Sunday, May 17, 2026

Conglomerate #Review: If You Were Me and Lived in...Norway/Russia/Hungary/Scotland by Carole P. Roman #childrensbookseries

It has been a while since I reviewed any of the "If You Were Me and Lived In..." series of books by Carole P. Roman. I have been privileged to have almost the entire collection from around the world. This conglomerate of a review is for four more books in the series: Russia, Hungary, Norway, and Scotland. 


As with all of her books from this series, she follows a general format which includes city capital, name for parents, names for children, money used, foods eaten, places to visit, school name, holidays, and glossary of terms in the back.

Check out below the summary for each and what I have to say about each of these award-winning books. Each of these books are 5-star books to me.

Disclosure: I received these books in exchange for my open and honest opinion. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network






Summary:
Join in on a trip to the Northern Hemisphere and learn about Norway- The Land of the Midnight Sun. If You Were Me and Lived in... Norway describes many things that make that country unique and fun. Readers will be able to learn about the capital, common names, a beloved holiday, as well as favorite food and other fun facts.

My review:
I am off to Norway, well, at least by book. May 17th is Norway's Independence Day and what better time to read about this country Parties and parades are part of the celebration.
This time I find out that there is an ice hotel that is very popular and may be somewhere people like to stay for the celebration, plus you can see the Northern Lights.
Of course, I learned the terms for Mom and Dad, where to go to school, and a favorite sport, which is skiing.







Summary:
Carole P. Roman is taking students to Northern Europe again and this time it's to visit Scotland. You'll learn about the fascinating architecture that was inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. Whether your name is Ian, Connor, or Malcolm, you'll follow along and visit Loch Ness and hope to get a sighting of it

My review:
This time, I am taking off to Scotland and try to find the infamous, Loch Ness Monster. Seriously, who would not want to see him/her! She is after all famous.

One of the places that is mentioned in the book is in Edinburgh which is home to a most famous university that many people have attended to learn medicine, law, science, and engineering.

I found out that a mythological creature, the unicorn, is the official animal of Scotland and has been printed on currency. It was fun to find out the unicorn means: grace, happiness, purity, and healing. It makes you wonder where all legends come from.

One of the things to play is golf as it is a popular sport, but the Highland Games is what is most popular.

Of course, as with the other books in this series, I learned names of children, what they call their parents, kinds of foods, and what they name their school.






Summary:
Welcome to Hungary! Join Carole P. Roman and learn about this beautiful country in Central Europe. Packed with colorful illustrations, children will learn about the sights, currency, food, and even a few Hungarian words. 

My review:
As readers travel the countries by book, we now take a stop to Hungary. This country is landlocked by other countries and has no ocean front waters. The reader finds out that its capital is the largest city but also one of the largest in the overall European countries. We also find out this city is cut into 3 areas by a most famous river. Also, Hungary is known for its numerous caves and stalagmites. Of course, you will have to read the book to find those places out.

In this book, like others, the author mentions foods to eat and the best place to eat is at Nagy's. No, it isn't a restaurant. Bring it on, I say!
Also like the other books, you find favorite sports and holidays.
An interesting thing about Hungary is the Rubiks Cube was created there. Awesome, I had no idea.  

After reading this book, maybe I need to get a ticket and go visit. I would love to visit those caves!








Summary:

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.

My review:
This last stop finds the reader in Russia. When I was growing up, Russia was not a place that any USA kid would want to go to. Oh, how times have changed and this book shows us the beauty of Russia.

This was an interesting change for the author as she explored this book and its contents with one of her grandsons on a lazy afternoon. Fun!


One of the places mentioned in the book is Moscow. I have known about that city, but it was interesting to learn that it is the most populated city in Europe and number five as the biggest. It was fascinating to learn that Russia is so big that it has 9 time zones. Whoa!

As someone who finds languages interesting, learning words that you would say in the language was awesome.  I know not the Russian language, so, trying out the words was fun and having that glossary in the back makes it easier.

As with all the books, sports and games is mentioned, as was holidays. I found out I had owned a set of Matryoshkas when I was a kid. Read the book to find out what that is.

Overall, I liked this book, and it is just one of the many places that would be great to see. Heck, I would probably take the book with me just to compare it to the actual place!

Where to find the author:

Thursday, May 14, 2026

If Kamala Can... You Can Too! by Carole Boston Weatherford #review #childrensbooks #empowerment



About the book:

If Kamala can, so can I! From the newly-announced Young People's Poet Laureate comes a powerful and inspiring picture book that shares how each milestone and moment in Kamala Harris's life represents something that lies within young readers' reach, too—building community, asking for answers, learning from elders, standing up for what's right, pride, friendship, strength, and most of all—knowing that nothing is out of the reach of their future!

My review:

Kamala Harris is a personal hero of mine, so I was truly excited to read this children's book. The book is meant to inspire children to reach for what may seem unreachable and it does do that. For each thing Kamala has overcome on one page, a child is seen on the next page attempting to reach that goal. The book speaks boldly about her and what kids can do.

However, I would have liked to have seen more about Kamala herself. The book dedicates two pages in the back of her overall successes which is great but to have seen them throughout would have been awesome. The illustrations are bold like the person herself.

Still, I give the book 4 stars and encourage maybe an updated version.

Disclosure: This book was given to me from the publicist. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network

Where to find the author:

Amazon

Aliens in Underpants Save the World by Claire Freed man and Ben Cort #review #aliens #childrensbooks #series



About the book:

The beloved aliens from Aliens Love Panta Claus are back—and this time they are on a mission to save the world!

My review:

I have to begin by saying this is a series that I had never read before, so I was unfamiliar with any characters from previous books.

I thought the premise of aliens in underpants was funny to begin with but the way they saved Earth is ludicrous. The audacity of those aliens!

I loved the larger-than-life illustrations and the colorful beings both alien and human. Kids would no doubt laugh as I did look at them.

The book is all written in simple rhyme and I could see kids wanting this book read repeatedly.

Overall though the book was okay to me and not fantastic so that is why I am giving it 3 stars.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book for my own collections. The views here are 100% my own opinions and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network

Where to find the authors:

Amazon


Friday, May 8, 2026

Max and the Mighty Hurricane by Chrissy Hobbs and Ben Jackson #review #childrensbooks #weather #courage

 


About the book:

A hurricane is barreling toward Max’s coastal home. Max is scared. What will happen to his family and friends and home as this monster storm roars in?


My review:

This well written book follows along with Max who lives near the ocean front but experiences at times weather that effects his family life. This book written in 3rd person illustrates how children process little and big things that are important to them. In Max's case it is a hurricane and what will happen to his things.

The adults are seen as helping through the children in the book by giving them suggestions but also allowing them to be their own heroes. The kids themselves talk with each other and have their own peer support.

Overall, the book is meant to help children navigate changes in their lives and to process those things they are unsure of. Excellent concept!

The books illustrations must be mentioned because they are bold and colorful. The characters facial expressions lend a hand to the overall feel of the book.

5 stars

Disclosure: I received a copy from the marketing team. The views expressed here are 100% my own opinions and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors

Where to find the author

 Amazon

Indie Publishers

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

The Curiosity Chronicles by Chris Ferrie, Byrne Laginesstra, Wade Fairclough #PickYourOwnAdventure #Science #EarlyReaders #reviews



 About the Book:

In this exciting and interactive adventure, readers will determine how their story unfolds, testing hypotheses by choosing the actions they will take. Proving their science knowledge will move them forward, while wrong choices will lead them to dead ends where they learn about more about each scientific concept before turning back to test a new hypothesis. In this engaging and interactive format, readers will learn the theory and even practice the applications of concepts like density, relative motion, acceleration, optics, kinetic and potential energy, and more.

My Review:

There is so much to like about this book. First of all, the book itself is a pick your adventure book. At the bottom of certain pages, the reader can choose how they wish to advance the storyline. Some picks can lead the reader to a dead end. Other choices can lead the reader on a grand forward movement. However, pick the wrong one and boom, end of story! So much fun and good frustration at the same time. For the record, I chose both in order to facilitate a full review.

The actual read is all about science! The "kids" in the book work together to defeat a horrible corporation that has stolen a time machine. Again, more fun! The kids meet Sir Isaac Newton and help him navigate through the world of the 21st century. Little spoiler, he is not so nice as the reader or the "kids" think.

I seriously loved this book for all the reasons above and the adventure part of it is a throwback for me. The story was informative but not boring which was a good thing considering the science elements within. I read this book twice and that is saying something right there. I know kids will love this one!

5 stars for a great book!

Disclosure:I received a copy of this book from the marketing group to review. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network


Where to find the authors:

Amazon

Sourcebooks

 


Saturday, December 13, 2025

Yearbooks & Yo-Yos: Crushing the '80s by Steven Manchester #novel #nostalgia #bookseries

Synopsis:

It’s the summer of 1986, a season of transition from childhood into young adulthood. The three brothers—Wally, Herbie, and Cockroach—are back at it and crazier than ever. While innocence gives way to higher expectations and responsibility, the boys discover that there’s no reason growing up can’t be insanely fun.

My Review:

Once again, I find myself in awe of this author. In the 3rd book of his now first trilogy, I would swear he plucked my brain to write all about the 1980s specifically this time, 1986.I did come to realize that the author graduated from high school at the same time I did.

The book begins in the present time (2025) and takes us back to that fateful year and trips us through a summer of new beginnings, growth, understanding, music, language, and yes, some heartbreak. This book watched the three brothers grow and learn about life through the eyes of friends who supported them, parents who loved them, and just pure grit.

I read along laughing and crying at many of the scenarios the family encountered. I found myself engrossed in it all. I remembered so many similar things I did like skating at the roller rink, summer love, and rocking out while waiting for college to begin. Although one of my grandparents passed away later, (spoiler alert) I related completely with the chapter, "Goodbye". In fact, a tiny healing took place that I am sure the author probably would have not expected by this reader or any other.

Overall, a fantastic and a must read. I do suggest reading the first two books to get a feel of the characters.

5 stars!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours.

~Michelle, Reading Authors Network

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Reading Challenges and this year #YuleTideSpirit



Dear Friends, Book besties, and Clients,

I don't know about you, but this year just kind of got away from me. I honestly do not know where it has gone. Usually by now, I have either hit my reading goals or nearly close. Yet here it is December and I seem to be behind. Wild!

It has been quite some time since I did a reading challenge or read a thon. So, Yuletide is upon us, and I am jumping in! If you want to join, click on the link in my sidebar and have fun.

Peace of the season.

Michelle