If You Were Me and Lived In....Series by Carole P. Roman

By Tina

Carole P. Roman did a great job creating a book series that children can learn from.  Each book is centered around a different country.  Roman takes the stance of a child and shows what life is like through their eyes in a fresh new way.

For example:

If you were me and lived in America, your name might be Billy or Bob or Dale.  If you were me and a girl and lived in America, your name might be Heather or Erica or Ava.

This is a wonderful series for teaching about different cultures.  Elementary school aged children find a great way to relate to other countries.  It's also an invaluable tool if planning to visit another country so that the child has an idea ahead of time what to expect.  The fun preparation could make the difference between a good trip and a headache.

As usual, for kids it's all about the illustrations.  These are great!  They're childlike, but not to the point that the children didn't enjoy them.  They're bright and fun and creative.