Kids of all ages are obsessed with Hamilton, the smash-hit musical inspired by Ron Chernow’s biography of the ten-dollar Founding Father without a father.

So, for the very youngest fans: picture books about the founding figures from the worlds of hip-hop and the American Revolution… all of whom were in the room where it happens. 

Big George by Anne Rockwell
A biography of Washington that starts with his boyhood, painting him as a real person rather than a larger-than-life political figure.

Jay-Z: Hip-Hop Icon by Jessica Gunderson
Critics praised the “unique insider feel” of this picture book, which tells the story of the rapper through the window of a one-on-one interview.

Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Everything by Maira Kalman
Kalman pulls out countless details to create a moving, human, surprisingly nontraditional portrait of the third president. She includes both the beautiful and the ugly parts of his legacy—and gives kids credit for understanding that people can be complex and flawed and still incredibly great.

When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop by Laban Carrick Hill
Go all the way back to Clive Campbell with this picture book about the origins of the genre, with huge, beautiful illustrations to back it up.

The Worst of Friends by Suzanne Tripp Jurman
The love/hate relationship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson—“as different as pickles and ice cream”—is detailed in this book about a complicated friendship in complicated times.  

Wu-Tang Clan by Janice Rockworth
Delve into the history of the most well-known hip-hop group in the world.

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Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!