go there. I’m very pleased to give this book a 5/5 star review.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
124 reviews112 followers
March 15, 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 :)
Profile Image for Tima.
1,679 reviews129 followers
December 9, 2014
This little book is packed full of facts about the country and the children who live there. Each unfamiliar word has the pronunciation so that it can be pronounced correctly. The young reader will learn about customs, festivals, food, and historical information about the country. The back of the book includes a glossary for all of the new words. While the book is approximately thirty pages, the author was able to pack quite a bit of information on each page.

My children enjoyed reading the this book. The book reads more like a story than a factual book. The script is a bit like a rhyme, so will be more memorable. I appreciated the glossary so we could all learn new words. The series would make a great addition to any school library.

I received this book free of charge from Bostick Communication in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for K.L. Bernard.
Author 1 book22 followers
March 29, 2015
Peru is home to some of the oldest civilizations. People have lived there for over ten thousand years. Peru is located in South America. Peru is home to the Amazon and Andes Mountains. One third of the population lives in Lima, the largest city overlooking the ocean. Nuevos soles is money. Peru has Machu Picchu an ancient city built by the Incas. In Peru you could eat ceviche cuy, or mashed potatoes stuffed with meat. You and your friends could play games like sapito. Every year in February you would celebrate Carnival.

Young readers, parent and teachers will love this series that shares cultures from around the world. Readers who are curious about Peru will learn about its celebrations, history, food, family and more. The book comes with a flag. The back of the book has a guide that will help readers with pronunciation.
Profile Image for Sandra Stiles.
Author 1 book81 followers
November 14, 2014
In this book we learn the capital is Lima and we learn the word actually means "talker. We also learn common names for boys and girls. If you visit you will want to know that their money is called nuevos soles. You will learn a little bit about the Incas. You will read about some of their favorite foods such as fried guinea pig. Peru is the potato capital where you will find about 4000 kinds of potatoes. There is so many more cultural things to learn as you take this wonderful trip to Peru.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Profile Image for Charissa Wilkinson.
965 reviews13 followers
November 19, 2014
I received this book for a fair review.

Overview: Ms. Roman continues her Nations Books with Peru.

Likes: I like how Ms. Roman has a consistency in her way of showing the nations.

Dislikes: Did we really need the knowledge of cuy? Be ready to explain this one if your children have a guinea pig.

Conclusion: It’s a great learning aid. I hope you enjoy it.
Profile Image for Bonnie Rediske- .
311 reviews9 followers
November 15, 2014
Wow. I am so impressed with this little book. It has such great images to show what is being described. The best thing about it is that even though there are tough words that would be difficult for kids to pronounce, the author has provided a guide to aide with those words. This is a great book to teach kids about a country far away. I give this 5 kid fangs. My first grader loved it!
Profile Image for Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com.
2,233 reviews93 followers
December 7, 2014
SERIES REVIEW: What great all encompassing books for kids on countries all over the world. My son is constantly asking me about places all over the world, so these books are right up his alley. It presents great information in a way that is easy for kids to understand. It is like taking a tour of each of the counties within the pages of a book! 4 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews