By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 13, 2010
We all know that when a person, big or small, loves Star Wars, they really LOVE Star Wars. And as crazy as it is, even children that have never even seen the films can be 
obsessed with Star Wars.
Before you take a look at this year’s list of Star Wars picks, Yoda has a few words of wisdom that he would like to share with you as you ponder the idea of giving books to your young jedi:
“Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is. Give the gift of reading, you will! Do or do not… there is no try.”
Star Wars: Millennium Falcon- A 3-D Owner’s Guide
by Ryder Windham
Reading level: Ages 8-12
Board book: 24 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.; Brdbk edition (September 1, 2010)
Source of book: Publisher
Publisher’s synopsis: This novelty format dissects the most famous ship in the galaxy section-by-section, revealing the ship’s secrets and special modifications.
Includes technical notes from Han Solo as well as a detailed overview of each of the ship’s main functions.
Add this book to your collection: Star Wars: Millennium Falcon- A 3-D Owner’s Guide
Obsessed with Star Warsby Benjamin Harper
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (October 1, 2008)
Source of book: Personal collection
Publisher’s synopsis: Even the most die-hard Star Wars fans will find themselves challenged by this entertaining new approach to the details of the saga. This fourth volume in the popular addictive Obsessed With series again includes an innovative scoring module right in the book so a player can select questions by number or at random and keep score. With 2 500 original questions covering little known facts entertaining quotes and tough trivia from all six episodes Obsessed With Star Wars will have readers dominating the galaxy in no time.
Add this book to your collection: Obsessed with Star Wars
Star Wars: A Scanimation Bookby Rufus Butler Seder
Reading level: Ages 6 and up
Hardcover: 13 pages
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (May 12, 2010)
Source of book: Personal collection
Publisher’s synopsis: Imagine: the first Star Wars book that actually moves, bringing to life the most memorable scenes from the epic: Obi-Wan battles Darth Maul The Millennium Falcon zooms away from an exploding Death Star Luke rides a galloping Tauntaun, Yoda twirls his green lightsaber, Boba Fett blasts up, up and away! And of course the most memorable scene of all—red and blue lightsabers flashing, Luke and Darth Vader fight the ultimate battle between good and evil.
It’s a marriage made in a galaxy far, far away: phenomenal Scanimation meets Star Wars, the enduring epic that’s sold $42 billion in ticket sales and earned the title #1 Boys Action Toy License of all time. Created by Rufus Butler Seder, Star Wars: A Scanimation Book presents 12 of the most memorable scenes, in a landscape, i.e., movie format. It’s an homage from an artist obsessed with the earliest forms of capturing visual motion to an artist obsessed with the most advanced. But that’s not what young fans will care about—this is having pure movie magic in the palm of your hand, to replay again and again.
Add this book to your collection: Star Wars: A Scanimation Book
Star Wars ABCby Scholastic
Reading level: Ages 5 and up
Board book: 26 pages
Publisher: Cartwheel Books (July 1, 2010)
Source of book: Publisher
Publisher’s synopsis: Star Wars: ABC is an alphabetical adventure through the imaginative and intergalactic world of Star Wars featuring the names and images of the most popular characters, droids, spaceships, and creatures in this galaxy far, far away.
With artistic alliterative text that describes each image and emphasizes each letter, Star Wars: ABC is a completely new way to learn about the legendary story of Star Wars.
Add this book to your collection: Star Wars ABC
The Sounds of Star Warsby J.W. Rinzler (Author), Ben Burtt (Foreword)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (September 1, 2010)
Source of book: Personal collection
Publisher’s synopsis: Any Star Wars fan can mimic Darth Vader’s voice or Chewbacca’s roar with ease. But how many of them would be able to identify the lion’s roar used in the sound of the Millenium Falcon’s engine? In this aurally astonishing and visually engaging book, New York Times best-selling author J. W. Rinzler reveals the illuminating history of the sounds that make the Star Wars universe so believable, as recounted by their creator, legendary sound designer Ben Burtt. An attached sound module with an exterior speaker and headphone jack lets readers listen to more than 250 unique sound effects, and more than 300 photographs illustrate the epic’s many memorable scenes. From the first films to the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars series, The Sounds of Star Wars is Star Wars as you’ve never heard it before.
Add this book to your collection: The Sounds of Star Wars
Yoda: Bring You Wisdom, I Willby Yoda
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books; Toy/Bklt edition (September 8, 2010)
Source of book: Personal collection
Publisher’s synopsis: The ultimate Jedi Master from Star Wars is also the perfect totem for wisdom in all of life’s pursuits. Having explored the galaxy and studied the Force for hundreds of years, Yoda has passed on his knowledge of the Jedi arts to generations of the galaxy’s greatest heroes. Now you can have your own Yoda sensei in your life! This one-of-a-kind, hand-painted Yoda statue comes with a customizable galactic display stand, a booklet of Yoda’s most inspirational musings alongside full-color illustrations, and a sheet of removable stickers of select quotes. Perfect for the office, mantle, bedside table, or anywhere else the Force might come in handy.
Add this book to your collection: Yoda: Bring You Wisdom, I Will
4 Comments
I got my youngest Star Wars Head to Head. My older son took some time to read and loved it so I know it will be a hit with my younger one!
Thanks for sharing. Have you guys tried any of the ones mentioned above?
No, but I am thinking I will be getting Obsessed With Star Wars for the family as well. We got the Heroes and Villains playing cards one year and my sons started playing “war” with them. There were a lot of arguments over who would win each match up–the Head to Head book will help with some of those arguments (I hope)! Have you seen this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCjMGOvMghY
Enjoy!
I rarely watch a You Tube video the whole way through, but that one is special!