The Kids' Book of Chess and Chess Set

by Harvey Kidder, Kimberly Bulcken Root

A direct, lively introduction to the game that's inspired passion and challenge for over 900 years — for kids ages 8-12.

Everything a child needs to learn how to play chess, hone your skills, and become a grandmaster, including a custom-designed chess board and full set of 32 chess pieces! A 96-page book leads kids through the fundamentals of beginning, middle, and end game, and shows winning strategies for offense and defense. Full-color fantasy art captures the energy and excitement of chess's origins—the medieval battlefield. Over 1 million copies in print. For ages 8-12.

Genres: Childrens, Nonfiction, Reference, Chess, Classics, Juvenile, Picture Books

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 1990

About the author

Harvey Kidder was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is a graduate of the Child-Waller School of Design in Boston. A free-lance commercial artist and illustrator, he enjoys painting in water colors as a hobby. Mr. Kidder designs toys and games, and has written and illustrated a book on chess for young people. He is married, has one son, and lives in Pleasantville, New York.

Harvey Whitney Kidder, highly renowned artist, illustrator and author, passed away Wednesday, February 28, 2001. He was born on December 15, 1918, son of George Harvey Kidder and Christabel Daisey Whitney in Cambridge, MA. Harvey was a Pocantico Hills resident for over forty years.
Harvey was a veteran of World War II, doing engineering work. On July 22, 1946, he married Jean Mason, who predeceased him in 1991.
Harvey was a member of The Society of Illustrators, The Graphic Artists Guild and was a volunteer with the Pocantico Hills Fire Department. His popular book, "The Kids'Book of Chess" has been in print for thirty years in the United States and abroad, and is considered one of the best books on chess ever written. Harvey loved his work as an artist and also enjoyed carpentry, photography, skiing, sailing and camping.
He was the beloved father of David Whitney Kidder and is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Roseanne Santucci Kidder, grandchildren Corinne and Joseph and many dear friends.
Published in the The Journal News on Mar. 3, 2001

Reviews

[JEB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book to prep for a chess club at my school. My students loved not only the book but the way it broke down the game in a fun way. The illustrations went a long way in contextualizing how each piece acts within the game and how a brand new player should use them while they are just starting off

[Amy Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it taught my 6-year-old daughter to play chess. On the other hand, my 6-year-old daughter can now beat me at chess.

[James Walraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Kids' Book of Chess and Chess Set https://www.chessboardvault.com/best-... is an excellent introduction to the world of chess for young learners. The book is well-organized and provides clear, easy-to-follow explanations of the rules, strategies, and tactics in chess. It's written in a way that's engaging for kids, making it a fun and educational resource. The accompanying chess set is a fantastic addition, with well-crafted, durable pieces that are the perfect size for little hands. The combination of the book and chess set makes it easy for kids to practice and apply what they've learned. This set is a great way to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills in children, all while having a blast with this timeless game. Highly recommended for parents and educators looking to introduce chess to young learners."

[Peter Twele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, sure this is an easy read kids' book, but it has the basics of chess, a good review (haven't played for years), it was already on my shelf (bought it for my kids years ago) and I actually learned a few things I didn't know. For a beginner this book is excellent.

[Álvaro]

A very formative book that introduces you to chess rules and strategy in a very fun way.

[Victor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I know more about chess now that I've read it.

[Marijn Taal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice chess book for beginners with cool illustrations.

[Lynn Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent chess primer. Will get for my great nephew when he is a bit older.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read. Some nice things to aim for (occupy center for squares, look for key spots to attack King) but I have so much more to learn.

[Alex Chafetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute!

[Anthony D’Apolito III · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even a kids book can teach a lot to a beginner like me.

[Ariana · Rating 2 out of 5]

It provided a basic understanding of chess. I would recommend for any beginner

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are probably better (and certainly newer) introductory books out there for kids (or adults) wanting to learn how to play chess, but I picked this one up at a garage sale years ago in the hopes of learning the game. (This book was originally part of a chess set, which was not part of the garage sale, but hey, for a dime, you can't complain. Again, newer combinations are no doubt out there.) Still this is not a bad introduction. Explanations and illustrations are clear and easy to understand.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the most helpful resource I've found since I've been learning to play chess. It is very visual, making the moves each piece makes easier to remember. It is also one of the few resources (at least of those I have used) that actually gives some strategy advice. It also has some neat illustrations and background on the game that would make it more interesting for kids than other, drier texts.

[Audie Verde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally get chess. This was one of Aubrey's books growing up and he gave it to me this past break (winter 09) so we could play chess together. There have been many-a-night where others have tried to teach, and this book made it happen. It gives the pieces character, tells of their historical context, is simply laid out and approaches a complex game in small and doable steps.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good kids book that clarifies the elements of chess rules and strategies without getting technical at all. It uses medieval themes to increase appeal. It's a basic book, but I enjoyed reading it from cover to cover.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introductary book about chess! The author clearly explains the role of each piece and how they move.

[Chanelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made learning the game of chess simple and enjoyable. I always thought chess was hard to play, but now I know otherwise.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to introduce chess using medieval history to help understand how each player moves.

[Awe Efra]

best