Best Chess Books for Kids (2026): 5 Picks Compared

Finding the best chess books for kids starts with the reader: a child who has never moved a pawn needs a different book from a child who already knows the moves and wants sharper tactics. This list compares books by listed reading age, grade level, print length and description.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Chess for Kids by Basman	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Usborne Chess Book by Bowman	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Beat Dad at Chess by Chandler	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Chess for Children by Chandler	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	How to Win at Chess by Rozman	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Chess for Kids by Basman

Michael Basman·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Illustrated guide building chess fundamentals, tactics, piece values and history.

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Pros

• Reading age 6 - 10 years, marked as from customers, grade 3 - 7
• Chessboard graphics show each piece in game situations
• History section covers the game and its origins

Cons

• 48 pages is short for a long guide
• Reading age marked as from customers only
• First edition from January 23, 2006

2

Usborne Chess Book by Bowman

Lucy Bowman·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Write-in guide for young beginners, with puzzles, facts, tips and stickers.

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Pros

• Simple puzzles teach piece moves, then tactics and checkmates
• Answers are at the back of the book
• Reading age 6 - 9 years with grade 2 - 3

Cons

• Write-in format suits one reader only
• 72 pages is short for deeper strategy
• Stickers and activities skew younger

3

Beat Dad at Chess by Chandler

Murray Chandler·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Clear guide to forcing checkmate, using patterns from real games.

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Pros

• 50 checkmate patterns drawn from real games
• Suits beginners and advanced players alike
• Reading age 8+ years, marked as from customers, grade 2 and up

Cons

• Published October 1, 1998, the oldest pick
• Focuses on checkmates, not every rule
• Illustrated edition, no newer edition named

4

Chess for Children by Chandler

Murray Chandler·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Step-by-step rules introduction, told through inventive tales.

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Pros

• Assumes no prior knowledge at all
• Children as young as five can enjoy games
• Rules explained step by step through tales

Cons

• Reading age 9 - 12 years clashes with grade Kindergarten - 7
• Published April 1, 2004, an older guide
• Tales may not suit straight-instruction readers

5

How to Win at Chess by Rozman

Levy Rozman·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Guide for beginners and intermediates: openings, endings, tactics, strategy.

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Pros

• Over 500 instructional gameplay illustrations included
• QR codes give bonus content on Chessly
• Covers openings, endings, tactics and strategy

Cons

• No reading age or grade level stated
• Written for players generally, not children specifically
• 272 pages is long for a first book

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More picks to compare

• Chess Tactics for Kids by ChandlerFor young players learning tactical motifs from real games.Check on Amazon
• Winning Chess Exercises for Kids by NiFor kids who want exercises with an answer key with explanations.Check on Amazon
• Checkmate! Chess Made Simple by WhitFor beginners learning moves through stories, puzzles and strategies.Check on Amazon
• Chess for Babies by RozmanFor babies meeting piece names and moves in a board book.Check on Amazon
• Chess for Kids by WinFor children ages 4 to 7 learning through a storybook guide.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 25 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. Four picks list both a reading age and a grade level, and one lists neither. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best chess books for kids

Match the reading age and the grade level together

The two numbers on a listing do not always agree. Chess for Kids by Basman gives a reading age of 6 – 10 years, marked as from customers, with grade level 3 – 7, while Chess for Children by Chandler pairs a reading age of 9 – 12 years with grade level Kindergarten – 7. See also books about problem solving for kids.

Start with rules, then move to tactics

A child who has never played needs the rules first, and Chess for Children by Chandler assumes no prior knowledge. Once the moves are known, How to Beat Your Dad at Chess by Chandler teaches checkmate patterns, and How to Win at Chess by Rozman covers openings, endings, tactics and strategy.

Pick a format the reader will finish

Some readers learn by writing and solving, and the Usborne Chess Book by Bowman is a write-in book with puzzles and stickers. Others learn by looking, and Chess for Kids by Basman uses chessboard graphics to show each move. For other activity-led kids lists, see science books for kids who love experiments.

Before you buy

• Check the edition and publication date on the listing.
• Check whether the book is a write-in activity book or a reading guide.
• Compare the listed reading age with the grade level, noting any from-customers mark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should a child who has never played chess start?

Chess for Children by Chandler explains the basic moves step by step and assumes no prior knowledge.

Do any of these books include answers to puzzles?

The Usborne Chess Book listing states that all the answers are at the back of the book.

Which pick suits a reader who already knows the moves?

How to Beat Your Dad at Chess by Chandler teaches 50 checkmate patterns from real games.

Still deciding? Our top pickChess for Kids by Basman

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Related lists

See every Kids and Teens list and all middle grade lists.

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