This review of If You Were Me and Lived in...Ancient Greece (An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time) (Volume 1) and If You Were Me and Lived in...Ancient China: The Han Dynasty is Brought to you by Carole P. Roman and Awaywegomedia.com. They also generously included If You Were Me and Lived in... Elizabethan England (An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time) (Volume 3) and If You Were Me and Lived in...Colonial America (An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time) (Volume 4).
These are not the first Carole P. Roman books we have read, and we have loved them all!
You can see my review of If You Were Me and Lived in...Renaissance Italy (An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time) (Volume 2), as well as If you were me and lived in.... book series by Carole P. Roman
Australia and Portugal and If you were me and lived in Mexico, France, South Korea or Norway
There are also questions and activity ideas available for several of the books on The Carole P Roman blog
Now onto the books for this review:
As you can tell from the titles, these books are from the point of view, if you lived….during the time frame the book is set.
If You Were Me and Lived in Ancient Greece
This book discusses life in Ancient Greece, around the year 350 BC. The illustrations in this book, are very muted, while the drawings are nice, I prefer a more colorful illustration in a picture book. Topics covered are Greek Gods, popular boy and girl names, towns, housing, diets, occupations and clothing, to name a few. A glossary of Gods and Goddesses and a Glossary of terms are both included at the back of the book.
The book points out that Greeks established a democracy, and that they are also created the Olympics. Famous philosophers are also introduced, such as Plato and Socrates.
I love how these book easily allow for kids to compare their lives today, as they know them, to life in the given time period. They are better able to relate to how life might have been back then, as compared to now.
Another thing I like about all the books in this series, is that there is a pronunciation included with difficult words throughout the book in parenthesis after it.
If You Were Me and Lived in Ancient China
This book discusses life in Ancient China, beginning in 150 AD. The illustrations in this book are similar to that in the Ancient Greece book. The time period for this book is that of the Han dynasty. The significance of the Han dynasty is discussed, as well as popular Chinese names and their meanings. Comparisons of city folk and country folk are made, upper and lower classes are discussed and the differences between the two living conditions. Housing, family traditions, food, clothing, hair styles, professions, and other culturally based things are introduced. At the end of the book you will find a list of Important people, and a Glossary.
If You Were Me and Lived in Elizabethan England
The illustrations in this book are much brighter! This book starts (and the others do as well) with a comparison of modern life and past life in the area. This book, however, shows the pictures SIDE by SIDE, which makes for a much easier comparison of the two time periods. The same basic topics (as listed in previous books) are discussed, names, housing, food, clothing, etc… This book includes a list of Important People and a Glossary, as well.
If You Were Me and Lived in...Colonial America
This books starts comparing London side by said, with today and when the pilgrims left it in about 1620. It discusses the history behind WHY the pilgrims left England, and how that occurred. It then talks about their life in America when they first arrived, their hardships, building houses, planting food, Thanksgiving, and how the colony grew. It also discusses, names, clothing, and traditions, as well. This book contains a list of people who influenced the colonies and a glossary.
These books are a really fun way to teach history to your kids! I would recommend them for about age 6. Older children could easily use them for a unit study jump off! We have been utilizing the first two books in our ancient history studies and accompanied the Ancient Greece book with an IMAX movie about Ancient Greece. The books really help history come alive for kids, because they can easily relate to them.
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