If You Were Me and Lived in... Hungary

Roman (If You Were Me and Lived in…Peru, 2014, etc.) is back, this time helping kids virtually visit Hungary through an exploration of life and culture there.

The most recent installment of Roman’s If You Were Me and Lived In… series takes readers to Hungary on a journey similar to those of past volumes, in which kids learned about life in France, Peru, Mexico and elsewhere. Designed to teach kids about the similarities and differences between their lives and the lives of kids around the world, the book is an engaging walk through a country with which kids (and maybe even adults) may not be familiar. Roman begins with a map that shows Hungary as a landlocked country. She then explains how Buda and Pest combine into one capital city that’s separated by the Danube River. From there, she mentions traditional names for Hungarian children, what kids call their parents and grandparents, and the kinds of food typically found at the Hungarian dinner table. But the book isn’t just about vocabulary: Roman helps kids exercise their imaginations by giving them the information they need to envision themselves living in Hungary. For instance, “You might stop for dinner at your Nagy’s (Na-dge’s) house….She would make you her special goulash (goo-lash). Goulash is a thick stew filled with meat and vegetables. She would show you how she uses paprika (pap-reek-ca) which is one of her favorite spices.” Roman also describes tourist attractions in the country, gives details about holidays and tells how the Rubik’s Cube was invented in Hungary. In this short, approachable read, Roman writes engagingly and concisely, with colorful illustrations and photos reflecting what’s going on in the story. On top of that, a pronunciation key at the back of the book as well as in-text notes will help young readers pronounce unfamiliar words. Roman continues to offer texts ideal for classrooms or parents who want to teach their kids about geography and culture. Each country may seem different from a distance, but by covering topics that kids can understand and relate to, Roman helps them see just how similar people around the world are.

Gives kids a compelling glimpse of another colorful culture.