“If You Were Me and Lived in…the Ancient Mali Empire” by Carole P. Roman

IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN…THE ANCIENT MALI EMPIRE

Carole P. Roman
CreateSpace (2016)
ISBN 9781540337276
Reviewed by Paola Belloso (age 10) for Reader Views

“If You Were Me and Lived in…the Ancient Mali Empire” by Carole P. Roman, you would be living in the West African continent in the capital city of Niani (Nee-an-ee), which had long and wide roads that will take you to the Mecca city. You would speak the Mandika language. In this book you will learn the different roles that boys and girls each have, as well as crafts and trade. Your house would be large and built with mud bricks and the roofs shaped with grass, and have many mosques around the city to go and pray.

You would be living close to the palace where the Mansa Musa (King Musa) lives and your brother will tell you about it, since girls were not allowed in. The Mansa Musa was the wealthiest man and always helped the city. As a girl I will stay with my mom learning to be a wife and mother until I get married and my brother would stay until the age of twelve and then leave to learn a profession.

In this book, “If You Were Me and Lived in…the Ancient Mali Empire” by Carole P. Roman, you will learn a lot of history about this ancient city, their traditions, their way of living, food, music, clothing and how the Mansa Musa contributes in the progress of the city. It is very educational and has excellent illustrations.

A Note From Mom:

“If You Were Me and Lived in…the Ancient Mali Empire” provides an excellent way to share and describe the origins of an Empire. I love how this series sets up the curiosity for those who want to learn more details about the history and beginnings of an ancient city and their development in time.