Preparing Little Tots going to NYC

Are you getting your toddler and pre-K kids ready to head off to New York City;  need some books to help them learn more the Big Apple? 

Here’s a list of great stuff for your kiddos.

• ABC NYC: a book about seeing New York by Joanne Dugan
  
  A fresh and fun ABC book that distinctly captures New York City for readers practicing the alphabet.  Each letter is boldly displayed with spirited photographic representations of the letter- B is for bagel, T is for Taxi, W is for Water Tower.  A line of illustrative text accompanies each letter to define and identify new words and locations that create beaming smiles. For example, M is for Manhole and there are 500,000 to jump on!. What a great introduction to New York City life.
  
  
• Central Park Serenade by Laura Godwin
  
  This melodic picture book depicts a bustling Central Park on a sunny summer day.  Descriptive rhymes and repeated refrains are married with visuals of the park that spark the reader’s senses.  Sailboat races, baseball games, and zoo lots spring to life as “the pigeons coo/and the big dogs bark/and the noises echo through the park”.  The vibrancy and diversity of NYC is captured and showcased in each tender, colorful illustration.
  
  
• Seen Art? by John Scieszka
  A boy while trying to visit his friend, Art, in NYC asks a passerby along the way if the man has “seen art”.  The passerby points the boy towards the MoMA, and the boy bounds off to explore the museum.  This book provides a comprehensive tour of the best and most memorable works of modern art.  A great way to introduce very young readers to a museum setting, so they know what to expect upon their first art exhibits visit.
  
  
• The Muppets Take Manhattan, dir. Frank Oz
  
  Kermit and friends take a road trip to NYC to pitch their Broadway show.  Unfortunately, no producer is willing to put money on a musical starring frogs, pigs, bears, and dogs.  The gang splits up but Kermit persists and is rewarded with a Broadway agent- but he has only 2 weeks to put together the whole show!  Styled like musicals of the 1940’s, this madcap comedy is full of upbeat dances, cheerful songs, and great NYC scenery.  Laughs are frequent when the Muppets are the tour guides!

• Explore and Learn, Just for Fun by The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  
  These interactive exhibits allow kids to meet Met artists, study art up-close, and make their own creations.  Activities include examining van Gogh’s landscapes, comparing apples to apples with Cezanne, and touring an ancient Egyptian temple.  Aspiring dancers will love creating their own Degas ballerina portraits while young knights try jousting in Central Park.  Best is a walk through Harlem with local artist Romare Bearden that highlights his NYC-themed collages.

Come add your favorites to this list...