If You Were Me and Lived in... Elizabethan England (An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time) (Volume 3) by Carole P. Roman & illustrated by Paula Tabor [Review & Giveaway]

ISBN13: 9781523229369

My thoughts: This new series of children's books, An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time, is very special. They are geared elementary students and perhaps on into the early middle school grades. Former teacher Carole P. Roman is in her element when she introduces children to cultures and to various periods of history. This series incorporates wonderful factual information throughout the story while immersing the reader as the "You" in the story.

So much happened during in Elizabethan England and, author Carole P. Roman writes interestingly of much of those years in the late 1500s to early 1600s. This was an important literary period. Drama and stage productions became important and William Shakespeare wrote his many important works. This was also an important period of discovery and establishment of the wealthy merchant class.

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. Only one child in a lower class was educated and only a boy. Education for girls was solely homemaking skills. The reader will go through what a day in the life of a child during this period was like. Life for a child in Elizabethan England was filled with activity.

The illustrations show vast differences in wealthy and commoners' clothing. Living conditions were vastly different as well. The dark, cobbled, and dirty streets of the city are clearly pointed out. This provides a good opportunity for children to be enlightened as to our current living conditions contrasting with those of Elizabethan England and why the improvements we have are so very important.

I especially like the emphasis on food and food preparation during this period. Contrasting the lower class and wealthy or upper class's style of eating and foods available to them is clearly an important lesson for children of today to learn.

Queen Elizabeth I was a protestant yet she was somewhat tolerant of those of Catholic faith. During this period, usually a country was one faith or the other and intolerant of differing faiths.


I especially like the sections in the back of the book. There is a really nice section with pictures and short biographies of famous and important people during the period. And lastly, the wonderful glossary.

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, entire families can benefit in reading this story about Elizabethan England.

About the book: 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 Elizabethan England, the complicated clothes you might wear, what might influence your parents to choose your name, and what 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.  Study sheets for Elizabethan England

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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.