If You Were Me and Lived in...Renaissance Italy (An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time) (Volume 2) by Carole P. Roman, Silvia Brunetti-Illustrator [Review & Giveaway]

ISBN13: 9781523234271

My thoughts: So much happened during the Renaissance and, author Carole P. Roman writes interestingly of much of those exciting years. It was a time of reawakening. People began to exchange ideas, to explore the arts, and to craft amazingly beautiful and realistic art. People began to develop a merchant or middle class which was the result of new ideas, new business ventures abroad, and money making opportunities. Italy was very much a center for the re-awakening and life began to flourish.

As Ms. Roman tells the story of these developments, the reader can place himself right at the center. He or she will learn that the education was vastly different for boys and girls and was given to them by a tutor. Lower classes were uneducated.

I especially like the text on page 8, "A new age was coming. You wouldn't know this time period would be called a special name and it was about to change the entire world. It was going to be called the Renaissance and means rebirth in French. People looked back and rediscovered the teachings of Ancient Greece and Rome."  And then, "The Renaissance was the reawakening of human creatively after a darker time period."

You see, the Renaissance followed the "dark ages" which is another story to tell sometime. The timeline for the Renaissance Italy was 1330 to 1550 AD *Reference

Life for a child in Renaissance Italy was filled with activity. There was work and there was fun. Ms. Roman shares much of this with the reader.

I especially like the sections in the back of the book. There are explanations and pictures of some of the great art of the period - sculpture and paintings. Then there is a really nice section with pictures and short biographies of famous and important people during the period. And lastly, the wonderful glossary.

The illustrations of Silvia Brunetti show life styles, clothes, furnishings, and architecture. The people in the illustrations are bright eyed and have a certain charm.

This is an excellent resource for the home or classroom library. More sturdily bound editions would be wonderful in children's school libraries and the children's section of public libraries. While ideal for the elementary age child, even preschoolers will find it interesting.

About the book: Join Carole P. Roman and travel through time to visit the most interesting civilizations throughout history in the first four books of her new series. Learn what kind of food you might eat in Ancient Greece, the clothes you wore in 15th century Renaissance Italy, what your name could be in Elizabethan England, and what Colonial American children did for fun. If You Were Me and Lived in...does for history what her other award-winning series did for culture. So get on-board this time-travel machine and discover the world through the eyes of a young person just like you. . Two great question/answer worksheets to make the book even more productive.

GIVEAWAY

1 grand winner = both books

5 win Ancient Greece

5 win Renaissance Italy

Begins July 14

Ends August 3 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT
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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the author to facilitate this review of my own opinions. I was not compensated nor obligated to give a positive review.

Introduction to Cultures: If You Were Me and Lived In Italy [Review & Giveaway 1 Grand prize = set of books, + 5 will win a copy of ITALY]

The last half of the school year is well underway and students may be studying various peoples, lands, continents, and cultures. It always helps for them to have previously been introduced to it even at a pretty young age. Carole P. Roman is a former teacher and knows how to introduce cultures to students. Let your imagination travel to far away lands and see just what it might be like if you lived in......

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ITALY

Ms. Roman's book on ITALY is by far my most favorite of her culture books. She captures the essence of Italy in the illustrations consisting of photographic images as well as the usual drawings.

Did you know that Italy is in the shape of a boot? It is surrounded on three sides by water and is the home of one of history's largest conquering country - Rome.

Learn of popular names for boys and girls as well as what you would call your parents.

Ms. Roman touches on the rich history of Italy and this is definitely an asset to the book. (Tucked away in the corners along with page numbers is a tiny picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.)

The Mediterranean area - especially Italy, is well know for its food. A brief look at what the grandmother might serve you to eat in Italy is good.

At the end of the book there is are several pages of words with definitions that are good to know about Italy.

To date, Carole P. Roman has written and printed about 15 of the If You Were Me and Lived in…… books. Chat With Vera has reviewed most of these. I invite you to read my reviews and see if these might be good books to add to the library of that special child of yours. They are especially nice to have on hand in the home school library or school classroom library.

GIVEAWAY

(1st) A complete set of the "If You Were Me...." books
(2nd) 5 winners will each win a copy of Italy
Begins February 18 & ENDS March 10  @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. 

 Open to USA addresses only.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: The author provided a complimentary copy of  If You Were Me and Lived In Italy in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own and I was not compensated for this review. Giveaway prizes are provided by the author and sent directly to the winners.