Friday, August 9, 2013

If You Were Me and Lived in South Korea by Carole P. Roman (Review & Giveaway)

I previously reviewed the first two books in Social Studies teacher and award-winning author, Carole P. Roman's series "If You Were Me and Lived in ......." (A Child's Introduction to Cultures) The first two books were about France and Mexico. Today we're going to look at her newest "If You Were Me and Lived in South Korea." (Read that review here)

In today's world where people are traveling with much more frequency than ever in the past and even in America where we are seeing much more interaction with the various cultures and peoples of other nations, it is of vital importance that children learn about the countries, people, and customs around the world. I have felt for a long time that there is a dearth of knowledge of the geography of this world and "social studies" - or study of people and cultures - in our educational system. So the introduction of this little series for the young child is a welcome change in that which has been so lacking.

As in the two previous books, an introduction to South Korea features a young brother and sister and their family. You learn the South Korean language names for mama and papa, you will learn of their special holiday, and the names of some foods.  There is a glossary in the back so you can see the words and begin to learn a bit about their language.  The illustrations are consistent with those of the others in the series yet lend a distinction peculiar to the country about which this book teaches - South Korea.


Carole Roman is dedicated to helping children learn - good conduct, good behavior, and social studies. Her interest in children learning is further illustrated in her generosity in providing copies for families to read to their children. So be sure you enter to win a copy  If You Were Me and Lived in South Korea.

GIVEAWAY: Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. You may be blessed to be the winner of a copy that Carole P.Roman is so generously providing. We will choose TWO WINNTERS FOR THIS GIVEAWAY. Begins August 9 & ENDS August 27  @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. Open to USA addresses only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: The author provided a complimentary copy of If You Were Me and Lived in South Korea in exchange for my honest review. Giveway copies are also provided  by the author and will be shipped directly to the winners.  

21 comments:

  1. I am not familiar at all but this interested me because my grandson is 1/4 Korean. His Grandma on his dads side (he never met her) was born in South Korea.

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  2. I am not hands on familiar, I love to read about other cultures and beliefs, I do know some about some of our native American Indian beliefs and cultures her in the United States..

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  3. How familiar are you with cultures other than your own? Give as much detail as you are comfortable writing about - because we'd love to hear of your experience. Leave your answer in blog/review comments.

    Our family just got back from a 2.5 week long vacation in Central Europe. I thought I knew about the Germans, Austrians, and Hungarians but I was wrong about some of my assumptions. I expected no one to know English but almost everyone did. The Netherlands appeared to have the most friendly and open culture and I really did not expect that at all. Everyone in Central Europe is also serious about their driving. No eating, no cell phone use, and no reminders not to do it. I expected driving habits similar to ours.

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  4. This series looks so good! This is the second time this week I've come across it! Thanks for sharing it at Booknificent Thursday at mommynificent.com!

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  5. My husband's parents are from Iran, so I know quite about about their culture, country and I know a minimal amount of Farsi. I think it is important to expose children to their own culture as well as other cultures, so my children will have a lot of cultural exposure, I suppose! :)

    This series sounds wonderful, something that I would love to enjoy with my 3 little ones!

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    1. Cristi - You children will really have a wonderful opportunity to learn of other cultures. The author, Carole P. Roman has a contest going on and you might want to check it out: http://caroleproman.blogspot.com/2013/08/win-200-toys-r-us-gift-card-or-chance.html

      Win books and a gift card for Toys R Us

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  6. I have traveled to almost every state in the USA - but little travel outside, & wish I had learned more about other cultures while growing up. I DID have contact with 2 family friends that were Chinese (have since lost contact), & took Spanish for a year in school. I also enjoyed learning about the Polynesian cultures when I traveled to Hawaii a few years ago, & the tribes native to Alaska when I visited there. My father's cousin was a missionary to the Seminole Indians - so have a little knowledge about them, & enjoyed learning about the Cherokee when I visited Cherokee, N.C..

    Would love to win this book for my nieces & nephews.

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  7. I would say fairly familiar. I was an Anthropology major in college, but I feel like it acquainted me with other cultures and made me realize how much I don't know!

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  8. I think learning about other cultures is very important. You'll enjoy watching this author, Chimamanda Adichie explain about the dangers of a single story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg

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  9. I'm from Russia, my husband half American and half Italian. We are trying very hard to create an authentic RUssian-Italian-American home for our kids -- language, food, holidays etc. My DH and I we both love to learn about different places/people/traditions etc. This book will be great for our kids and us

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  10. Another delightful book in the series, thanks so much for linking it in to the Kid Lit Blog Hop

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  11. We honestly do not know much about other cultures but we would all love to learn
    .

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  12. Oh, I just loved this series too! I highly recommend these books! Thanks for sharing in the Kid Lit Blog Hop.

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  13. I have had the good fortune to be exposed to multiple different cultures from a young age. My father was a Peace Corps volunteer in Lesotho before I was born and I grew up hearing his stories of his time in Africa. I have a brother and cousin who are both adopted from South Korea and spent a week every summer of my childhood at Korean culture camp. In addition to shorter travels where I always try to immerse myself in the local culture I have spent 6 months in Australia and 2 1/2 years in South America. I also did Peace Corps in rural Paraguay and am married to a man from Argentina!

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  14. I'm quite familiar. The high school I went with had a large population of families not from the US, and I became good friends with a lot of them, and their families. In college, most of my classmates were from other countries, and I always enjoyed spending time with them and going to their student groups to learn.

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  15. I actually got to go to Brazil when I was 12, for two whole months. I LOVED it, the culture, the food, the people. I hope to go back someday.

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  16. We really are not real familiar with many other cultures. I would love to offer this kind of fun learning experience to my grandchildren. They do have an aunt from Mexico that lives here in the states & their family has a lot of Mexican traditions & they've commented many times about "all the family" that is at every kind of celebration.

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  17. I don't know much about other cultures...but I hope to travel places someday.

    truckredford(at)Gmail(Dot)com

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  18. I am a sociology/anthropology major so I know a lot about other cultures. I am a student instructor for Cultural Anthropology, so I teach college students about other cultures. The reason I am so interested in this book is because my little cousin is adopted from South Korea.
    -Rebecca Lee

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  19. I am not that familiar with other cultures but find them very interesting to lear about have a great day.
    heather hgtempaddy@hotmail.com

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