Disney's Chess Guide: Learn Chess the Fun Way (Mickey for Kids) by Anatoly Karpov (1997-05-03)
What’s inside...
Featuring favourite Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, Disney's Chess Guide presents instruction for budding young chess players aged between six and twelve. The book is written by the FIDE World Chess Champion and contains the author's 'Checkmate' teaching method along with a comic story, 'Goofy in the Land of Chess'. This guide to learning chess also includes activities, quiz questions, and 'Play and Win!' tests to reinforce learning.
Discussion points
What is your favorite chess piece and why do you like it?
How do you think Mickey Mouse and his friends would use their chess strategies to solve problems in their adventures?
Can you think of a time when you used strategy, like in chess, to make a decision or solve a problem?
Which chess move do you find most interesting and why?
How do you feel when you play chess and why do you think it’s important to think ahead in the game?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine they're playing chess with their favorite Disney character and ask them how they would play differently.
Discuss the qualities of different chess pieces and relate those to real-life situations to make the concepts more relatable.
After reading, play a game of chess with your child, guiding them to use the strategies they've learned from the book.
Praise your child for thoughtful moves and strategies during the game to boost their confidence.
Use examples from the book to highlight the importance of patience and planning in chess, drawing parallels to everyday scenarios your child might encounter.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Strategic Thinking
Explanation: Through learning chess with beloved Disney characters, children grasp the concept of thinking ahead and planning their moves carefully.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply strategic thinking skills in problem-solving tasks at school or in deciding how to manage their time effectively for homework and play.
Example Lesson: Patience and Focus
Explanation: Chess requires waiting for the opponent to make a move and focusing on the game for an extended period, which is demonstrated as Mickey and friends patiently strategize their moves.
Real-World Application: This can help children develop patience and enhance their ability to concentrate during class activities or while completing tasks that require sustained attention.
Example Lesson: Sportsmanship
Explanation: The book shows characters reacting gracefully to both victories and losses, teaching children to handle wins and setbacks with good grace.
Real-World Application: Children can emulate this behavior in sports and group activities, learning to celebrate their own successes without belittling others, and accepting losses without resentment.
Example Lesson: Decision Making
Explanation: As characters make choices about which chess pieces to move, children learn about the consequences of decisions.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children think through their choices more carefully in everyday situations, understanding that their actions have impacts.
Example Lesson: Creative Problem Solving
Explanation: Characters often face challenging scenarios on the chess board, which they solve using creative strategies.
Real-World Application: Kids learn to think outside the box, applying creative solutions to obstacles they encounter at school or in social situations.