If You Were Me and Lived in… Renaissance Italy
This Renaissance introduction encourages creativity and interaction, allowing young historians to gain new insights.
If You Were Me and Lived in … Renaissance Italy by Carole P. Roman transports young historians into a bygone and unfamiliar world, where they will acquire valuable historical understanding.
This edition of Roman’s series focuses not so much on the historical aspects of the Renaissance as it does on the cultural and sociological ones. This makes it much more interesting and relatable, as children will learn what occupations, homes, education, food and drink, and clothing were like in that era. Roman also adds a bit of interactive fun throughout the book, such as encouraging readers to look at pictures of a city now and then to discern differences. This encourages the use of the imagination to gain new insights.
As Renaissance names can be a little tricky, the book includes helpful pronunciation guides for young readers. At the end, there is a thorough glossary and a separate section explaining the accomplishments of the time’s well-known people. Little minds might be blown when they find out that Michelangelo and Donatello were not just Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but actual artists and sculptors! Teachers and parents alike will appreciate the inclusion of additional resources such as coloring pages and worksheets that extend new learning beyond the book.
Illustrations prove to be as important as the text in helping to gain understanding, and illustrator Silvia Brunetti does a masterful job of making sure that they are well drawn, colorful, and most importantly, detailed. Because of this, children can see a historically accurate diagram of a Renaissance house and very close interpretations of the clothing of the day.
If You Were Me and Lived in … Renaissance Italy is a fascinating way for children to learn about the Renaissance period and is sure to be a welcome addition to any school’s library, teacher’s classroom, or child’s bedroom.
Reviewed by
Kelly Thunstrom
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
