Nonna’s Corner is a special feature where I share books I’ve reviewed with my grandchildren, affectionately referred to as the “Royals” here at Caffeinated.
The Royals and I are sharing our thoughts on Alexander Hamilton’s Wish for Battlefield Glory written by C. Behrens and illustrated by Bryan Werts. Perfect for children ages four through eight, Behrens shares the tale of one of our founding fathers and his quest to lead a battle.
by C. Behrens
Illustrator: Bryan Werts
Genres: Childrens
Source: Author
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
From a young orphan boy to a Founding Father of America, Alexander Hamilton's journey to greatness started with a simple boyhood wish for war. Through hard work, perseverance, and a little bit of good fortune, Hamilton became an American hero and accomplished feats that still inspire us today. One can only imagine what else he could have achieved had his life not been cut short. This captivating children's book also teaches valuable lessons about determination and the power of dreams. Don't miss out on this inspiring tale of a young boy who wished for war and went on to change the course of history!
My grandchildren were familiar with Alexander Hamilton and his role in history through their elementary education and the popular Hamilton play. The heavily illustrated book opens with fourteen-year-old Hamilton telling his friend in a letter that he wishes there was a war so he could be a hero. This opened a dialogue about what a hero is. It was interesting to see how my grandchildren perceive the definition of hero and Alexander’s reasons.
It follows Hamilton from his offer of a scholarship at King’s College to the victory of Yorktown. Facts about battles, the American Revolution and Hamilton’s role alongside Washington sparked the children’s interest in our history, and the battles. We talked about famous battle sites I’ve visited and ones they themselves visited.
Behrens shared a tale that not only highlighted some of Hamilton’s roles in the war but also our history in obtaining freedom. He does so in such a way that the story encourages questions and opens the door to more about our history.
The illustrations by Werts bring the tale to life. After finishing the book, our five-year-old granddaughter could retell the general story using context clues from the images. Alexander Hamilton’s Wish for Battlefield Glory is the perfect non-fiction book for your children’s bookshelf or the classroom. It’s the perfect edition for unit studies in grades K-4th.
About C. Behrens
C. (Chris) Behrens is an award-winning children's author. While raising 2 beautiful daughters by himself, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Dominican University in New York. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and was the recipient of the Mother Lawrence Marie Award for Academic Excellence! His first book, Savanna’s Treasure, earned the Silver Medal in the 2015 Moonbeam Awards for the Early Reader/1st Chapter Book category. His second book, Alexander Hamilton's Wish for Battlefield Glory, earned the 2025 Indie BRAG Medallion and has received multiple 5-star reviews from Readers' Favorite. In his spare time (smile), he attended Rutgers at night for almost 2 years for a mgmt. program. Never giving up is in his blood! In 2023, he won an award from Writer's Digest for a poem about HOOPS! Two of his short stories were praised by Lorian Hemingway, the granddaughter of Ernest! Chris loves to create and never stops working hard at all he pursues!
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
ER LeVar
I’m always on the lookout for this type of history for my tutoring kids to read, so I might have to snag this one up!
Mary Kirkland
This seems like a good one for kids.