If You Were Me and Lived in... the Mayan Empire in Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie

Dec 18, 2019 Miranda Reads rated it really liked it

Shelves: received-to-review

Have you ever wanted to know what it was like to live during the Mayan Empire - over 1500 years ago?

Then pick up this fabulous book!

You can learn all about this ancient culture - from their clothes to their foods to their habits and cities.

Each city had a temple for worship that attracted people to settle, creating centers of exchange and learning

The houses were made of mud, and families stuck together - living right next to each of each other.

And, what was crazy to me was all of the ru ...more

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May 07, 2017 Sarah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It's easy to see why children and parents love Carol P. Roman's books. She knows how to engage children and also teach them valuable parts of history. I'm amazed at how much she keeps expanding in order to enrich family's lives. Another great addition to the series. ...more

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Mar 27, 2017 Grady rated it it was amazing

The Mayans prepared a calendar more accurate than the rest of the world.’

The multi-talented Carole P. Roman, whose `Captain No Beard' books continue to stay on top of the list of children's favorites, added another series of countries to explore, and now adds yet another series that enrich children's knowledge of other historical periods – to this date these include Colonial America, Middle Ages, Renaissance Italy, Ancient Greece, Ancient China and Elizabethan England, the American West, the Mal The Mayans prepared a calendar more accurate than the rest of the world.’

The multi-talented Carole P. Roman, whose `Captain No Beard' books continue to stay on top of the list of children's favorites, added another series of countries to explore, and now adds yet another series that enrich children's knowledge of other historical periods – to this date these include Colonial America, Middle Ages, Renaissance Italy, Ancient Greece, Ancient China and Elizabethan England, the American West, the Mali Empire, Viking Europe, and now the Mayan Empire! Carole not only has mastered the art of story telling and education but she also now opens doors of wonder about past times and periods that may just well be the introduction to history for the lucky children that are exposed to these well illustrated and knowledgeable books. This book about the MAYAN EMPIRE in the Yucatan Peninsula in southeastern Mexico is beautifully illustrated by Paula Tabor.

Carole steps further into history than most writers tread. Her decision to write about the Mayan Empire is timely, bringing her young readers (and their equally only tangentially informed parents) into the considerable riches of Mexican period of time from 1800 BC to the early 1500s when Mayan civilization spread form what we now know as Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador and was the only American society with a written history. She discusses what life was like during the peak of the Empire and follows with well-researched information about the famous events and leaders of the time. Coupling this with the unique pyramids, types of trade, the foods, clothes, weaving, tattoos, coming of age festivals, the various foods that were cultivated and hunted – all manner of facts woven into the tie-dye tapestry that Carole weaves so well. And at the end of the book Carole provides a glossary of important people of the time and words commonly used.

In other words, Carole makes leaning history fun and exciting and enhances children’s appreciation of the world of the past. And this book about the Mayans is one of her very finest yet. Excellent on every level.
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Apr 02, 2017 Israel Drazin rated it it was amazing

Carole P. Roman has won several awards because her books are attractive, wonderful to read, informative, highly educational, colorful, and very child-friendly. She has several series of books, each very successful, each praised. Each contains colorful drawings that capture and hold the interest of children. And each book is written in language kids will find interesting and the stories in each is fascinating. As I wrote in the past, “I do not know any other author of children’s books who has pac Carole P. Roman has won several awards because her books are attractive, wonderful to read, informative, highly educational, colorful, and very child-friendly. She has several series of books, each very successful, each praised. Each contains colorful drawings that capture and hold the interest of children. And each book is written in language kids will find interesting and the stories in each is fascinating. As I wrote in the past, “I do not know any other author of children’s books who has packed her books with so much need-to-know information in such a fascinating fashion as Roman does in her ‘If you were me and lived in…’ series.”
There are two groups in this series: in one she tells about a contemporary country, such as Germany, in which she gives a large amount of information about the country. She has already published twenty books in this series. In the other, she informs children about an ancient culture, such as ancient Greece or the Mayan empire. She also has other series of books, all delightful.
Children will not only learn much about other cultures and history from Carole P. Roman’s many books; the book will also stimulate the children to want to learn more; a desire that will help them today in school, improve their minds, and help them in later life. They will also learn to respect people from other countries and other times, a lesson that is unfortunately not learnt by many kids and grown-ups.
This 64-page book is about the ancient Mayan culture. Roman tells children, and adults too, about such things as the Yucatan Peninsula that was home to the Mayan civilization that goes back almost four thousand years, what the civilization was like about 1500 years ago, their written history, names they used for themselves and their cities, their jobs, their golden age, famous people, the kind of houses they lived in which lacked windows and their cities, the treatment of women, that their doors always faced east, what each family member did daily, what clothing they wore, foods they ate, religion, priests, jewelry, how parents placed boards on children’s heads to shape their heads, tattoos, decorating teeth with gemstones, the lack of a middle class, slaves, schooling, games, when a child was considered an adult, marriage, and much more, including the Mayan contributions to the world.
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Apr 14, 2017 Gayle Pace rated it it was amazing

Shelves: children-s-book, lessons-to-learn, cultures

MY THOUGHTS

Ms. Roman is continually adding good children's books that are not only fun to read but have so much to learn from. Ms. Roman can tell the stories so that the young ones can understand and don't get bored. She keeps them interested. It's hard to find good books for children that they have fun reading and yet can learn about new countries, past and present. All children need to have the opportunity to read these wonderful books and travel to the different countries while using their im ...more

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Feb 26, 2018 Reader Views rated it it was amazing

Reviewed by Paola Belloso (age 10) for Reader Views (2/18)

“If You Were Me and Lived in…the Mayan Empire” by Carole P. Roman will take you back in time to 1800 BC to a Mayan city, imagining you were an indigenous and your name was chosen after the moon, the sea, the good spirit, or a good farmer, always having a meaning of what your parents were, what they worked as, either farmers, or potter, etc. You will live in a home that was built on top of a stone and the walls were made of clay and a roof Reviewed by Paola Belloso (age 10) for Reader Views (2/18)

“If You Were Me and Lived in…the Mayan Empire” by Carole P. Roman will take you back in time to 1800 BC to a Mayan city, imagining you were an indigenous and your name was chosen after the moon, the sea, the good spirit, or a good farmer, always having a meaning of what your parents were, what they worked as, either farmers, or potter, etc. You will live in a home that was built on top of a stone and the walls were made of clay and a roof of hay. Having all your relatives living all around, your mom will stay with you cooking in a kitchen with all your aunts and cousins, weaving or maybe washing clothes in the river. Dads will go hunting for food with your brothers.

It is very interesting reading of a historical civilization that grew from the top southeastern part of what it is today the Yucatan Peninsula (You-cah-tan Puh-nins-uh-la) in Mexico down to Guatemala (Gwa-ta-ma-la), Belize (bel-lez), Honduras (Hon-dor-as), and El Salvador (El Sal-vuh-dor), where many of their descendants still live and speak the Mayan language. Even though many years have passed they still maintain their culture in their customs like food, pottery and their colorful weaving.

Once again, this series by Carole P. Roman will teach you so much about a different culture, how everything started and how much we have learned from the past. I loved the fact of how they recorded their accomplishments in stone being the only ancients who left a written history. Excellent illustrations.

A Note from Mom:

In “If You Were Me and Lived in…the Mayan Empire” by Carole P. Roman has once again introduced Paola once to a different culture in a very simple and condensed way. The unique way of writing her series has given information that will help Paola to remember what she’s learned. The glossary is very helpful and I loved the Mayan contributions to the world and the Famous Names in the Mayan Culture section. This series is a must-have in schools. ...more

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Jun 14, 2019 M.M. Hudson rated it it was amazing

Having read the author's original series for younger children, this series, updated for older elementary children, is delightful.

I have always been fascinated with Mayan culture. Their buildings and environments are amazing as well as perplexing. Carole Roman breaks it down for children in this book. Many things are to be learned along the way including the Mayan's expertise in mathematics. Did you know they introduced the concept of zero or nothing? Neither did I!

As with the original series, sh ...more

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Jun 04, 2017 Melanie Adkins rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

We're on our way to the Mayan Empire. This trip is going to be amazing. The Yucatan Peninsula was the home of the Mayans. The Mayans were very advanced. They kept a record of their history. They lived simply and were very happy. Did you know at age fifteen you were considered an adult? The Mayans also made many contributions to the world.

Well written and so fun to read. This series will give your child a look at the world. It engages their imagination and it gives you a chance to spend quality ...more

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May 17, 2017 Chris Meads rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens, non-fiction, education

First off I didn't get the kindle edition, I have the paperback version from Carole Roman herself.

I have always enjoyed her "If You Were Me and Lived In..." books Not only do they teach children but us adults as well.

This time it's the Mayan Empire. When and where they lived, their method of language, clothing and food. I remember studying the Mayan culture back in grade school but Carole makes it so much more interesting when she uses kids to teach. All schools should have these books. ...more

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Apr 29, 2017 Wanda Maynard rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

She has done it again! Through Carole P. Roman's wonderful skill, and this amazing book, IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN...THE MAYAN EMPIRE, you can learn about the Mayan civilization that has been traced back as far as 1800 BC. That is a long, long way back to the past You will discover their written history. What their cities and towns may have looked like. What they wore. What they ate, and about their crafts. Some things they did might actually surprise you; like how a sign of courage and braver ...more

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