Droid Tales (LEGO Star Wars: Episodes I-III)

Based on the TV specials, Star Wars gets a child-friendlier facelift—LEGO style.

In this abbreviated made-for-kids version of episodes 1 through 3, C-3P-O acts as our cybernetic bard. This combination comic and young reader chapter book is initially set at what would be the very end of Return of the Jedi, and alternates back and forth from the “present” to 30 and 20 years past. Everyone’s favorite golden droid recounts some of the more relevant scenes from the movies in true storyteller fashion, while having a “present” day adventure with Admiral Ackbar at the same time.

There is significant effort to mitigate the book’s original PG material down to more of a hard G rating. (i.e. Instead of Qui-Gon being bloodlessly stabbed through the torso by one end of Darth Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber, he is instead buried under a pile of LEGO bricks.)

This reader had mixed feelings over the presenting of young Anakin (Ani) as already battling with the dark side for control over his thought process. Some parents may get a chuckle out of the liberties taken with these manic evil mood-swings, but kids may find the deviation confusing. There is a lot of effort put into humor and sarcasm, but this reader is afraid it doesn’t always hit quite the right note.

Although, they pretty well nailed the teen-angst version of Anakin and his egocentric tantrums.
“You seem troubled,” Padme said. “Is something wrong?”
Anakin shook his head. “No, just the usual rage at Obi-Wan and Yoda for not seeing my awesomeness.”

At 96 pages, this book offers a significant amount of readable content and advanced vocabulary exposure for the intended 7-to-10 age range. With this entertaining media layout, young LEGO and Star Wars fans likely won’t need convincing to get in their daily reading!