What happens when you first hear the title Chess for Babies?
You either laugh, roll your eyes, or are genuinely intrigued.
Believe me, any of those reactions is acceptable.
A book teaching anything to infants often sits in an uncomfortable space between genuine educational intent and an obvious commercial opportunity.
Differentiating which category Levy Rosman’s (aka GothamChess) book sits in is why an unbiased review is necessary.
So here we are.
But first, a bit of background context.
What the Book Actually Is
Chess for Babies is a 20-page board book written by International Master and chess content creator Levy Rozman (aka GothamChess).
It is published by Ten Speed Young Readers (an imprint of Penguin Random House) and released on March 3, 2026.
The book is designed to introduce young children to the game of chess.
Basically, it’s pieces, their names, how they move, and the basic objective of the game.
The pages are thick. The lamination is glossy to resist moisture (drool). The corners are rounded and safe for the target demographic.
The book is illustrated in a bold, high-contrast, and very colorful style.
The content is centered on “Object Identification” and “Names.”
Each page introduces a piece, its name, and a highly simplified version of its role.
For example: “The Rook moves in straight lines.”
So, The Gimmick Question?
It would be dishonest not to name this upfront.
Chess for Babies exists in a “Baby University” genre of board books.
This includes titles like Quantum Physics for Babies, Neural Networks for Babies, and other similarly named books.
These books aim to introduce complex, high-level concepts to infants using simplified shapes and primary colors.
Rozman has said publicly that the idea came directly from seeing those titles.
The gimmicky nature of the genre is not necessarily a disqualification. Plenty of good books have commercial origins.
But it does change the core question of this review.
Not “Is this a good chess book?”
But:
What is this book actually for. And does it deliver on that?
The Chess Education Question
Let’s make this point very clear.
This is not a chess instruction manual.
Yes, the piece movements are introduced. But a baby is not retaining the difference between how a bishop and a rook move.
So let’s be frank.
No infant is learning chess from this book.
In the same way that a baby board book about animals does not teach zoology, Chess for Babies is not teaching chess.
Chess requires abstract reasoning, spatial thinking, and rule retention. These skills simply do not develop until much later in childhood.
No board book changes that. Regardless of who wrote it.
What does work is something more subtle.
The idea that early exposure to chess imagery and vocabulary may plant a seed.
Whether that seed has long-term value is genuinely unknown.
But it is not nothing.
Even when Levy announced Chess for Babies, he felt the need to clarify that it was not a prank, not a joke, and not a scam.
Who Should Buy This Book
Three honest verdicts. Not one.
Buy it as a gift for a chess-loving new parent.
The physical quality is solid. The visual design is thoughtful. The intent is warm.
A chess family will enjoy having it on the shelf.
As a gift, it works well.
Buy it if you have a toddler or early reader (ages 3–6).
Here is where the book actually starts to make sense.
The piece movement tracing is engaging. The illustrations are friendly.
Used this way, it serves a real purpose.
Do not buy it if you are a GothamChess fan looking for instruction.
This is not that book.
My Verdict
Chess for Babies is a better book than its title suggests.
And a less educational one than its marketing implies.
The visual design is genuinely thoughtful.
The construction is practical.
The concept is… acceptable.
Levy Rozman is good for chess.
His reach. His accessibility work. His enthusiasm for growing the game.
Those are real contributions.
This book is an extension of that mission.
And for that, I support it.
It is a fine book.
It is a better gift.
It is not a chess education.
Rating
Personal Rating: 3.7 out of 5
Book Details
Chess for Babies by Levy Rozman
Published by Ten Speed Young Readers (US) / Penguin Books (UK)
20 pages. Board book. Available now.
Guest Author: Boluwatife Durojaiye
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