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When Auggie Learned to Play Chess

Author Meredith Rusu
Illustrated by Stephen Costanza
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Hardcover
$18.99 US
RH Childrens Books | Anne Schwartz Books
On sale Sep 09, 2025 | 48 Pages | 9780593710814
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In this heartfelt picture book, a shy kid's dad teaches him how to play chess... and chess gives him the confidence to make a new friend.

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 Tata!

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.
Meredith Rusu lives in New Jersey with her husband and two young sons. She is the author of more than one hundred children's books, notably Sweet Dreams, Jack-Jack and also the DATA Set series, under the name Ada Hopper. When she isn't writing, Meredith enjoys singing karaoke, spending time with family, and going on the occasional adventure or two. View titles by Meredith Rusu
Stephen Costanza View titles by Stephen Costanza

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In this heartfelt picture book, a shy kid's dad teaches him how to play chess... and chess gives him the confidence to make a new friend.

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 Tata!

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.

Author

Meredith Rusu lives in New Jersey with her husband and two young sons. She is the author of more than one hundred children's books, notably Sweet Dreams, Jack-Jack and also the DATA Set series, under the name Ada Hopper. When she isn't writing, Meredith enjoys singing karaoke, spending time with family, and going on the occasional adventure or two. View titles by Meredith Rusu
Stephen Costanza View titles by Stephen Costanza

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