The best nonfiction children’s books about New York City

On a warm spring day in 1883, a woman rode across the Brooklyn Bridge with a rooster on her lap.

It was the first trip across an engineering marvel that had taken nearly fourteen years to construct. The woman's husband was the chief engineer, and he knew all about the dangerous new technique involved. The woman insisted she learn as well.

When he fell ill mid-construction, her knowledge came in handy. She supervised every aspect of the project while he was bedridden, and she continued to learn about things only men were supposed to know:

math,
science,
engineering.

Women weren't… show more.

As featured on Humans of New York

"Hartland's joyful folk-art illustrations bop from the gray-toned jazzy vibrancy of a bustling city neighborhood to the colorful harvest of a lush urban farm." -The New York Times
"An inspiring picture book for youngsters with meaningful ties to the environment, sustainability, and community engagement." -Booklist

Discover the incredible true story of Harlem Grown, a lush garden in New York City that grew out of an abandoned lot and now feeds a neighborhood.

Once
In a big city called New York
In a bustling neighborhood
There was an empty lot.
Nevaeh called it the… show more.

A truck rumbling by to deliver the mail,
a silvery cart with hot pretzels for sale,
and stacks of brown packages hauled up the stairs...
Some shapes in the city are...
on-the-go squares!

City Shapes is an ode to city life, depicted from the points of view of a young girl walking through her neighborhood and a bird flying high above, both spotting dazzling shapes in every scene they pass. From the shimmering skyscrapers to the bustling marketplace, the kites flying free in the sunlight to the stars shining bright at night, everyday scenes become extraordinary.

Diana Murray's playful and… show more.

From an acclaimed author and a New York Times Best Illustrated artist comes the fascinating, little-known—and true!—story of New York City’s first subway.
 
New York City in the 1860s was a mess: crowded, disgusting, filled with garbage. You see, way back in 1860, there were no subways, just cobblestone streets. That is, until Alfred Ely Beach had the idea for a fan-powered train that would travel underground. On February 26, 1870, after fifty-eight days of drilling and painting and plastering, Beach unveiled his masterpiece—and throngs of visitors took turns swooshing down the track.
 
The Secret Subway will wow readers, just… show more.

In 1858, New York City was growing so fast that new roads and tall buildings threatened to swallow up the remaining open space. The people needed a green place to be - a park with ponds to row on and paths for wandering through trees and over bridges. When a citywide contest solicited plans for creating a park out of barren swampland, Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted put their heads together to create the winning design, and the hard work of making their plans a reality began. 

By winter, the lake opened for skating. By the next summer, the… show more.