A Kids' Guide to Hamilton the Musical

by Amanda Bjerkan Hennessy

Discover the exciting stories portrayed in the smash-hit Broadway musical, “Hamilton,” retold in a compelling way that brings them to life and makes them more accessible for younger readers.

Engaging, relatable descriptions of each song immerse the reader in the show’s captivating tale inspired by American founder Alexander Hamilton. Take a journey through the entire story, or jump ahead to any song to learn more.

* 46 chapters share the story of Alexander Hamilton’s life as the show has reimagined it
* 22 illustrations and a “Who’s Who” of the main characters bring the story to life
* Footnotes give details about historical events described in the songs
* Sidebars offer explanations of unfamiliar words
* Musical Notes describe the different styles of music throughout the show

Great for parents and children to read together or as a resource for kids to use on their own, this guide will feed any young “Hamilton” fan’s desire to learn more about the incredible songs from the show!

192 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2020

Reviews

[Clo McD]

This book was great!
Perfect for some pre-Hamilton reading as I am sure my 11 and 13 yo kids won’t have a clue what is actually happening in the show. I am certainly more knowledgable myself after reading.
At over 160 pages it is not a picture-type book for younger kids but ideal for older kids and adults. Deals with H’s politics/affair etc really well. Each chapter explores a song (in order of appearance) with footnotes explaining the finer details. I also love how historical inaccuracies are corrected - so interesting! 👏

[Molly Oswald]

Good explanation of Hamilton and when Hamilton dies
It is SOOO SAD

[Tami]

Got this for B and read through it before I gave it to her and read it with her. She’s legit obsessed with the musical so I thought this would help her understand it a little more than just me explaining things to her. It breaks things down and puts it in language kids can understand

[Lisa Dunn]

My eleven-year-old Hamilton fan has loved this book. He’s been sharing random Hamilton facts with me and seems to have a renewed interest in American history.

Chapters relating to each song are short but full of interesting details. Highly recommend!

[Abby]

This review was based on a complimentary pre-release copy.

Great read!! For kids but also adults. This book breaks down the lengthy musical in tactile and tangible ways. My favorite part is the explanation of the use of certain musical styles throughout. Plus, since it is broken up by song, even if your kids aren’t able to sit through the entire musical yet, you have a reference for their favorite songs on the soundtrack. Highly recommend.

[Joseph N. Parillo]

I read this book to prepare my three young grandchildren to see the play Hamilton. Loved it!

We learn from history. I hope this book is not ever banned. No book should be. Truth will always prevail and lead us to peace.

[Kate]

Excellent explanation of Hamilton - aimed at children but just as readable for middle aged me! I learnt a lot.