I feel so lucky that I meet so many amazing kidlit authors and illustrators. Sometimes I meet them at conferences. Sometimes our paths cross during an online class. And other times, mutual friends bring us together.

That’s how I connected with Jenny Andrus. She’s in the #Kidlit Foxes author promo group with a couple of other folks I know – and when she reached out and I heard the story behind her debut picture book, ELSA’S CHESSBOARD that releases from Neal Porter/Holiday House on April 29, I just knew I had to help spread the word…and the COVER!

Illustrator Julie Downing has created a cover that truly engages and informs! Look at the background. We can tell right away that this is a book about a time in the past. And look at where the focus is…right on this young girl…and look how the artist has made her active. She’s not just sitting at a chessboard…we can see she is involved in an on-going game! I can’t wait to open the book and turn the pages and read the story…and I’m sure that’s how young children will feel, too.

Here’s a little bit about the book:
Elsa’s Chessboard
Jenny Andrus (author)
Julie Downing (illustrator)
Neal Porter Books/Holiday House
Launch date: April 29, 2025
ISBN: 9780823454082

ME: I asked Jenny what inspired her to write the story.

JENNY: My grandmother (we called her Oma) lived with us when I was growing up, and we were very close. I could talk to her about almost anything–except chess. Even though Oma was passionate about the game, I resisted her every effort to teach me how to play. There was always something else that I would rather do. Eventually, she gave up trying. How I wish I could go back in time and take her up on that offer. Since that’s not a possibility, I went with the next best option: I wrote a book celebrating her life and the game she loved.

Here’s a short summary of the story

Growing up in 1900s Vienna, Elsa loves watching her brothers play chess. “No girls!” they tell her when she first asks to learn; but she wears them down, and soon she’s such a pro that they give her a special chess set of her own.  Elsa carries her chessboard with her everywhere, always ready for a game. She even gets to know her future husband over games in the park. But when World War II grips Europe, the young Jewish family flees to America, where they find themselves surrounded by unfamiliar languages. Luckily, Elsa knows one language that can always bring people together: chess!

And here’s a little bit about Jenny:

Jenny Andrus is an author, children’s book reviewer, and librarian. She has written stories for newspapers and magazines, and co-authored a book for new parents, Bay Area Baby.  For 14 years, she was a K-8 school librarian, where her favorite part of the job was sharing picture books with kids.

And here’s a little bit about the illustrator:

Julie Downing is the author and illustrator of Hello, Moon; Hello, Sun; and Night in the City. She has illustrated over forty-five picture books, including Cubs in the Tub: The True Story of the Bronx Zoo’s First Woman Zookeeper by Candace Fleming. She has won many awards and citations, including a Parents’ Choice Award, the New York Public Library’s Best Books, APAAL Best Illustrated Book, and the Irma Black Silver Medal.

To find out more about the creators of this beautiful book:
Social media links / website
Instagram:
Jenny: @jennyandruswrites
Julie Downing:@juliedowning

Bluesky
@jandrus.bsky.social

Facebook
@jenny.andrus.94

Websites
Jenny: https://jennyandruswrites.com/
Julie: https://www.juliedowning.com/

Preferred Pre-Order Sales Links
Bookshop.org
Barnes & Noble
Amazon

Reviews welcome on the store sites, as well as on:
Goodreads
Edelweiss

Thank you, everyone, for spending your precious time with us. I’ll be away for the next 2 weeks – and will return JUST IN TIME for #50PreciousWords which takes place right here on the blog on March 2 and March 3. Our wonderful judges are all ready to read your fabulous stories…have you written yours yet? As always, the prizes are amazing! Check out the Heads Up post for guidelines and prize list: https://viviankirkfield.com/2025/02/01/heads-up-the-50preciouswords-2024-international-writing-contest-is-coming-soon-2/