Elsa's Chessboard, written by Jenny Andrus and illustrated by Julie Downing. Neal Porter Books, Holiday House. Penguin Random House, 2025. $25.99 ages 5 and up

"Elsa got a job at a dress factory 
sewing hems and buttons. The 
employees spoke many different 
languages. Elsa understood just 
a few words.

She felt shy until, one day, she 
noticed some men playing 
chess at lunch. The next 
morning, she brought her 
chessboard to work."

I was not expecting this to be a picture book biography; indeed, it is! It is told by Elsa's granddaughter, and is shared with love as a tribute to a woman who faced adversity in her lifetime. 

Elsa was born to play chess. As a young girl, she watched endlessly as her brothers played game after game in the town square. Elsa and her family lived in Vienna in the early 20th century. Two of her brothers refused to play chess with her, citing her age and the fact that she was a girl. The third showed kindness by teaching her to play, and occasionally losing to her. Chess was on her mind at every turn. For her tenth birthday, her brothers gifted her a chessboard and finally agreed to play a game with her. 

Through the years, Elsa carried her chessboard wherever she went: to the library where she met her future husband, to the park when they enjoyed picnics and chess together, and even to the opera. After they married, they continued to play chess every chance they got. When Europe became a war zone in the 1930s, their Jewish ancestry forced them to flee and begin a new life in San Francisco. So many people, all speaking different languages made it difficult to make new friends in the dress factory where Elsa found work. Chess became a way to meet people and show her skills. 

"At the chessboard, they all spoke the same language, 
the language of chess."

Following her husband's death, Elsa moved in with her daughter and family. It wasn't until her unpacking was complete that Elsa realized she did not have her chessboard. As Oma cared for her granddaughters, they played many favorite games. But they never played chess. As she aged, memories of happy times reminded her of the game she loved ... and missed dearly. A visit with her great-grandson unearthed the box that held her beloved chessboard, and provided a perfect opportunity to share her love of the game with someone new.  

What a moving historical accounting of one person's life and love for chess. Watercolor and ink artwork bring Elsa, her family and friends to full life. An author's note, resources for further learning, and archival family photos bring this fine book to an end.