The Discovery of Chess - (Asian Hall of Fame) by Phil Amara & Oliver Chin (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Dao, a red panda, guides Ethan and Emma, two school children, back into time to discover how chess was created and became popular worldwide"--

Book Synopsis

This amazingly illustrated storybook explores how chess originated and became the world's most popular game.

Chess has never been more popular. Fueled by the 2020 pandemic-induced increase in leisure time and the Netflix television series The Queen's Gambit, more people play chess than ever before. But do they know where the game originated?

The trio teleport to ancient India to see how rajahs moved their armies onto a playing board. Then the curious travelers zip back to the future as chess migrated westward, across oceans, continents, and the internet! Learn about how iconic pieces evolved, legendary players, and the game's enduring cultural influence. Readers of all ages will develop a greater appreciation of the game of kings... and queens!
This is the fourth adventure in our series on cool inventions created in Asia. The cute red panda Dao makes history come alive by transporting the kids Emma and Ethan back in time. Now they explore the origin and evolution of chess!

Teachers and librarians will find this a great addition to their children's picture book and illustrated collections. The influence of chess is boundless!

"Chess is everything: art, science, and sport." - Anatoly Karpov, World Chess Champion

"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess." ― Kobe Bryant

From the Back Cover

"Children will be inspired by the bold, colorful illustrations by Juan Calle and will enjoy picking up details about Asian culture through the book's exuberant story telling." - Sampan

Review Quotes

"...
this informative and fascinating tale will also entertain chess players of all
ages. Young readers will enjoy the illustrations just as much as the narrative,
and families and friends will appreciate having this book to share their
knowledge about the history of chess. The authors have filled a significant
void in chess literature for children."

- Ray Linville, Chess.com

The Discovery of Chess is a multicultural visual history of the universal
language that is chess. The lovable duo, Emma and Ethan, as well as their Red
Panda companion, all beautifully and colourfully drawn, make the rich origins
of chess palatable to a young audience."
- HerMoveNext.com

"This clever, informative and fun story about how chess was invented [provides] a combination of education with amusement. If you read 'between the lines' you will see how politics played a role in shaping how the game would transform into the game we know today. The unfolding of a complex game really has a complex history and was fun to learn about."
- Cannonballread.com

About the Author

Phil Amara was an editor at Kitchen Sink Press and Dark Horse Comics, and writer of the The Nevermen comic book series and the book So, You Wanna Be A Comic Book Artist?: How To Break Into Comics! The Ultimate Guide For Kids. Currently he is a elementary school teacher in Massachusetts.
Oliver Chin is the author of the popular annual children's book series Tales from the Chinese Zodiac. This remains the only series in English on the animals of the Lunar New Year, which is increasingly celebrated worldwide. He presents at schools, libraries, and museums nationwide and teaches artists of all ages how to create their own comic books.
Juan Calle is a Science illustrator from UC Santa Cruz, and art director at Liberum Donum Studios, based in Bogotá, Colombia. Juan created Immedium's children's book Good Dream, Bad Dream and illustrated The Year of the Rooster. Liberum Donum has worked for Weldon Owen publishing and Capstone Press, on titles for young audiences such as Show me How series, Papermania!, How to be a Werewolf, How to be a Zombie, and How to Draw Incredible Dinosaurs. The team works for the advertising and entertainment industry, and creates 2D and 3D animation for movies and TV, and visual development and concept art for video games.