Get Your Kids Hooked on Star Wars in Time for Episode VII

Star Wars: A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy, by Alexandra Bracken and Iain McCaig (Illustrator)
The first in a series of three books that will retell the original film trilogy as kid-friendly fiction, this book covers Episode IV from the perspective of the Princess, Leia. She fills in her perspective on her first encounters with Luke (the Farm Boy) and Han Solo (the Scoundrel), offering not only new information about her adventures offscreen, but also a strong feminist point of view, plus loads of plain old adventure and flat-out fun. An exciting reimagining of the classic story, this book is a perfect gateway to the Star Wars universe, to be quickly followed by the rest of the trilogy.

Darth Vader and Friends, by Jeffrey Brown
The latest in Brown’s sweet, fun series depicting the softer and friendlier side of everyone’s favorite movie villain explores the friendships in the Star Wars universe. Darth Vader and best friend The Emperor, R2D2 and best friend C-3PO, Han Solo and Chewbacca—at its core Star Wars is about friendship, and Brown weaves in positive lessons for kids while staying true to the basic story and spirit of the Star Wars mythology. Fans of Brown’s previous parenting-centric illustrated books will find much to adore in his charming renderings of familiar scenes from the films, populated by child versions of the characters.

Star Wars: Jedi Academy, by Jeffrey Brown
Brown continues his hit streak with another thoroughly charming, thoroughly entertaining riff on the Star Wars universe from a kid’s point of view. This is the story of Roan, a little boy living in a galaxy far, far away who wants nothing more than to follow his father and grandfather to Pilot School but finds himself mysteriously recruited to Jedi School instead. It’s told via Roan’s comic doodlings, diary entries, and letters home. The oldest child at the school, Roan is challenged by a lot of things kids living in this universe will recognize, from fear of failure to bullying to struggling to keep up in class. These lessons are delivered with generous helpings of good humor and nearly sacrilegious jokes playing with the established tropes and traditions of Star Wars. Just be prepared for your kids to demand to be sent to Jedi Academy instead of boring old regular school.

The Phantom Bully, by Jeffrey Brown
The third in Brown’s Jedi Academy series, this marvelous illustrated book finds Roan in his last year and busier than ever as he prepares for graduation. In addition to his schoolwork, however, Roan is faced with figuring out who’s setting him up to get in trouble with just about everyone at school, including Yoda himself. Roan soon realizes that if he doesn’t get to the bottom of the mystery, he might actually be expelled. The invisible “phantom” bully offers the likable Roan—and young readers—lessons in how to handle conflict and how to survive the pressures of school and other children, all while delighting young and old alike with charming illustrations and a story that’s surprisingly deep and affecting for all its impish tweaking of established Star Wars mythology.