When Auggie Learned to Play Chess
Anne Schwartz Books
Hardcover, September 2025
A “Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2026” Selection!
When Auggie finds an old chessboard that once belonged to his grandfather, he decides he wants to learn how to play chess. And his dad, his Tatâ, is happy to teach him.
They’ve just moved to a new town, and Auggie is struggling to make friends at his new school. In the big, busy hallways, he feels like a tiny pawn. But after every hard day at school, he can’t wait to play chess with his dad. Slowly, slowly, he gets better at the game . . . until he can beat Tatâ!
Then, Auggie finds a chessboard in his classroom. When he sees that another boy looks interested in it, he knows just what to do: he can teach Luke how to play chess, too!
Here is a moving father-son story that shows how chess helps one boy feel at home in a new environment.
“Rusu offers youngsters a solid road map for navigating new places and new games. A well-played account of a newcomer learning to roll with the punches.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The pleasing, simply told story comes to life in the playful, deeply colorful digital illustrations. In an appended note, Rusu recalls that her father-in-law, who emigrated from Romania to America, used chess as a vehicle for teaching his grandchildren life lessons about ‘patience and courage, strategy and taking risks.’ An intriguing, satisfying picture book.” — Booklist
“A celebration of family traditions and the lessons learned from them. A strong addition for picture book collections.” — School Library Journal