If you are a long time follower of this blog who reads and remembers every post that has ever come out, you may recall that I also did a blog post about New York City books a few years ago. What do you mean you don't remember?! That was a very interesting and valuable blog post!! But since then, many more books about the City That Never Sleeps have been released and I felt the need to again share my deep and abiding love of the vibrant and historic city of New York. So, whether you are a frequent traveler to Gotham, or have only seen it on the big screen, here are some of my favorite recent releases that will transport you to the place of my dreams, New York City.
Written by Richard Ho
Illustrated by Sibu T.P.
New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2024. Picture Book.In this interesting picture book, a child is sent out to shop for food by his mother, who tells him "Bring back a taste of home." The question in his mind becomes "What is home?" Is home the place where his mother spent her childhood? A place that only his grandparents or great grandparents knew? Home for the boy is the Lower East Side, where he has spent his life. As he talks to his neighbors about their homes, he finds the diversity of communities throughout his New York neighborhood. A note in the back of the book discusses various neighborhoods in the Lower East Side like Curry Row, Chinatown, and Loisaida. While this book speaks to the diversity of cuisines and cultures in New York, it can also be used as a gateway to talk about diversity in your own community!
Illustrated by Gracey Zhang
New York: Katherine Tegen Books, 2024. Picture Book.
Set in a time in New York when there were pay phones on every corner, this story based on the author's own experiences growing up in Corona, Queens, tells the tale of Ernesto, who is finally able to walk to school without being accompanied by an adult. Each day, his mom gives him a shiny quarter that he can use in the case of an emergency to call her on a payphone. Each day Carlos encounters temptation along his six block journey. Should he buy food at the bodega? Spend his money on a game at the arcade? Grab a tamale at the local food truck? Each day Ernesto reminds himself that the quarters are for emergencies only, until at the end of the book he encounters a true emergency at the barber shop. This book will show kids the New York of bygone days, as well as teaching them about delayed gratification and the importance of saving money.
New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2023. Informational.
This nonfiction picture book describes the creation of one of my favorite parks in New York City: The High Line. This elevated park was created from railroad tracks that were abandoned and left to fall into disrepair. New Yorkers who lived near the tracks petitioned the city to save the tracks from being torn down. After hearing proposals from architects and artists who proposed crazy suggestions like a mile-long lap pool for swimming and boating and a huge roller coaster, they decided to create a park that included seating areas, wildflower fields, and places to display public art. Be prepared for your kids to beg to see The High Line in real life after reading this book.
Illustrated by Laura Re
Milan, Italy: White Star Kids, 2023. Informational. 45 pages.
This informational book contains two-page spreads with information about iconic New York landmarks including Central Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Little Island, and the Statue of Liberty. Each spread contains bulleted lists with fun facts about the site. The book is split into four 1 Day itineraries, so it can be used to help kids plan a trip as well as learn information about the city.
New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2024. Comic. 247 pages.
By Chanel Miller
Twins Page and Turner spend most of their free time at the New York Public Library's Schwartzman Building. So when their parents are out-of-town and they lose their dad's prized first edition copy of Dracula somewhere in the building, they must team up with the Night Librarian to find it while also recapturing the villains that have escaped from other rare books in the library's collection. They also team up with classic characters like Peter Pan and Alice (from Wonderland) to restore order to the building. If you've ever wished that Night at the Museum took place at a library rather than the Natural History Museum, this book is for you.
New York: Philomel Books, 2024. Fiction. 145 pages.
This book, which was honored for the 2025 Newbery Award, is about 10-year-old Magnolia Wu who is stuck in her parents' laundromat in the city for the summer. When she meets a new friend Iris Lam, they decide to spend the summer reuniting missing socks with their owners. Along the way, they meet neighbors and make new friends, realizing how tight knit a community can be even in a big city.
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