A New Hope

July 1, 2015
Apparently you're never too young for Star Wars. Adult fans of Star Wars who are now parents (and grandparents) can introduce the toddlers in their lives to the iconic space adventure. Previously, the Wang twins reduced such classics as Jane Eyre, Moby-Dick, and Pride and Prejudice to 12 board-book pages. Those condensations were amusing for literary adults, but they missed the mark for toddlers. Their light-speed retellings of the first three Star Wars movies (by date of release) are more successful. The Wang brothers sum up George Lucas' 1977 121-minute movie in just 12 words: "princess / trouble / boy / learn / captain / space / help / garbage / swing / duel / fly / heroes." They make equally succinct word choices for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, which publish simultaneously. The visuals are strong, and the story is action-based, so even young children can tell that Darth Vader is a bad guy and storm troopers spell "trouble" for Princess Leia. The characters are here in felted force, in settings that replicate the movie sets. The felties are surprisingly detailed. A light-saber fight scene in each of the three books will guarantee the attention of active toddlers. A surprisingly good choice for parents who are more familiar with Star Wars than Goodnight Moon. (Board book. 2-4)

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