The Checker Players

An orderly carpenter and a chaotic tinker play a game of checkers, but find it not so easy when two such different creatures try to do even a simple thing together. A great book from which children themselves at school or at home will gather insight into themselves and learn how to tolerate differences and cooperate at having fun. Includes a practical afterword for teachers.

Alan Venable's novel Ratting on Russo was published in 2013. His other recent books for young readers include the chapter book tale, Take Me With You When You Go and picture book Nutty to Meet You!, a Dr. Peanut tale. Byron Barton has created many outstanding picture books, such as Airport; Boats; Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones; and Where's Al?