It's time to shout-out another book birthday! Today's read was a definite pick-it-up for me. While I am a Chess idiot, one of my sons is not. He actually started the Chess Club while in high school and was even able to bring it to a competition level with around 15 members (in a school of less than 400), before he graduated. I listened and nodded and smiled about so many Chess situations being described during those years. My youngest daughter started to play Chess because of that, but she's still a little rusty and was thrilled to see this book. I promised I'd let her take it over after writing this review. And that speaks volumes in and of itself, since she's not a reading fan.
Anyway, let's just open it up and take a look!
BECOME A CHESS CHAMPION
by James Canty III
Illustrated by Brian Lambert
Neon Squid
Middle Grade Nonfiction
128 pages
ages 8 to 12
Kids will learn how to master the basics of the classic board game in this fun beginner’s guide from professional chess player James Canty III.
The book is structured like a chess course, with knowledge carefully introduced as readers turn the pages – assisted by hilarious chess pieces illustrated by Brian Lambert. The emphasis is on James Canty III uses mini games and chess puzzles to teach important concepts and avoid overwhelming beginners. Kids will learn key skills like how to play the perfect opening and trick their opponents to bring about checkmate. By the end of the book readers should be able to confidently take on their parents, guardians or grandparents in a competitive game of chess!
Become a Chess Champion also introduces kids to the wonderful world of chess. They’ll meet the chess player who didn’t lose a game for 30 years, the priest who invented the folding chess board, and the astronauts on the International Space station who had a chess match with people back on Earth!
As well as being great fun, chess also helps kids develop key skills such as strategising, patience, and logic, and helps them excel in school subjects such as mathematics.
Check it out!
The book is structured like a chess course, with knowledge carefully introduced as readers turn the pages – assisted by hilarious chess pieces illustrated by Brian Lambert. The emphasis is on James Canty III uses mini games and chess puzzles to teach important concepts and avoid overwhelming beginners. Kids will learn key skills like how to play the perfect opening and trick their opponents to bring about checkmate. By the end of the book readers should be able to confidently take on their parents, guardians or grandparents in a competitive game of chess!
Become a Chess Champion also introduces kids to the wonderful world of chess. They’ll meet the chess player who didn’t lose a game for 30 years, the priest who invented the folding chess board, and the astronauts on the International Space station who had a chess match with people back on Earth!
As well as being great fun, chess also helps kids develop key skills such as strategising, patience, and logic, and helps them excel in school subjects such as mathematics.
Check it out!
MY TIDBITS
The complex thought of chess hits with an entertaining step-by-step process to open up this game to even uncertain, would-be players.
Starting with a Table of Contents...which might sound generic but is really helpful, since each two-page spread holds an element (or other information) of the game, making it easy to flip right to whatever information is needed..., this book dives into Chess. It starts very simple, describing the board, and then, each piece one-by-one. With careful pacing, potential players ease into the game and, by the end, have learned basic game techniques and have even had the chance to solve several chess situations. Readers will be able to play chess after reading this.
The book snuggles right into the middle grade age group. With a casual style, the text carries, at times, a conversation like atmosphere, while others are more information pure. The text is set in and around the illustrations to help emphasize facts, while also offering more fun for the eyes. The chess pieces carry a slightly animated style to make them approachable and cheerful. Their occasional comments are sure to bring, at least, a smirk or two. To break things up and build a bit more appreciate for Chess, there is also information surrounding the history of Chess, famous players, and such. These are interesting and offer fun facts, which help the world of Chess gain richness...and are simple intriguing.
With all this information, the author doesn't forget to give a little practice to help root those skills. Every so often, there's a Chess puzzle, where the reader has to figure out what Chess pieces should move where. These increase in number and difficulty as the book continues. There are also hints at strategies, like trapping the Queen or Castle-ing, and hints as to how to play the game. These offer a wide variety because Chess is very dependent on the individual and their own thoughts and strengths.
While learning Chess might seem tough or boring, these pages prove differently. And while this is written for middle graders, I have no doubt that even older readers will enjoy the fun, basic attitude in the pages...especially since they do a good job at teaching the basics of Chess and more.
And here they are...
James Canty III is a professional chess player, coach, commentator, and content creator for Chess.com. Canty became a national master at 17 after winning the first Harold Steen Memorial Cup, which happened a year after his coach passed away. After such a meteoric rise Canty quickly became a legend in Detroit’s chess scene. Canty is also a popular chess streamer—his fans can watch Canty playing chess, analyzing games, and studying to become a Grandmaster on Twitch and YouTube.
Brian Lambert creates art that is bright, vibrant, and versatile with a unique and warm-hearted feel. Brian enjoys working on illustrations from his home in the beautiful Inland Northwest. He spends his spare time drawing, dreaming, and hanging out with his wife and cat.
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