New York City History for Kids: From New Amsterdam to the Big Apple with 21 Activities

by Richard Panchyk

Overview

In this lively 400-year history, kids will read about Peter Stuyvesant and the enterprising Dutch colonists, follow the spirited patriots as they rebel against the British during the American Revolution, learn about the crimes of the infamous Tweed Ring, journey through the notorious Five Points slum with its tenements and street vendors, and soar to new heights with the Empire State Building and New York City’s other amazing skyscrapers. Along the way, they’ll stop at Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and many other prominent New York landmarks. With informative and fun activities, such as painting a Dutch fireplace tile or playing a game of stickball, this valuable resource includes a time line of significant events, a list of historic sites to visit or explore online, and web resources for further study, helping young learners gain a better understanding of the Big Apple’s culture, politics, and geography.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781883052935
Publisher:	Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	11/01/2012
Series:	Chicago Review Press For Kids Series , #44
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	1,052,650
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	1190L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Richard Panchyk is the author of Charting the World, Franklin Delano Roosevelt for Kids, World War II for Kids, and three adult titles about New York City history. He lives in Westbury, New York.

Editorial Reviews

"The main narrative is well stocked with both passages from contemporary documents and photos or other period illustrations..." — School Library Journal


"A compelling history of the city that never sleeps." — Kirkus Reviews


"I love how this book has an interactive approach to history that really allows kids to understand and explore the city."—Mom Trends



"My daughter has started reading the book and finds it fascinating to read about the city we live in." —NYC Single Mom

From the Publisher

Gr 4–6—Taking an all-too-common approach, Panchyk largely confines his chronicle to the history of Manhattan-according the city's four other boroughs only brief mentions-and aside from scattered statistical references covers nearly all of the last three decades on a single spread. Still, from the retreat of the glaciers (colorfully if arbitrarily dubbed New York City's "first visitors") to 9/11, he hits the high and low spots while providing a clear and succinct picture of the course and causes of the city's growth along with a parade of prominent figures, historical and cultural highlights, architectural feats, riots, and disasters. As in other volumes in this series, the value-added sidebar projects in each chapter range from "probably salvageable" to awful: given a single example, readers are invited to draw a Gibson Girl, for instance; from a schematic overhead view to construct a model of Fort George from clay and toothpicks; and with the blithe instruction to "Come up with a title and write a song of your own" to "Be a Tin Pan Alley Songwriter." But the main narrative is well stocked with both passages from contemporary documents and photos or other period illustrations and adds substantial amounts of detail to Richard Platt's more visual New York City (Kingfisher, 2010).—John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York City

School Library Journal

The story of New York City from the Ice Age to the Freedom Tower makes for an adventure packed with memorable events and people. Here is Peter Stuyvesant, who ruled New Amsterdam with an iron hand until he was forced to surrender to the English. Here is a city of many religious sects, all able to flourish in a spirit of tolerance (or perhaps indifference). Occupied by the British in the Revolution, the site of the infamous Civil War draft riots, and constantly buffeted by economic highs and lows, the city is always reinventing itself. The richest and poorest people live in uneasy juxtaposition, displaying the best and worst of humanity. Disasters and triumphs abound, and the city survives it all. Organizing the subject chronologically in eight chapters, Panchyk manages to work several centuries of history into a manageable account that reads like an action thriller. Each section is given a clear and straightforward title, is written in equally clear and concise language, and contains several informative sidebars. Copious illustrations in the form of historical photographs, maps, diagrams and drawings are appropriate, though not in color. There are also 21 activities that purport to enhance understanding but are quite complicated and call for many, often expensive, materials. A compelling history of the city that never sleeps (just skip the activities). (timeline, bibliography, places to visit) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews