Phillipa Soo to Pen Foreword for New Eliza Hamilton Picture Book Biography

Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, has acquired ELIZA: THE STORY OF ELIZABETH SCHUYLER Hamilton, a picture book biography by Christopher Award winner Margaret McNamara, to be published in Fall 2017. The deal for English world rights was announced today by Anne Schwartz and Lee Wade, VP & Co-Publishers, Schwartz & Wade Books.

Hamilton star Phillipa Soo, who originated the role of Eliza in the landmark musical, will contribute a foreword. The book narrates the story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, who founded New York City's first private orphanage, raised funds to build the Washington Monument, and preserved the legacy of her husband, Alexander Hamilton. Meg Mortimer represented Phillipa Soo; Faith Hamlin of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represenTed McNamara.

"I have lived and breathed Eliza's story for the past two years," says Soo. "I could not be more thrilled to be included in her narrative for young readers."

This news comes as Soo prepares to leave the role of Eliza behind when she exits the Broadway production of Hamilton on July 9.

"I have been obsessed with Eliza since I first saw Phillipa bring her to life on stage. It is a true honor to publish the story of this extraordinary woman," said Wade. "Young readers will be inspired by her story."

In honor of the book's publication, Random House Children's Books will make a contribution to support Graham Windham, the nation's oldest nonprofit, non-sectarian child welfare agency, founded in New York City in 1806 by Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton and others. It carries Eliza's legacy forward today as it helps to provide over 4,500 children with the foundation of family and opportunity that they need to succeed in life.

MARGARET MCNAMARA is the author of the Mr. Tiffin's Classroom Series, which includes How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?, winner of the Christopher Award;The Apple Orchard Riddle; and A Poem in Your Pocket. She has written many other books for children, among them The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot andGeorge Washington's Birthday: A Mostly True Tale. She lives with her husband and their children in New York City. Learn more at margaretmcnamara.net.

Random House Children's Books is the world's largest English-language children's trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, ebooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children's Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. Random House Children's Books is a division of Penguin Random House LLC.