My Name is Alexander Hamilton

If you know someone (or if, like me, you are someone) who loves Hamilton: The Original Cast Recording...

be sure to share this list of all things Hamilton:

Hamilton The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter. This is the behind the scenes look at the creation and production of the hip-hop musical with footnotes by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Also, there's a song in the play that's not on the cast album: Tomorrow There'll Be More Of Us.

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. This is the book that Lin-Manuel Miranda picked up on his way to vacation in Mexico. It's the 800-page biography that inspired Hamilton the musical. 

Alexander Hamilton: The Outsider by Jean Fritz. This ten-dollar, founding father biography is the best read for middle grade scholars. "Don't be shocked when your history books mention me. I will lay down my life if it sets us free." This 100-page biography might satisfy most young Hamilton fans; but, there may be some who choose to "rise up" and listen to Chernow's audio book.

The Duel: The Parallel Lives of Alexander Hamilton & Aaron Burr by Judith St. George. This middle grade book introduces A.Ham and A. Burr: both were orphans, both were brilliant students, both studied law, both were war heroes, and both were politicians. Told in alternating chapters, this book catalogs the similarities and differences (Wait For It) of these two founding fathers who played major roles in the formation of the United States. 

Death doesn't discriminate/ between the sinners and the saints,/ it takes and it takes and it takes./ History obliterates./ In every picture it paints,/ It paints me and all my mistakes./ When Alexander aimed at the sky,/ He may have been the first one to die,/ But I'm the one who paid for it./ I survived but I paid for it./ Now I'm the villain in your history./ I was too young and blind to see./ I should've known./ I should've known the world was wide enough for both Hamilton and me./ The world was wide enough for both Hamilton and me.

The Most Famous Duel in American History: Aaron and Alexander by Don Brown. This illustrated middle grade book looks at the complicated relationship between Aaron and Alexander and gives a more sympathetic spin where Burr is concerned. "Even though we started at the very same time, Alexander Hamilton began to climb." (Non-Stop)

And for those who have fallen head over heals for Lin-Manuel Miranda, be sure to listen to the audio book of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (read by Lin-Manuel Miranda)

"I sure as hell don't want to study Alexander Hamilton." - Lin-Manuel Miranda (Reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe)

And for fans of the Tony Awards, be sure to watch the cast of Hamilton perform Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down) and Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony acceptance speech for Best Score.

And, for learners and teachers: The New York Times The Learning Network's ideas for Learning with Hamilton. It is an amazing resource! Also check out School Library Journal's page of Teaching with Hamilton.

Finally, for fans of The White House performances of Hamilton: The 2009 Hamilton Rap, cast performance of Alexander Hamilton, cast performance of My Shot, and the #Ham4Ham West Wing Cabinet Battle.

Enjoy!