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In a way, families who lived in Viking Europe seemed to live that idyllic simple life many of us yearn for today. They lived off the land (and sea) and nothing was wasted. Everyone contributed to running the home and helping each other.

There were just two seasons...Summer, a time of light, and Winter, a time of darkness and you determined your age by how many winters you had survived. Winters were harsh and took much preparation during the Summer to survive. Much like the time of the Middle Ages, girls were chosen for marriage after age twelve. Matches were made based on alliances and protection and girls had little say in who they would marry. But, I was surprised to find divorce was possible and abuse or mistreatment was a huge dishonor.
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The end of the book includes a listing of Norse Gods and other important people in Viking history. There is also a glossary of terms to explain the many unfamiliar words used throughout the book.

Roman is extremely talented in her research and retelling of history for children to understand. This book is perfect for older school-aged kids and especially for those who love learning about ancient history. Making it personal by putting the reader in the mind of a child their age makes the learning even more interesting. ( )

Vikings are one subject area I know very little about. Some Vikings came from Norway. Vikings were some of our earliest explorers. People who traveled for trade or war were called Vikings and those who farmed were called Scandinavians. When they moved to other lands they were called Norsemen. Like many early peoples, there were different classes. The Jarls were wealthy and ran the government and had slaves. Karls were peasants and farmers. Thralls were slaves often captured from other ands. Family was very important. The houses also contained an area for your animals, storerooms and a latrine. Everyone shared the house including the slaves. Fruits, nuts, vegetables along with seafood was a large part of your diet. Seawater was boiled to make the salt that preserved the food. Children worked as hard as the adults. They were a productive part of society. ( )

If You Were Me and Lived in...Viking Europe by Carole P. Roman is another wonderful book that takes the reader back in time to learn all about the Viking life. Not just kids learn with her books, I learn along with these books! The reader gets to see what their name might be, what they would eat, play with, did they have school and what would it be, jobs and chores, social life, the clothes you might wear, the levels of society, and celebrations. I always learn in these books and these are so fun for kids. It is better than any text book around. They learn and have fun at the same time. These books need to be in schools and kids would like history more. ( )

If you were me and live in...Viking Europe by Carole P. Roman is another marvelous book in her newest series about Civilizations Throughout Time. Her first series introduced culture and customs to elementary age and younger children and with this series, she brings history to life for older students. With muted colors, Mateya Arkova has drawn beautiful illustrations to show what life in Viking Europe would have looked like in the year 870 AD. The author takes the reader briefly through a discussion of the life of the explorers known as Vikings, the difficult life they led and the importance of learning skills and being prepared for the harsh winters. With enchanting pictures and easy-to-read text, readers learn about thatched roofed houses that were shaped similar to ships and would be home to sometimes 30 people and a walled off area for animals as well. The author touches on clothing, food, religion and the different occupations and recreations of this time period. Occasional questions throughout the book encourage reflection and discussion. Included at the end is a glossary of words, with pronunciations, and also a section about some of the Norse gods and one of famous Vikings. This is a wonderfully informative book that is sure to capture a child's interest and imagination. ( )