All US lands have a history and legacy before they were US lands. It is important to acknowledge this ourselves and to convey this to our students. One fantastic source I have found to educate myself and to help pass that information along to students is Tribal Nations Maps. You can find a New York map here. For more information and resources, the National Museum of the American Indian offers amazing resources, educational programming, and webinars. If you are looking at a children's book that includes or is about Native Americans, you can check American Indians in Children's Literature for a professional review of that portrayal as well as advice and book lists.
Nonfiction Picture Books
STEAM
Dr Jo: How Sara Josephine Baker Saved the Lives of America's Children by Monica Kulling, Illustrated by Julianna Swaney
I paired this with Thank You, Omu (in fiction picture books below) to talk about community and how people look out for one another, even in cities.
Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers, Art by Shawn Harris
This has so much cool information. It's STEAM, because it talks about the design and construction. It's history because it addresses a lot of the historical context, both in France and in the US. It uses humor. The art is really cool. My students have really loved it every time we've read it.
Bluestem book
You'll also be able to find various Statue of Liberty nonfiction books in your school or public library. Some that I have are written by Leonard Fisher Everett, Jennifer Fandel, and RJ Bailey. They address different age groups.
Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge by Rachel Doughtery
The Secret Subway by Shana Corey, Art by Red Nose Studio
My students LOVE the art in this book. They're also interested in the story, but the art is what draws them in the most.
Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building by Deborah Hopkinson and James E Ransome
The Tale of Pale Male by Jeanette Winter
Marie's Ocean: Marie Tharp Maps the Mountains Under the Sea by Josie James
People and History
I Dissent by Debbie Levy, Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley
Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of John J Harvey by Maira Kalman
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein
Brave Girl by Michelle Markel, Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Stonewall: A Building, An Uprising, A Revolution by Rob Sanders, Illustrated by Jeremy Christoph
Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton by Margaret McNamara, Illustrated by Esmé Shapiro
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise, Illustrated by Paola Escobar
A Lady Has the Floor: Belve Lockwood Speaks Out for Women's Rights by Kate Hannigan, Illustrated by Alison Jay
Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children by Jan Pinborough, Illustrated by Derby Atwell
Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome, Illustrated by James E Ransome
Liberty Arrives!: How America's Grandest Statue Found Her Home by Robert Byrd
Art and Artists
A Poem for Peter by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrated by Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson
I read this with my older elementary kids. I also read them A Snowy Day to bring back that nostalgia.
Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song by Gary Golio, Illustrated by Charlotte Riley-Webb
Gordon Parks by Carole Boston Weatherford
Here are some lessons and activities as well as sample pictures from the National Gallery of Art. I think kids might especially like the selfie on this page!
The Extraordinary Music of Mr. Ives by Joanne Stanbridge
Mister and Lady Day: Billie Holiday and the Dog Who Loved Her by Amy Novesky, Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton
Athletes and Sports
You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! by JOnah Winter and André Carrilho
Fiction Picture Books
Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora
I don't remember anything that makes this book New York specific, but I paired it with Dr. Jo above to talk about community help and what neighborhoods are like. I think in our rural community, my kids think that people in cities don't know or care about their neighbors. These books work to dispel that myth.
Monarch book
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Curious George by Margret and HA Rey
If you aren't familiar with discussions about the use of anthropomorphized monkeys in children's literature, you might check out this article and the articles linked within. You may want to reconsider if you use them with your students or not.
The House on East 88th Street by Bernard Waber
Middle Grade Books
What Was Stonewall? by Nico Medina
Who Is Ruth Bader Ginsburg? by Patricia Demuth
Blizzard of the Blue Moon by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Treehouse series)
Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead
Heat by Mike Lupica
Hey Kid, Want to Buy a Bridge? by Jon Scieczka
Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle
A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff -- Bluestem Book
Middle School Books
Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore -- Project Lit book