This concise history of the early years of European contention over the island of Manhattan was published in 1897 as a children's book, complete with numerous charming pen-and-ink drawings by the author. But with its lively, entertaining prose and smart approach that doesn't condescend to its young reader, it's still a charming read for adults today.

Covering the discovery and settlement of what would become the Big Apple, this is a lovely gift for a steadfast New Yorker, a devotee of early children's books, or anyone interested in how the telling of history can be a vigorous, vivacious tale.

American author and illustrator BLANCHE MCMANUS (1870-1935) was a beloved writer for children in her day, also authoring The True Mother Goose (1895) and The Voyage of the Mayflower (1897). For adults, she wrote The American Woman Abroad (1911).