Star Wars Thursday: Reading Event Edition

Last week I introduced you to a site called Star Wars in the Classroom, which is filled with great lessons and ideas for using my favorite movies to get kids excited about learning. I loved hearing from Thomas, the founder of the site, about his love for Star Wars. You don’t have to be a teacher or librarian to love the fact that we can use our geeky passions to hook kids, though.

Since the second annual Star Wars Reads event is only a month away, now is the time to share the love of Star Wars and reading. My school librarian and I are planning a small celebration in our building. If you are looking for an event location near you, be sure to check the official Facebook page.

There have been so many great books released recently, for a variety of ages and reader types!

Are you a fan of Lucas AND Shakespeare? Then you should check out William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope by Ian Doescher. I enjoyed how Doescher took the entire story and translated it into Shakespearean drama. It’s probably best if you know A New Hope quite well and Shakespeare moderately well. There were famous lines tossed in that I recognized from Shakespeare, and a huge number of funny little Star Wars in-jokes. My favorite parts were the asides by R2, so I could hear what his little metal mind was thinking through all his beeps and warbles. The illustrations by Nicolas Delort were amazing! Ian Doescher wrote a post for Nerdy Book Club about his inspiration and process which was also fun to read.

Need something on the lighter side? Or maybe you are looking for a book that will hook the younglings around your house? I just received my copy of Star Wars: Jedi Academy, by Jeffrey Brown. The same guy who brought us the adorable picture books Vader’s Little Princess and Darth Vader and Son is now diving into a slightly longer format. With a mixture of diary entries, comics, and other visual treats, Jedi Academy is sure to please the younger crowd. I would tell you more about the book, but my nine year old stole it right off my table before I could finish it!

For the history buffs among us, check out Star Wars and History. This one released last year, but is a fun example of how we can look at science fiction through the lens of historical analysis. Read about the similarities between Jedi and warrior monks on earth. Understand the rise of dictators through Palpatine’s tale. My favorite, though, was the chapter devoted to women in wars and resistance movements. I’m a sucker for anything that highlights Leia’s roles.

The last book is one that I’m dying to read, but haven’t gotten my hands on yet. That, of course, is because Star Wars: Empire and Rebellion: Razor’s Edge doesn’t come out until September 24th. One look at the cover should make it clear why I can’t wait to dive into this novel!

Have you read any great Star Wars books lately? Let me know if you are planning to head to a Star Wars Reads event near you! Until next week – may the Force be with you.