Storied City

by Leonard S. Marcus

Book Overview

In this handy-size book, renowned critic and historian (and New Yorker) Leonard S. Marcus has created and narrated twenty walking tours of New York City based on children's literature. Illustrated... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525469249
• ISBN13: 9780525469247
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: Dutton Books
• Length: 154 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 4.3" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

enjoyable tour guide for seeing NYC with kids

We recently returned from a visit to Manhattan, having used this guide (along with several others); we found it enjoyable and useful. There are eleven tours: Lower Manhattan, Greenwich Village/East Village/SoHo, Flatiron District/Gramercy Park/Chelsea, Midtown Manhattan, Central Park/Upper East Side, Central Park/Upper West Side, Harlem/Northern Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island; each tour includes a map of the tour, an introduction, readable text concerning authors, book settings and the history of New York City, small pictures and line drawings, and lists of additional authors connected to each area. There is no information about amenities along the way (restaurants, bathrooms, playgrounds). We found a wealth of information and many literary references -- it would be smart to read this ahead of time so you can select and read some of the referenced books before your trip.

A charming idea, well-executed

Leonard Marcus hit upon a great idea and developed it perfectly. As a teacher, it is difficult to teach history or literature to the young and make the readings come to life. "Storied City: A Children's Book Guide to New York City", besides being a charming idea, is also a handy tool for parents and teachers. With this extremely convenient guide, you can walk the kids through the neighborhoods they've read about and enliven their reading experience. And, most importantly, Marcus writes in a way that doesn't talk down to children, and that's a tremendous asset.

a perfect delight

With clarity and affection born of familiarity and delight, Marcus covers over 200 places and spaces in New York that have made an appearance in books for children and teenagers. He tells you how to get there and what you will see when you do. It is a lovely size, easy to carry and to hold, and it will take you on a virtual journey even if you and your children can't do a real one.