An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time by Carole P. Roman | Series Review

Review sponsored by Carole P. Roman
The Children’s Book Review | August 5, 2016 

An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time

Written by Carole P. Roman

Illustrated by various artists

Age Range: 7 and up

Paperback: 40 pages or more

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

What to expect: Educational, History, Social Studies

What to expect: Educational, History, Social Studies

Award-winning author Carole P. Roman’s spin-off series for older children, IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN … AN INTRODUCTION TO CIVILIZATIONS THROUGHOUT TIME, has launched to great acclaim. Where will Roman’s time machine be taking readers next? AMERICA WEST, ANCIENT CHINA, and the MIDDLE AGES. Get ready for the experience of a different lifetime.

If you’re not familiar with Roman’s IF YOU WERE ME series, she delivers educational pieces that allow readers to imagine themselves in the book and time period or culture. Her background as a social studies teacher has provided her with a knack for making the educational aspect of these books delightfully digestible. Each book is always filled with colorful illustrations that bring extra insight to propel the reader along with a visual journey. With each book, readers learn about things like dwellings, lifestyles, food and diet, what people wore, and the occupations and interests that people partook in.

In MIDDLE AGES, the most sophisticated installment in the series (so far), readers learn about peasants, nobility, castles, knights, medical practices, and much more. This time period is beefy and requires some expanded vocabulary—the glossary is very useful. The text is provided in small installments and the illustrations expand across a double page spread and allow readers to absorb what they have just learned before rolling into the next point. It is a great choice to read before RENAISSANCE ITALY.

In fascinating and beautiful ANCIENT CHINA, readers get to examine how it differed from their own home. The Han dynasty, The Silk Road, vocations, religion, and famous people of this time in history (such as Emperor Han Mindgi and Genghis Khan) are a sampling of what they will learn about. Mateya Arkova’s soft and watery illustrative style lends itself well to this era.

AMERICA WEST is likely to be the book from the series that is most used in elementary schools—especially those schools in the western states of the US. It begins with great side-by-side illustrations of what a piece of land in Oregon looks like now versus 1843, kicking off an insightful look into what life would have looked like had the reader travelled with their family along the Oregon Trail to settle in the 19^th century. Paula Tabor’s image of the silhouetted covered wagon crossing the prairie lands during sunset is striking­ and is used on both the cover and in the story. Students and bookworms will read about covered wagons, horses, hard work and chores, crossing rivers, settlements, and Native Americans. “You heard stories about attacks and great battles, but really only met friendly people who wanted to exchange their products for yours.”

In each of the books, it is typical of Roman to ask questions of the reader to encourage an examination between the historical period and our current times, creating deeper thinkers and heightening the learning experience. The end pages include a list and brief biography of famous people, and a glossary of foreign words.

Ideal for children ages 7 and older, each of these books will help inspire global citizens and young history buffs. Carole P. Roman’s love of history shines through on every page and every book in this series. Where to next? Wherever it is, readers everywhere will be looking forward to travelling there.

Add this book to your collection: If You Were Me and Lived in … Middle Ages

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Add this book to your collection: If You Were Me and Lived in … Ancient China

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Add this book to your collection: If You Were Me and Lived in … America West

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About Carole P. Roman

Carole P. Roman is the award winning author of the nonfiction series of children’s books, If You Were Me and Lived in … . The first title in the collection, If You Were Me and Lived in…Mexico, won the Pinnacle Award for Best in Children’s Nonfiction in 2012. If You Were Me and Lived in…Russia and If You Were Me and Lived in…France were finalists in the Indie Fab Foreword Review Book of the Year. Norway and South Korea have also been named as Book of the Year with Rebecca’s Reads and Children’s Reader’s View Book of the Year. Roman has also found success with her Captain No Beard children’s books. Her debut, Captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate’s Life, was named a Kirkus Best of 2012, received a Star of Exceptional Merit, and won the Pinnacle Award in 2012. Roman lives on Long Island with her husband and very near her children.

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Book Giveaway

Enter to win a complete autographed set of both IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN … series, written by author Carole P. Roman. Plus, the grand prize winner will also receive a $50 Amazon gift card.

After the award-winning success of the IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN … AN INTRODUCTION TO CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD series, Roman is introducing a spin-off series for older children: IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN … AN INTRODUCTION TO CIVILIZATIONS THROUGHOUT TIME. 

One (1) winner receives the grand prize:

• A set of all 6 books in the IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN … AN INTRODUCTION TO CIVILIZATIONS THROUGHOUT TIME series
• A set of all 18 books in the IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN … AN INTRODUCTION TO CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD series
• A $50 Amazon gift card

Four (4) winners receive:

• A choice of one book from either series.

Giveaway begins July 20, 2016, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends August 20, 2016, at 11:59 P.M. PST. Enter here »

Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. The author of “An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time series,” Carole P. Roman,  paid for this non-biased review. Learn more about getting a book review …