No comments about Zagat 2008 Long Island Commuter Pack (Zagat Packs).

1 comments about All Around the Town: Amazing Manhattan Facts and Curiosities.

1. It's been said that New York is a city of countless stories, and this book manages to cover a couple thousand of the more interesting ones. This is the "story" of New York City and not your typical history book. The tale is told through neat trivia and short anecdotes that are sure to come up in conversations beginning with "Hey, did you know that..." And, the wonderful black and white photographs and illustrations really make the people, streets and events come alive. It is clear throughout that the author truly has a passion for his subject. If you've got all the other big books of New York City history, get this one for all the interesting stories you'll really remember.

No comments about The New York Book of Tea: Where to Take Tea and Buy Tea & Teaware.

No comments about Freeing the Angel from the Stone A Guide to Piccirilli Sculpture in New York City.

2 comments about Garden Guide: New York City (Garden Guides).

1. This book is filled with beautiful photos and short descriptons of gardens from all five boroughs of New York City. Leafing through it, once again I realized how special this city is. Garden Guide: New York City is a must for anyone who wants to know the city better; for those of us who live here and for those who are just visiting.

   Small enough to carry in one's purse, it is concise and well researched. It is pleasure to read and makes you want to explore the city through its gardens. Be careful, if you are not already a garden lover it might make you one. From the Chinese Scholar's Garden in Staten Island to the Botanical Garden in Queens; from Rincon Criollo in the Bronx to The Conservatory Garden on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, even in its gardens the diverstiy and creativity of New Yorkers is evident and that makes New Yorkers like me burst with pride.




2. This thorough book organized gardens in New York city by location, gave subway and/or bus directions, and a wonderful description of each garden so it was easy to decide whether I wanted to go see that garden. It was amazing and I saw gardens big and small throughout my visit to the city in a short period of time. I'm going to check to see if the book is available for other places I tend to visit.

No comments about American Map New York City/Long Island, Ny Pocket Map (American Map).

1 comments about New York City 5-in-1 Pocket Map.

1. This is a great map, but it is hard to use on a day to day basis as a quick reference while walking the streets of New York. It has great detail of midtown Manhattan, where most tourists spend their time. The streets, subways, and nearly every landmark and store/hotel/resturant are situated to scale on the map. This is extremely helpful if you don't have the exact address of, say Carnegie Deli, you can just go to the area where you think it is, and look around till you find the actual Carnegie label. It also has great detailed maps of the other neighborhoods (the Villages, East Side, Lower East Side, Financial District, etc.) with all the major landmarks, but less detail about the stores and businesses than the midtown section. The problem with the map is it is made of that real thin, cheap paper (I mean look a the price) and it is BIG when unfolded (It's a bit awkward when you're in the subway, or in a tight line at an attraction, and you have to pull out this big old bedsheet of a map), so you have to constantly fold it back/forth/up/down against the creases and with the in and out of the coat pocket, it wasn't long before it just started shredding at the creases. It did last me the week however, and I used it daily and excessively, but it's not much good for anything now except a keepsake of our great trip. If I had it to do again, I'd still buy this map for it's exceptional detail (and cheap price), but consider getting one of the laminated maps for the day to day stuff (I think the National Geographic Destination Maps are great for this purpose, they were the best thing I used for London, Rome, Paris, and the New York one looked just as good--I should have gotten that one as well).

5 comments about Peppe the Lamplighter (Caldecott Honor Book).

1. "Peppe the Lamplighter" combines a story by Elisa Bartone with illustrations by Ted Lewin. The story takes place "[a] long time ago when there was no electricity and the street lamps in Little Italy had to be lit by hand." The hero of the book is Peppe, who lives with his widowed father and sisters in a tenement. Peppe's decision to get a job as a lamplighter leads to conflict between Peppe and his father.

   This is a good story that is greatly enhanced by Lewin's superb artwork. Most of the illustrations are two-page spreads that are packed full of energy and emotion. Lewin's realistic style is well-suited to capturing many colorful details: the sausages hanging in the butcher shop, a crowded street scene, the old-fashioned iron stove in Peppe's home, etc. Overall, a memorable celebration of Italian-American history.




2. I purchased this book for my husband for Father's Day (he's Italian American")--I didn't really think that our then 2.5 year old would really care for the book. But he loves it! It's a good story, although at times the messages can be a bit confusing for a very young child--but my son seems to enjoys the illustrations, the sounds of the Italian names, and of course the most elemental aspects of the story.



3. There's a whole genre of picture books that examine the working class members of American society throughout history. These stories are usually based on the lives of the relatives and ancestors of the authors. "Peppe the Lamplighter" is no exception. Loosely based on the grandfather of author Elisa Bartone, the book examines one boy's occupation and his struggle be accepted in the eyes of his father.
   
   Peppe lives with his sick father and seven sisters (not including the one in Naples) in the section of New York known as Little Italy. Taking place in what looks to be the 1910s, Peppe moves from store to store, attempting to find work. His father, is too sick to work himself, and all the children in the family must strive to find some kind of money. One day, old Domenico the lamplighter asks Peppe if he would light the lamps for him while he returns to Italy to fetch his wife. Peppe agrees readily and is delighted with the prospect. Delight slowly sours to shame, however, when his father is horrified by the job. Says he, "Did I come to America for my son to light the streetlamps?". As time goes by, Peppe's disenchantment with the job grows until he doesn't light the lamps at all. Only through the discovery of how important his job is to others can Peppe find the strength to return to lighting the lamps of New York City.
   
   The pictures in this book are wonderfully rendered. Here we find the New York City tenements in all their filthy glory. At the same time, we see the strength of the people living in them. The first painting in the book shows Peppe and his family staring at the viewer as if they were posing for a formal family photograph. The light from a single latern lights them all, and illustrator Ted Lewin shows off his talents. In many ways, the book is similar to Chris K. Soentpiet's style (of "Molly Bannaky" fame). Reading this book is to actually find yourself in early New York itself. Crowds come alive and individuals display a wide range of emotions. The best picture in the whole book, to my mind, is the image of Peppe lifting his little sister so that she can light the lamp on the street herself. The light is above them, illuminating their faces with incredibly intensity. The two stare up at it, entranced.
   
   The story itself if good, if not overwhelming. Peppe's father has a somewhat unbelievable change of heart towards the end of the tale. For a man who has harbored so much bitterness towards his son's chosen profession, he seems to come around to it mighty fast when the mood calls for it. Otherwise, it's lovely. Peppe compares the lighting of the lamps to the lighting of candles at Mass, and even goes so far as to say a small prayer for each. Small details like this truly bring the story to life.
   
   The book celebrates one small boy who can, in his sister Assunta's words, "scare the dark away". It is a book about how every human being, if they've a mind to, can bring light into the world in their own humble fashion. Peppe may only be a lamplighter, but even his father recognizes by the end that this honest job gives safety and comfort to others. We should all be so lucky as to have jobs that do half as much.



4. A young boy of modest means seeks a job to contribute to the needs of his family. Initially, his father is disappointed in the lowly responsibility that his son fulfills. The young man takes inspiration from his sister's admiration of him and finds that his job as a humble lamplighter blesses others beyond his understanding. The breath-taking illustrations span the entire two-page spread. This is a beautiful story of how everyone has their important role in life and can embrace it with excellence and passion.



5. My son is 5 and absolutely loves this book. It's a story about young boy and how he must help to care for his large Italian family that has come to America in hopes of having their dreams fulfilled. Disappointment of a father leads his young son to think his job is meager. But in the end one little boy does make a difference, for without his light the whole world is a dark place. The book just gives you a warm wonderful feeling when you finish reading it. The illustrations are beautifully drawn and give you the contact to really feel what Peppe and his family are feeling.

No comments about Travel New York City - illustrated guide and maps. FREE general info and a map in the trial version..

1 comments about 40 Perfect New York Days: Walks and Rambles In and Around the City.

1. An astonishing variety of experiences, all in or near the Big Apple, described with humor, insight, and enthusiasm. The authors' intimate knowledge and deep love for their city beam from every page. The directions and details are precise and easy to follow and the maps have just the right amount of information. A useful feature is the annotated contents section that makes it quick and easy to browse and choose a destination. HIGHLY recommended for the visitor or for the native who has spent too much time indoors.