Monday, April 28, 2014

If You Were Me and Lived in Australia by Carole P. Roman

It seems I have missed something that other reviewers who gave this 5 stars saw. I don't want to be mean or critical, just honest. According to my Goodreads 2 star rating, the book "was ok". I just can't go higher than that and still be honest.

If you were 8 years old, sitting in the classroom and the teacher says, "you all need to read a non-fiction book and write a report on it", than I have to say that this is book is as any to do it. But seriously, if I'm being painfully honest... it's dry as dust.

Wikipedia-type facts and trivia about Australia are assembled into a storybook with pictures. There are pronunciation keys on every page. I thought these were distracting and unnecessary, especially when the story is interrupted to teach you how to pronounce such words as Jack, William, Mummy and Daddy. Interestingly, there is a page at the back of the book in which the pronunciation key is reproduced and I thought that that was a more reasonable place to put it. Why both? I'm puzzled...

So it's ok. Just know what you're getting.

I'm going to pass this onto my two nephews (age 6 and 8) who homeschool and I'm sure this will be useful for some class study.

*I received a free book from the author along with fun little bits and bobs- pencils, keychains, a blow up globe and Australian flag in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!


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