A picture book of Alexander Hamilton

This book opens dramatically, with Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr leveling their pistols at each other, and then backs up more than 40 years to Hamilton's childhood on the Caribbean island of Nevis. An intelligent, hard-working lad, he overcame poverty, hardships, and social disadvantages to obtain an education. Sent to study at King's College in New York in 1773, he supported the patriot's cause and fought in the Continental Army, where he later joined Washington's staff. Adler discusses Hamilton's role in persuading citizens to adopt the Constitution, in setting up the national bank, and in urging the enforcement of federal taxation. After explaining the political enmity between Hamilton and Burr, the book concludes with the story of their duel. While this volume has a longer text than many picture-book biographies, that's what allows the writer to establish who Hamilton was, what he did, and why it mattered. The accomplished illustrations, created with Prismacolor pencils and Painter software, capture the period well and include many details for children to discover. An informative picture-book biography.--Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2019 Booklist

K-Gr 4--This picture book biography describesAlexander Hamilton's childhood, his role in the American Revolution, and his death by dueling with Aaron Burr. Adler also explains Hamilton's role in the newly formed government as the Secretary of the Treasury. The colorful and expressive illustrations add visual context for the defining scenes in Hamilton's life. In one scene that stretches across two pages, Hamilton leads a group of soldiers into battle as a captain in the Continental Army. A few pages later, Hamilton is pictured at the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. He represented New York State and heavily contributed to the 80 essays called "The Federalist Papers." Fans of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway musical will appreciate learning more about Hamilton's life, especially his childhood. A time line of important events is located at the back of the book. Several key events are not mentioned, such as Hamilton's appointment as the first treasury secretary of the United States in 1789. This could either confuse readers or make them want to conduct further research. However, this is a solid biography for upper elementary students. VERDICT Readers looking for a short biography of Alexander Hamilton will appreciate this engaging work.--V. Lynn Christiansen, Wiley International Studies Magnet Elementary School, Raleigh, NC

A short, occasionally revealing profile of an immigrant who got the job done.Joining other children's-book creators attempting to ride the Broadway phenomenon's coattails, Adler creates a distant, even staid, portrait of Hamilton's character. Opening and closing with accounts of the Burr duel, he also drops in a few too many names without sufficient context. Still, along with noting his subject's major public achievements in war and peace and making some references to his private life, he does frankly note in the main narrative that Alexander was born to unmarried parents and in the afterword that he was taken in for a time by a family that may have included a half brother. (The author also makes a revealing if carelessly phrased observation that he helped to run a business in his youth that dealt in "many things," including "enslaved people.") Collins' neatly limned painted scenes lack much sense of movement, but he's careful with details of historical dress and setting. Most of his figures are light skinned, but there are people of color in early dockside views, in a rank of charging American soldiers, and also (possibly) in a closing parade of mourners. Multichapter biographies abound, but as a first introduction, this entry in Adler's long-running series won't bring younger readers to their feet but does fill in around the edges of Don Brown's Aaron and Alexander: The Most Famous Duel in American History (2015).Serviceable as assignment fodder or as a gateway to more searching studies. (timeline, bibliography, notes) (Picture book/biography. 7-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.