Across the Battlefield

An illustrated work offers a children’s story and a chess manual.

This volumeis two books in one. The first takes place on the even-numbered pages. It’s a simple tale that brings chess pieces to life, focusing on Prunella, a pawn determined to make it to the other side of the board. At the same time, a straightforward chess guide is presented on the odd-numbered pages, with Prunella’s tale mirroring what is being taught on the following page. For example, on one page, Prunella is watching the center of the board as a fight for control takes place. “Being short is the worst!” she says. “I might as well just plop down and wait for the action to come closer, because I can’t see a thing.” On the following page, readers are told that “most great chess players focus on gaining control of the middle of the chess board at the beginning of each game.” Ferry’s intriguing presentation works well even if Prunella’s story is a little hemmed in by the rules of chess. The tale is aided by whimsical and delightful illustrations by Zina throughout. As the pages turn, the game becomes a bit more complicated, and Prunella’s story gets a tad more action-filled. So after a particularly scary move made by Prunella’s Queen Nyella on one page, the next page follows up with “the tactic that Nyella utilized is called a ‘fork,’ ” going on to explain the move and its uses in detail. This is a worthwhile book for teaching children chess, perhaps examining the odd pages at a chess table and treating the even pages as a bedtime story. That yarn comes with a moral that works as well in life as on the chess board. As Prunella learns, “It wasn’t her individual status that mattered. It was the contributions of the whole team working together that was important.”

A captivating tale and guide that could help young players learn and enjoy chess.