"Once A Pawn, A Knight..." is a whimsical story that follows two of the chess pieces (the Pawn and the Knight, of course) in a narrative about self-discovery and friendship across the chess board. It appeals to young children and parents as a zany rhyming picture book, combined with the gentle introduction to the game that is centuries old and which is increasingly part of young kids' repertoires. "Once A Pawn, A Knight..." includes an appropriate amount of "instruction" couched in a storybook for the preK-3rd grade set. The intended effect is a desire to read again and again, learn chess, and play more chess.