If You Were Me and Lived in...Viking Europe: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time

If You Were Me and Lived in… historical series

by Carole P. Roman, Mateya Arkova (Illustrator)

Hop in our time travel machine and join Carole P. Roman as she visits a Viking settlement in the year 890 AD. Learn what your name could be and the kind of food you might eat. Read about the different levels of society, how they affect where you would live, and the type of clothing you might wear. Mateya Arkova's beautiful illustrations illustrate what Vikings ate and their children did for fun. If You Were Me and Lived in.. Viking Europe is an exciting trip that shows a colorful culture through the eyes of a child.

Genres: History, Childrens, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Education

78 pages, Hardcover

First published August 27, 2016

About the author

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

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When a person traveled on his ship for trade or war, he was known as a Viking."

Vikings are one of the most popular people that are still talked about in society today (hello Thor!)...but what were they really like?

If you are at all curious - this is the book for you.

Life back then was very, very different.

Such as the all the ways the Vikings found to be self-sufficient.

"She boiled the seawater in a large pot until it evaporated, leaving a large supply of salt."

But there were tons of little, everyday things that were different back then - such as all the adults drinking from a hallowed horn (thus preventing them from putting it down).

"You and the other children were given wooden cups to drink from so you could finish your ale more slowly..."

And there was a ton of lifestyle differences as well.

"She also made cheese and preserved meats and vegetables for the long winter months..."

All in all, this book was a lot of fun.

I know a bit about the vikings on the sea but it was really cool to discover what their daily lives were like.

I'm just loving the illustration style! And it's about vikings too boot!

With thanks to the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review

YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the cover of this book and the illustrations. But what I loved even more is that the book is filled with so much rich information that is delivered perfectly for young minds. Grab this for young and older children. Grab it for adults too!

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://kachildrensbookreviews.blogspo...

We received this book to give an honest review.

I don't remember reading in school much about the vikings only that they would attack settlements and take what they wanted. Pretty much made them to seem ruthless, in this take of learning about Viking Europe we get to learn a bit more and it seems that they were not always like that. Vikings seemed to be very resourceful and never wasted anything which was a good thing. Maybe that is something we now a days could thing about.
K thought it was really neat that back then you could hunt with a bow and arrow at a young age. Which lead to a discussion of how things are different now than they were back then. There were not many rules about hunting and you only hunted what you were going to eat. You didn't want to hunt for sport.
I really liked how at the end of the book we get information on some of the gods that they worshiped and different vikings that made an impact. One of them I do remember reading about in school was Eric the Red!
With this series of If You Were Me and Lived in.... I think it makes kids want to learn a bit more about the world and cultures around them that were back in the day. It keeps it fun but with plenty of information!

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

If You Were Me and Lived in...Viking Europe by Carole P. Roman is another wonderful book that takes the reader back in time to learn all about the Viking life. Not just kids learn with her books, I learn along with these books! The reader gets to see what their name might be, what they would eat, play with, did they have school and what would it be, jobs and chores, social life, the clothes you might wear, the levels of society, and celebrations. I always learn in these books and these are so fun for kids. It is better than any text book around. They learn and have fun at the same time. These books need to be in schools and kids would like history more.

[Vera Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carole P. Roman is a former school teacher with emphasis on social studies. She has produced a plethora of books on countries across the globe and introduced young readers to cultures and geographical information about the countries.

Venturing into the ancient world to continue her "If You Were Me and Lived in....." series the author looks at life in Viking Europe and the year is roughly 890 A.D. While ideal for elementary students those in the early middle school grades will find them interesting and profit from inclusion in their studies. Readers can immerse themselves into the story imagining what it was like to actually live during the period about which they are reading.

Geographically, the Vikings traveled far distances to plunder, enslave, trade goods, and to resettle. Their life style is described by the author examining that of the wealthy, those of low station, and the captured and enslaved populace.

The illustrations by Mateya Arkova use soft-toned colors which for an historical period of rugged, barbarian, seafaring and waring peoples is interesting. I think of browns blacks, greys punctuated with the blue of sky and sea and green of landscapes but not pastels or reds. The illustrations provide an interesting perception of the time and peoples.

The back pages include descriptions of gods and goddesses worshiped by these Viking, Scandinavian, Norsemen as well as some actual known historically important men and women of this long ago era. The pages of words defined and with pronunciation guide are abundant.

Hard bound copies would provide good resource material for classroom as well as school libraries. But the soft cover book I reviewed is durable and well suited for the home library.

GIVEAWAY 5 Winners each 1 Copy - Begins December 26 Ends January 17 @ 12:01 a.m. EST Open to USA addresses https://chatwithvera.blogspot.com/201...

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the author to facilitate this review of my own opinions which are freely given. Winner's copies will be sent by author directly to the winners.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a way, families who lived in Viking Europe seemed to live that idyllic simple life many of us yearn for today. They lived off the land (and sea) and nothing was wasted. Everyone contributed to running the home and helping each other.

There were just two seasons...Summer, a time of light, and Winter, a time of darkness and you determined your age by how many winters you had survived. Winters were harsh and took much preparation during the Summer to survive. Much like the time of the Middle Ages, girls were chosen for marriage after age twelve. Matches were made based on alliances and protection and girls had little say in who they would marry. But, I was surprised to find divorce was possible and abuse or mistreatment was a huge dishonor.
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The end of the book includes a listing of Norse Gods and other important people in Viking history. There is also a glossary of terms to explain the many unfamiliar words used throughout the book.

Roman is extremely talented in her research and retelling of history for children to understand. This book is perfect for older school-aged kids and especially for those who love learning about ancient history. Making it personal by putting the reader in the mind of a child their age makes the learning even more interesting.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good introduction to the history of the Vikings. The Kindle format is a little wonky. But it is a good history text for children.

[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Paola Belloso (Age 9) for Reader Views (02/17)

“If You Were Me and Lived in…Viking Europe” by Carole P. Roman is another book by my favorite series and author! On this one, I learned about the Vikings who lived in North Europe many hundreds of years ago in 870 AD. I have heard of the Vikings because of a TV show that my Mom won’t let me watch, so I was happy to read about them! I learned that if I had lived with the Vikings my name could have been Sigrid (Seeg-free) which means beautiful woman or Hilde (Hillda) which means fight. I could have lived in a village near the sea in Norway, and eaten a lot of fish…yuk! I don’t like fish! I also learned that some Vikings were adventurers and others were farmers, and also that their houses didn’t have windows, maybe because it was so cold there? I also learned that they had very long boats they used to travel far away, and smaller boats to use to go nearby to trade goods.

I love all of Carole P. Roman’s books because of the stories she tells about far away people and because of all the things I learned, but I also like all the colorful pictures. In this “If You Were Me and Lived in Viking Europe” I was a little disappointed with the pictures, because they weren’t as colorful as the other books I have read.

I loved “If You Were Me and Lived in…Viking Europe” by Carole P. Roman and I am sure that kids will love it too!

[Chris Meads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sorry this review has been a long time in coming. Carole has done it again. I really like how she gives a great history lesson with these series of books. Even adults like me can learn things from these books.

This one is based on the Vikings--how they lived, the clothes they wore, the foods they ate. It even goes into their travels. It gives the kids who read this book a greater understanding who the Vikings were and not just what's on TV today. Kudos to Carole for a great book

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An educational fun way to learn how the Viking lived in approximately 870 AD in Scandinavia! A good way to start a child or class off on an exploration of the World, it’s culture, language, beliefs – very well written with lovely illustrations!

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vikings are here, the Vikings are here. And so they are in this fact filled story of the people and their culture. This will make for lots of discussion with the little ones. Do they know who the Vikings are? But did they know this about the Vikings? Enjoy. We did.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carole P. Roman is back with a well-timed book all about the Vikings and what life was like for them. It’s the year 870 AD and if you were a little Viking, you’d probably be living in a small town near water in what’s known today as Norway. While Vikings were known as barbarians who plundered and conquered foreign lands and people, by the late 800’s AD the Viking people were settling down and farming the land.



Here are some fun facts about Viking Europe:



Each name meant something. So whether you were a boy or a girl, your name carried a special meaning.



Vikings were coastal people and were excellent traders. Everything from weapons to pottery to clothing to food were traded.



Vikings were known throughout the world for traveling far from home and establish towns in far-reaching lands.



The only coins minted by the Vikings were pennies.



Viking society had three classes: wealthy, free peasants/farmers and thralls (captured people who did all the hard labor and were horribly treated, also called slaves).



Your home was shaped like a ship and close to thirty people (most of which were your extended family) also lived with you.



The Viking diet consisted mostly of seafood and unlike other societies, food was bountiful. Fruit, nuts, cheeses, sausage, porridge, bread, berries and ale were enjoyed as well.



The winters were harsh and extra food, clothing, blankets were imperative to survive. Summer was the season when everyone prepared for the upcoming winter.



The Viking alphabet consisted of 24 characters called runes. Each character had a name and represented both sound and an item.



Like the Greeks, the Vikings worshipped many gods. In order to keep the gods happy, you gave gifts/offerings. Apples were considered magical so it was important to eat apples to grow strong, like the gods.



This is an incredible book full of historical and cultural facts about the Vikings and what we now call Scandinavians. I learned so much and I know children will love it, too. Such a fantastic way to teach history to kids! A must-read and the illustrations are engaging.



My Rating: 5+ stars



This review first appeared: https://princessofthelight.wordpress.com

[Jalynn Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

About the Book:

Hop in our time travel machine and join Carole P. Roman as she visits a Viking settlement in the year 890 AD. Learn what your name could be and the kind of food you might eat. Read about the different levels of society, how they affect where you would live, and the type of clothing you might wear. Mateya Arkova's beautiful illustrations illustrate what Vikings ate and their children did for fun. If You Were Me and Lived in.. Viking Europe is an exciting trip that shows a colorful culture through the eyes of a child.



My Review:

Carole P. Roman takes us on another high flying adventure into Europe during the time of the Vikings. They were said to be much worse than the pirates that we read about today. Did you know that the Vikings had children and families just like we do? I always thought of them as a rough, rowdy group of scary men but there is more to this group and the author has researched it to show us all about them.


There were three levels of society of Vikings and they ranged from the very wealthy to the very poor. Usually families of thirty or so people lived in the same house. The Vikings lived pretty much as everyone else did of that time. The mother managed the children and the household and the father took care of everything outside the home. Mother was referred to as Moder and she wore a wimple that would hide her hair sort of like a kerchief. Most girls were suitable for marriage by the age of 12.


So as you can see there were many things that are similar to the way we live now and many things that have passed away. We still have many new things we could learn from this family of people.


**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Anne Rightler · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were me and live in...Viking Europe by Carole P. Roman is another marvelous book in her newest series about Civilizations Throughout Time. Her first series introduced culture and customs to elementary age and younger children and with this series, she brings history to life for older students. With muted colors, Mateya Arkova has drawn beautiful illustrations to show what life in Viking Europe would have looked like in the year 870 AD. The author takes the reader briefly through a discussion of the life of the explorers known as Vikings, the difficult life they led and the importance of learning skills and being prepared for the harsh winters. With enchanting pictures and easy-to-read text, readers learn about thatched roofed houses that were shaped similar to ships and would be home to sometimes 30 people and a walled off area for animals as well. The author touches on clothing, food, religion and the different occupations and recreations of this time period. Occasional questions throughout the book encourage reflection and discussion. Included at the end is a glossary of words, with pronunciations, and also a section about some of the Norse gods and one of famous Vikings. This is a wonderfully informative book that is sure to capture a child's interest and imagination.

[Gayle Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS
Get ready for another journey into another country, Viking Europe,
back in the year 890 AD. Ms. Roman takes us into another fun and learning adventure. This is great reading not only for young readers but for us not so young readers. I enjoy learning about during periods in history. The books are clean, informative and exciting. Ms. Roman always gives you several pages at the end about important people of the time along with a glossary of hard to pronounce words. As the reader you learn about their living environment, foods, what they wore, their education and so much more. This information is educational and yet fun. Along with the story there are colorful illustrations by Mateya Arkova. I love these books because the reader gets to travel and learn about countries they may never have known about. Whenever I finish a book by Ms. Roman, I'm left wanting more new countries to explore. If reading to a young one, you could split this reading up into a couple of evenings and that way they can look forward to more. Just another fine book to add to your child's book shelf to read and re-read.

I received this book from the author, Carole P. Roman in exchange for my review.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vikings are one subject area I know very little about. Some Vikings came from Norway. Vikings were some of our earliest explorers. People who traveled for trade or war were called Vikings and those who farmed were called Scandinavians. When they moved to other lands they were called Norsemen. Like many early peoples, there were different classes. The Jarls were wealthy and ran the government and had slaves. Karls were peasants and farmers. Thralls were slaves often captured from other ands. Family was very important. The houses also contained an area for your animals, storerooms and a latrine. Everyone shared the house including the slaves. Fruits, nuts, vegetables along with seafood was a large part of your diet. Seawater was boiled to make the salt that preserved the food. Children worked as hard as the adults. They were a productive part of society.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Melanie Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you lived in Viking Europe, you'd live on the coast of Norway. You would also have been born in 870 A. D. Life would depend on where you lived and what your family's status was. It's not an easy life. You'd share a house with thirty others. You'd spend most of your time preparing for the harsh winters. It's very different from your life now.

I am always thrilled to read another book by Carole P. Roman. She is an excellent writer and makes each book come alive. Your children will enjoy this series. Especially the older ones. There is so much detail in each book you'll feel as if you are there. Add this series to your child's library. They will want to read it again and again.

I found no issues here.

I gave this book 5 cheers out of 5 because your children will love it. ~Copy of book provided by author and I voluntarily reviewed it.

[Margaret Chadwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Carole P. Roman for sending me a copy of this book along with another of her educational books, If You Were Me And Lived In ... Poland (the review can be found on my blog). After I read this book I gave it to my neighbour for her young son. This book is really interesting and educational for young children. In my opinion all young children should have access to Carole P. Roman's educational books within their own home. This book contains lots of information about Europe in the time of vikings. These books are an easy and interesting way for children to learn about other places around the world and other periods in time. These books are a good starting point for children who are just getting into reading. I would recommend these books to anyone who has or works with young children.

[Tima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you like to travel back in time to the time of the Vikings? The author writes the book like a story that allows the young readers to place themselves into the time period and experience life in another place or time. The illustrations help tell the story and a large glossary at the back helps to understand the more difficult or unusual words the reader might encounter.

Readers will love the engaging way of teaching history. The illustrations provide visual aid in helping tell the story. My children enjoyed the book and were excited to add it to their collection. This would be a good supplement to any classroom or history curriculum. I would definitely recommend getting the books in this series. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy and fun they were to read while providing a wealth of information.

I received a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Jennifer Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were me and lived in…Viking Europe by Carole P. Roman, illustrated by Mateya Arkova, takes the reader on a historical trip to 870 AD, Northern Europe and the world of the Vikings. The book introduces some of the common knowledge and misconceptions about the Vikings. Vikings were known to travel and plunder but they were experiences explorers, settlers and traders. The book introduces life in this world as the different classes from the elite to the slaves. From their diet to their homes and everyday life and the special occasion and festivals, this book introduces a world of ages past. I highly recommend If you were me and lived in…Viking Europe.

If you were me and lived in…Viking Europe
by Carole P. Roman
is available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books. I especially loved this one. Who doesn't love a viking? This was a fun story about the Vikings, informative, and fun to read.

I cannot wait to have grand kids and read these stories to them. It's such a great way to educate them, with out it being "boring". Although I don't know if the word reading and boring can be used in the same sentence.

I love how Roman puts a glossary at the end of the books, that allow children to see how they are pronounced. I just love these books. They are fun.

Source: I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way for this review. These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is part of a newer series by Carol P Roman that is intended for a slightly older child – late elementary/middle school (but certainly I enjoyed it as an adult). At 75 pages, it is double the size of the previous series for younger children and there is more content with longer explanations and greater detail.

I love how it gives information in an easy-going manner, telling the history, geography, food, clothing, culture and so much more of the ancient northern Europeans (information is based on 870AD on the coast of Norway). It even tells the difference between the Vikings, the Scandinavians and the Norsemen.

This is a great book and I highly recommend it! I was privileged to get this from the author in exchange for my honest review.

[Gail Hollingsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book about the early Vikings and their families. Most lived on the coast of Norway. It gives a history starting back in 870 AD. Children learn what their names might be, clothes they would have worn and foods they would have eaten. The roles of women and men were clearly defined. The three classes were also. Vikings were explorers, traders and farmers. The seasons were summer and winter. Meals were served at 9am and 9pm. They believed in many gods and each had a name and a purpose.
This book would make a great resource for older children. It gives them information to be able to see how children living in this time and place were like.
I won this book in a contest and was not required to give a review, positive or otherwise.

[Chris The Story Reading Ape · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find out the difference between Carls and Thralls, or a Knarr and a byrding, plus much more in this book from the History Series by Author Carole P Roman.
The hand painted illustrations by Mateya Arkova help the reader to see examples of the Viking Life.

See my review also at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Were-Liv...

https://www.amazon.com/You-Were-Lived...

https://www.amazon.ca/You-Were-Lived-...

https://www.amazon.com.au/You-Were-Li...

[Wanda Maynard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful full color illustrated and informative book for young children to read, appreciate and learn a great deal about. To have lived in Viking Europe would have been interesting, but also a little scary, too, because of the plundering and the taking of prisoners. Even though the Vikings were explorers and very brave sailing their ships to war or to trade. By 870 AD though, some vikings traded in their swords for farming tools and became Scandinavians. Or settled in foreign lands and became Norsemen. This book, IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN...VIKING EUROPE by Carole P. Roman, not only tells but shows remarkable stories about everyday lives and the living conditions of these people. A uniquely, marvelous read.

[Rabid Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great look at ancient Viking times that would be great for both school projects or for just reading at home. Kids will love this colourfully, educational story that engages children with interesting, easily understandable facts about the people and the lifestyle during Viking times. The simple marker type drawings illustrate the story well and their bright colours will easily catch a child's eye. This is a book is a fun, informative story that kids will read over and over again.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carole P. Roman continues to add to her new series on different historical periods throughout the world. I just finished the book on Viking Europe. As usual, there are tons of facts and details, including the clothing, foods, and recreation enjoyed by the people of the Vikings around 870 A.D. Carole has chosen the family of a wealthy trader (of the Jarl class), as her example, explaining the home they would have lived in, the social customs, and the education the children would receive. But she also talks about the other social classes, the Carls who were peasants and farmers, and the Thralls who were usually captured in raids and used for hard labor.

Carole explains that there was no standing army, so that men like the father of the family she describes were called on to support the king when he needed soldiers and were rewarded for their service. She also shares how the people were identified by different names depending on the circumstances. We call those who were exploring and trading on their ships, Vikings. If they were settled in villages and farms, we refer to them as Scandinavians. And if they had settled in foreign lands, then they are called Norsemen. The practice of marrying daughters off at the age of 15 will raise some eyebrows, and so will the fact that women had no vote and could not be a chief.

At the back of the book there is a section which gives brief descriptions of famous people such as Erik the Red, Leif Erikson, Cnut the Great, and Emma of Normandy. And there is a glossary of terms to help out readers who may not have encountered terms like wimple, rune, or mantle.

A nice introduction to young readers who are curious about the past and important time periods and people. This series gives a broad overview of each period and location, and enough specifics to answer basic questions while also giving facts that can lead to further research.

I received a copy of the book from the author for review purposes.

[R.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.

Informative, entertaining, and well illustrated, If You Were Me and Lived in…Viking Europe is a children’s book that is written perfectly for schools or anyone who wishes to learn about the Viking times.

It travels across the Norse land telling of the habits, hobbies, families, religions, and lifestyles of the people who are so commonly called “vikings”. We learn things such as names and what they mean, some examples of Norse gods and what they were believed to be the gods of, and towards the end of the book there are even some of the historic vikings and their brief bios.

The book is paced very well, however in the middle of the book the pages can get quite long, but that is no big deal if it is being read to an older audience.

All in all, I’d say that If You Were Me and Lived in…Viking Europe would be an excellent investment for schools or a good present for children who enjoy reading and learning. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

This review was originally published on Literature Approved (http://literatureapproved.wordpress.com).

[Arlene Arredondo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for middle-graders!
The author has a way to make learning fun and make kids want to read. The illustrations are amazing, and the content is highly educational. A fun way to travel back in time an learn interesting facts about an ancient civilization.

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars Lots of detail, blandly pleasant artwork.