Mother Daughter Duo Reviews: August 2014

Monday, August 04, 2014

MDDR Presents: A Review of If you were me and lived in Russia by Carole P. Roman

Exploring the world has never easier—or more fun!—than with Carole P. Roman’s award-winning If You Were Me and Lived In… children’s series. Continuing its globetrotting tradition, If You Were Me and Lived in…Russia explores the magic and wonder of this captivating country. As children ages three to eight take a leisurely stroll around Russia, they will come across some of the country’s most recognizable sites, including the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and the Red Square. Learn about Russia’s yummy delicacies, like borscht and caviar, before playing popular Russian games like chess and “fipe”—a game children may know better as “tag”! Brimming with these and other fascinating facts, If You Were Me and Lived in…Russia is the perfect way to both entertain and educate your children about the great big world that exists outside their windows. From Russia’s festive New Year’s celebrations to popular Russian names, this charming addition to the If You Were Me and Lived in… family explains everything there is to know about one of the world’s most historic destinations. Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of the If You Were Me and Lived in… series, which won the Pinnacle Award for Best in Children’s Nonfiction in 2012. She collaborated on this installment in the series with her five-year-old grandson, Alexander. Roman also writes the Captain No Beard series, the first of which was named a Kirkus Best of 2012, received a Star of Remarkable Merit, and won the Pinnacle Award in 2012.

Our Review

If you were me and lived in Russia by Carole P. Roman

My rating: 4 of 5 Moons

Lily says:

This book is about Russia and all the things to do and see!

Once again the pictures are amazing and my favourite picture was the one where they were talking about Moscow.

My favourite part in the book was when they were playing Hide & Seek tag in the park but they called it Fipe.

I learned that they go to a school called shkola and they eat lots of weird food that I can't pronounce and they play hockey but they call it Xoken.

I think that lots of people would read this book, its a great story and Carole P. Roman is an awesome and informative writer.

Mom Says:

This book was really hard to read as the Russian words were really hard to pronounce even with the helping hints...lol...it was still a great book though and we loved learning about Russia.

My daughter and I really love Carole's If you were me books! we are forever going on another adventure to another place and can't wait to read another!

make sure to get these books for your kids today!

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MDDR Presents: A Review of If You Were Me and Lived In India by Carole P. Roman

Let's travel to India! Land of bright colors and delicious spices, If You Were Me and Lived in...India, takes young readers on a road trip to learn about this interesting place. Children will learn how to say mommy and daddy, what type of currency is used, games that youngsters play and a lot of interesting facts about the beautiful land of India. If You Were Me and Lived in...India adds this ethnically diverse country to the growing, award winning series that is out to cover the entire globe, teaching children about culture and customs all over the world. The ForeWord Review, Clarion Review gave "If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya" a coveted five star ranking. The first book in the series, If You Were Me and Lived in...Mexico" received the Pinnacle Award for Best in Children's Nonfiction 2012.

Our Review

If You Were Me and Lived In India by Carole P. Roman
My rating: 5 of 5 Moons

Lily says:

This book is about India and all the things to do and see!

Once again the pictures are amazing and my favourite is the one where they are celebrating Holi! It's beautiful and colourful and the celebration sounds wonderful.

My favourite part in the book was when they told you all the names because they were hard to pronounce but creative.

I learned that they play cricket and their school is called pathshala, that the Taj Mahal is there and that it's where they make the Bollywood films.

I think that lots of people would read this book, its a great story and Carole P. Roman is an awesome and informative writer.

Mom says:

This books was so interesting! India is a interesting place! I couldn't believe that they had such an interesting culture!

Carole P. Roman surprises me again and again every time with these amazing books! I can't wait to see what adventure we get to go on next!

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MDDR Presents: A Review of If You Were Me and Lived In Australia by Carole P. Roman

BETHPAGE, N.Y. - Former social studies teacher Carole P. Roman has penned a new addition in her exiting explorations of foreign cultures and customs with "If You Were Me and Lived in ... Australia". In her years as a teacher, parent and grandparent, Roman noticed that there were few, if any, books about other cultures for young children. Roman has remedied the deficit and now introduces the new Australia installment in a series that educates kids, parents and teachers, alike. Roman recognizes that children love to discover the differences and similarities of other people and places in far-off lands. In this series, she describes details that kids can relate to. Tailored to children from 3-to-8-years old, her writing is simple but does not talk down to youngsters. Among the topics that are introduced in this journey to Australia are the unusual indigenous animals, the extraordinary Great Barrier Reef, the currency, the beloved game of cricket and the national holiday, Australia Day, as well as the special nicknames people have for one another and the curious taste sensation, Vegemite. "This series is just enough facts to begin a discussion without overwhelming the child and can be expanded or contracted to fit the age group," Roman explains. "Carole P. Roman has created a marvelous premise for her series of educational children's books: young readers are given the opportunity to realistically envision a foreign country without leaving their homes, libraries, or classrooms....Roman's formula allows for so much lovely variety in each book of this series that it hardly seems like a formula at all...If You Were Me and Lived in ...Kenya is a short, vibrant picture book, brightly illustrated in cartoon style. The text is scant, appropriate, and does not deviate from the central theme." ForeWord Reviews Clarion Review

Our Review

If You Were Me and Lived In Australia by Carole P. Roman
My rating: 5 of 5 Moons

Lily says:

This book is about Australia and all the things to do and see!

Once again the pictures are amazing and my favourite is the one of the coral reefs and the deep blue sea. I also loved the beautiful forest green pages and all of the amazing colours.

My favourite part was when they told you about the foods in Australia. It was my favourite part because the foods are a little weird and funny.

I learned how they have summer in January and how they learn in school about all the different cultures and the people native to Australia have been there for 40 thousand years and Australia was isolated until the 1700's when the Europeans arrived.

I think that lots of people would read this book, its a great story and Carole P. Roman is an awesome and informative writer.

Mom Says:

I really enjoy reading these books with my daughter, Carole P. Roman is a genius when it comes to writing and really knows what children what to know when it comes to the different cultures and countries.

I have always wanted to visit Australia and I feel a little like I have by reading this book with my daughter we loved our little trip and can't wait to read more! Carole's books are amazing!

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About The Author

Award winning author Carole P. Roman is a former teacher turned businesswoman. She has successfully run a family business with her husband that employs close to five hundred people. Her most favorite job is being grandmother to her many grandchildren. Roman has two wonderful sons and hit the jackpot in the daughter-in-law department. She currently lives on Long Island with her husband.

Her first book, Captain No Beard - An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life has been named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 as well garnered the star of remarkable merit. It was named in the Pinnacle Award for Best in Children's Fiction 2012. Captain No Beard has developed in a series of 6 more books. She is the author of the best selling book, I Want To Do Yoga Too. Currently, she is working on her educational series that explores different cultures from a child's point of view. If You Were Me and Lived in...Mexico, received the Pinnacle Award for Best in Children's non-fiction 2012. If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya received 5 Stars from the ForeWord Clarion Review. She just completed Russia with the help of her five year old grandson and loved every minute of it.

MDDR Presents: A Review of Spartan And The Green Egg: The Reefs Of Mindoro Island by Nabila Khashoggi

With a friendly alien spaceship called Egg always close by, Spartan, his three friends, and his dog, Grimm, continue their adventures traveling the Universe.

In Book 2, The Reefs of Mindoro Island, the team of explorers goes to the South China Sea and visits the beautiful isle of Mindoro. It is the seventh-largest island in the Philippine archipelago where thousands of miles of precious coral reefs, abundant with wildlife, are in danger. Spartan and his friends face a challenging mission; to stop some reckless and avaricious fishermen from blowing up the very fragile coral reefs with explosives. They befriend a brave young girl from the traditional Iraya Mangyan tribe, and are presented with an obstacle: in order to save paradise, they must take a huge risk

Our Review

Spartan And The Green Egg: The Reefs Of Mindoro Island by Nabila Khashoggi
My rating: 5 of 5 Moons

lily says:

This book is about Spartan and the gang on there next big adventure to the Philippines to save the coral reef. Along the way they meet interesting people and learn amazing facts.

Once again the pictures were amazing and my favourite picture was the one where they were all holding hands to signal the Egg.

My favourite part was when they met Maliit because I liked her personality and I really like her buffalo.

The book made me feel happy and adventurous because there's nothing better than a green egg adventure! but it also made me feel a little sad for the reefs and fishes. :(

I learned a lot of stuff in this book especially about how to save the coral reefs but I also learned that nature can even be harmful to itself and we must all care for it.

I think that lots of people would read this book, its a great story and Nabila Khashoggi is an awesome and creative writer.

Mom Says:

Nabila Khashoggi adventure books are a marvel! my daughter and I love to read them over and over again! we can't get enough! the adventure and the illustrations are amazing and incredible! each story is filled with a wonderful and amazing message for all people of all ages and things that are learned inside are so important!

I was blown away when lily and I read Nabila's first Green Egg adventure and I have to say after reading this second one I am floored! I couldn't love a children's book more then we do these ones! there is nothing more important to our future generations then to teach them about the importance of keeping our earth and its animals safe.

Keep up the amzing work Nabila! we can't wait for your next adventure!

make sure to get your copy of Nabila's Green Egg Adventure books for your children today!

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About the Author

Mother, author, and actress Nabila Khashoggi balances multiple activities, from securing financing for entertainment and industrial projects, to running Nabila K, the luxury beauty and home ambiance line.

When her eldest son Spartan was a toddler, she told him stories about a boy called Spartan who travels the universe in a live green egg (that happens to be an alien from another planet). The idea of a children’s comic book series was born and Spartan & the Green Egg, Book 1: A Trip to the Rainforest, the first in a series of ten books, was created.

Her intention was to introduce kids to environmental and cultural issues around the world, in a fun and entertaining way.

Sunday, August 03, 2014

MDDR & ST Presents: A Review of The Seed & Other Fairy Tales By Joseph Hillenbrand

The Seed & Other Fairy Tales

By Joseph Hillenbrand

Genre: Short Stories, Fiction, Fairy Tales

Book synopsis

How do you measure yourself? By family, friends, enemies? By what you fight for? Or what you fight against? Follow the tales of those struggling to find an identity of their own. A little girl with a ghost as a best friend. A woman who hates wishes. A man lost in the secret kingdom of frog people. A girl at war with her god. And a pair of soldiers on a deadly mission of peace. The seeds have been sown. The storm is coming. Who will grow and who will drown?

Our Review

The Seed & Other Fairy Tales by Joseph Hillenbrand
My rating: 4 of 5 moons

Mom says:

this was a interesting collection of stories. Joseph Hillenbrand is a creative and kooky writer and I very much enjoyed reading this book with my 10 year old daughter. Most probably wouldn't read some of these tales to their children but we have a fascination with the dark and unusual, I think it makes for a more interesting and creative story.

my favourite of the stories was the Seed it was an amazing story and Joseph did an incredible job on it. There were some stories that made us laugh and many we could see play out in our head as they progressed.

Lily and I read the shorter stories together and I read the long ones myself then told her the story. I wanted to see how the different telling of the stories would interest her, would she be more interested and captivated because it was a word of mouth story or if she liked reading the story together more. I don't think it made much of a difference she was as much captivated by the Seed Story as I told it to her as she was when we read Two and One. We did have a grand time reading it though and for some time will be telling others of the adventures we had.

Lily Says:

My favourite story was the Seed story but I also like the Unwished story because the animals could grant her all the wishes. The Seed story was the best because if it wasn't for Rhea, Caroline wouldn't have defeated Hermione.

Although there wasn't really any difference between reading the story or telling it, I liked the reading because my imagination can be so much broader.

I also think the funniest story was Two and One because I thought it was funny how they got the sausages stuck to their noses.

I think Joseph Hillenbrand is a creative and talented writer who's dark and hilarious stories should be read far and wide.

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Author Bio

I was born, raised and still live in the outskirts of Chicago. Every few years a move a little further west. Slowly inching my way to California. I love the big sky, the vast plains, the harvest moons of the Midwest.

I grew up reading comic books and playing G.I. Joe. Watching wrestling and listening to Led Zeppelin. I drew, I wrote, I strummed. I learned Stone Temple Pilots and I read Beckett. I grew and I withered.

I have spent the majority of my time in software - from support to development to management. And with my first book out now, I'm trying to get back to my roots: telling stories.