I love New York City. I love the hustle and bustle and movement of thousands of people going places at once. I love the feeling of getting on the subway and knowing that anywhere you get off, you can find a distinct culture with different foods, languages, and people. I love that no matter how many times you've visited, there's always something new do in New York, somewhere new to explore. I've visited New York enough times, and given enough friends tours of New York, that I've started to think of myself less as a tourist and more as local who doesn't get to spend enough time in their city. So today I'm going to take you on a tour of New York without you ever having to leave your house... and maybe I'll even convince you to give NYC a try!
By Caron Levis and Charles Santoso
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2016. Picture Book.
Our first spot on our tour of New York is Central Park. Did you know that Central Park runs from 59th to 110th streets and is about 2.5 miles long? It hosts 42 million visitors a year, making it one of the most visited tourist attractions on the planet. You've likely seen Central Park in movies and tv shows, but did you know that Central Park has its own zoo? Ida, Always tells the true story of Gus, a polar bear who lived in the Central Park Zoo, as he mourns the loss of his friend Ida. This book will be interesting to animal lovers but can also be used to have a conversation with children about loss.
Illustrated by Peter Emmerich
Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2021. Picture Book.
After our trip to Central Park, it's time to stop by Times Square. No trip to New York would be complete without seeing a Broadway show. B is for Broadway gives you a backstage tour of a Broadway stage. It includes illustrations of well-known actors like Hugh Jackman and Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as the lesser known backstage crews that make Broadway shows a success.
By Sean Rubin
Henry Holt and Company, 2021. Informational.
After finishing up our Broadway show, we'll travel to the tip of Manhattan to see the 9/11 memorial. This Very Tree tells the story of the Survivor Tree, a tree that was living near the World Trade Center when the two tours fell on September 11, 2001. Against all odds it was found underneath rubble of the buildings and nursed back to health at a nursery in the Bronx. It has since been replanted at the 9/11 memorial as a testament to the resilience of the city of New York.
By Louis Chin
POW!, 2019. Picture Book.
Now that we've visited Manhattan, let's travel to the boroughs to visit a local bodega. Bodegas are small deli/grocery stores that are found in the neighborhoods around New York. Bodega Cat gives you a glimpse of the day of a Dominican bodega owner through the eyes of his cat.
By Madelyn Rosenberg
Illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2020. Picture Book.
Next, Cyclops will take us on tour of many of the iconic landmarks that we've missed thus far on our tour. The Guggenheim Museum, Yankee Stadium, the Statue of Liberty, and Coney Island are all represented on the pages of this fun picture book about Cyclops, who is scared of everything. When one of his sheep runs away, Cyclops must travel through the city full of "dangers" to find him.
By Jennifer Thermes
Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2019. Informational.
Have you ever wondered what Manhattan looked like before it became a giant metropolis? This book traces the origin of Manhattan from The Lenape indigenous people who lived there, through the European settlers, and on to today. Illustrated maps show you how the land changed from forests, to farmland, to city.
by Klay Lamprell
Lonely Planet Publications, 2011. Informational.
In case I've missed anything in your tour of New York, here's a title that has fun facts and information about NYC. The book is broken into two page spreads about topics such as typical food, NYC in movies, and bridges. Little factoids make this fun for kids to read and easy to skim.
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