The students at Grundy Center Elementary chose Little Elliot from the Little Elliot book series by Mike Curato to visit NYC this summer. Little Elliot traveled with me for just a couple days before we needed to make an unexpected early return to Iowa. During those short two days, Little Elliot saw a lot of things and recommended a lot of GREAT books to read!
We arrived at the Des Moines International Airport at about 5:30am. Yep, that's in the morning. Most of you were still sleeping! Little Elliot needed a quick breakfast. He wasn't very nervous about the flight. After all, he IS flying back to where he used to live! We had to wait about an hour or so before we could board the plane. |
Little Elliot enjoyed the flight high above the clouds. It was a beautiful day to fly, but there were a couple small storms we had to fly over and around to get to New York City.
A very nice former elementary school secretary took a picture of Elliot and me soaring high above the ground. If you are wondering, we are about 6 1/2 miles above the ground!
A very nice former elementary school secretary took a picture of Elliot and me soaring high above the ground. If you are wondering, we are about 6 1/2 miles above the ground!
During the flight, Ellito and I took naps, talked with our neighbors, snacked, listened to music, and read books. After about a 2 1/2 hour flight, our pilots prepared for landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. If you would like to see what it's like to land in NYC, click this LINK. |
Then, we headed into Times Square to enjoy the sights and sounds and...
EAT COOKIES.... LOTS OF COOKIES! Schmackary's is my favorite cookie place in all of New York City. Yes, they sell mostly cookies! If you want to see some of the cookies they sell there, visit this LINK.
We also met up with HAYLEY! Hayley is our wonderful Virtual Artist in Residence. She is currently performing in the Broadway hit Hello, Dolly starring Bette Midler. Hayley visited with us between rehearsals and her two-show performing day. She even took Elliot with her and showed him where the actors get ready for the show! Hayley performs 8 times a week at the Shubert Theatre on 44th Street in New York. It is a Broadway theatre because it holds more than 500 people and is in the Theatre District. It actually holds 1,460 people! Most nights are SOLD OUT! Little Elliot recommends these books of some of the shows in which Hayley has performed!
Outside of the Shubert Theatre is an alley known as Shubert Alley. It makes for a nice walk through instead of walking around the LONG New York blocks. It also can be a gathering space for special events like Broadway Barks! Here are a couple photos of Shubert Alley and a book recommendation from Elliot.
After visiting with Hayley, we walked around and saw many theatres and the bright lights of Broadway. Elliot recommended that students at Grundy Center Elementary read these books:
The rest of the day and evening involved Little Elliot and me walking around Times Square and actually seeing two shows. It was a lot of fun seeing all of the people who come from all over the world to visit New York City. He also recommends these books to read!
The next morning, Little Elliot and I headed out by 7:30am to explore different neighborhoods in Manhattan. We first had to buy a Metrocard and ride the subway about 80 blocks south. Elliot recommends these books about subways.
Our first stop was Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan. At Battery Park, you can see lots of things including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Elliot recommends these books. We tried getting a picture of Elliot flying over for my friend, Jacob, but all we got was a blurry cloud covering up the statue!
We also just took in the sights of Battery Park. There was a lot going on! People were getting in line for a boat trip to the Statue of Liberty, some people were fishing, others were exercising, and some were playing with their dogs at the dog park. Elliot really wanted his picture with the dogs, but I feared for his safety, so he got a photo from behind the fence!
From Battery Park, Elliot and I walked to Bowling Green Park in the Financial District to see the Wall Street Charging Bull and the new Fearless Girl statue. The Charging Bull sculpture is 11 feet tall and 16 feet long and weighs just over 7,000 pounds! The fearless girl statue is just about 4 feet tall and weighs 250 pounds.
Little Elliot and I then walked to the 9-11 Memorial site and World Trade Center. There were some people waiting to enter the museum, some standing by the memorial waterfalls, and others just sitting and reflecting. A very terrible thing happened on September 11, 2001. Elliot suggests a few books to read and learn more about it.
At the 9-11 Memorial site sits the Survivor Tree. This tree was originally located at the World Trade Center when the attacks happened and the buildings fell. Rescuers removing debris found this broken tree with just a little bit of green left on it. It was taken away and cared for, for several years and has since returned to the World Trade Center site. It looks like a regular tree, but has a very special story. Elliot recommends this book about the Survivor Tree.
Elliot is not a very picky eater, but when he gets hungry, he appreciates a good lunch! We enjoyed BLT sandwiches at the Apple Gourmet deli. Check this out!
Elliot then wanted to see the Little Chapel That Stood. It's actually St. Paul's Chapel, which was next to the Twin Towers and somehow escaped major destruction when the towers fell. Elliot recommends this book about St. Paul's Chapel.
We then walked over to the site of The Secret Subway, which is one of my favorite books! This secret subway was built underground many years ago, forgotten, and then rediscovered. Although there is no plaque marking the exact location, Little Elliot is sitting by the window where Alfred Beach built the first pneumatic subway (secretly) 148 years ago! The picture of the road shows EXACTLY where the secret subway ran underground for a block. Elliot begs you to read this awesome book!
After a short subway ride, Elliot and I walked to the Whitney Museum where you can find Keith Haring art. Elliot recommends reading this book as well.
The Whitney Museum is attached to the High Line park, so Elliot and I took a stroll. The High Line is a park built on the old elevated railroad lines. It is a fun place to walk, eat, look at plants, and meet new people. Elliot recommends reading this charming book.
While walking toward the bookstores Elliot and I wanted to visit, we ran across this pastry which was invented right here in New York City only 4 years ago. It is called a CRONUT. It is part croissant and part donut and all YUM. For real. I told Elliot he didn't want his, so I ate it.
Elliot and I then walked to our favorite bookstores in New York City. We went to Strand and Books of Wonder. Strand has over 23 miles of books on shelves, and Books of Wonder is the oldest children's bookstore in the city. Little Elliot found his board book of Little Elliot, Big City at Strand, and you can find many author signed books at Books of Wonder. You can see it's store window below.
As we were walking to the next subway station, we ran across this race car driver. Do you know Jimmie Johnson? He was handing out free Blue Bunny ice cream!
We also spotted this iconic New York building, the Empire State Building. Right away, Elliot recommended this book!
Later that night, Little Elliot and I saw a show called Bandstand. It was about a group of veterans returning home to the United States after World War II. They struggle with having been in a war, but form a band of all veterans. It was a good show.
The next morning, Little Elliot walked by Fox News and heard The Charlie Daniels Band, The Today Show with Shania Twain, and Central Park with The Lumineers. He enjoyed all of the music, but really enjoyed walking around Central Park! He recommended you read these books.
We stopped by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You can see so many different kinds of art here including knights armor, mummies, and famous sculptures. Elliot recommends you read this book.
My mother and Elliot both enjoy art paintings, so I took Elliot to the Guggenheim Museum to see works by famous artists.
Elliot and I hope you have enjoyed our journey through New York City. Maybe another year he can come again, or maybe the students at Grundy Center Elementary will choose a different book character to explore the city. Thanks for reading!