There are so many great Star Wars books for kids out there that it’s tricky to choose which ones your children will enjoy the most. Well here’s a selection from Egmont Publishing that have gone down well with my 3-year-old daughter (as well as me).
They are a mixture of craft, early readers, and a new retelling of the original movie trilogy – and they’re perfect for keeping us engaged in all things Star Wars until the release of the new movie and beyond.
First up we had a couple of early reading Star wars children’s books – Escape From Darth Vader and Use the Force!
Escape From Darth Vader: A Star Wars Saga Reader (Young Readers Level 1)
Escape From Darth Vader is an illustrated and simply written retelling of the opening scenes of the original Star Wars movie.
This book begins with the Darth Vader’s forces boarding Princess Leia’s ship, and ends with the droids’ escape to Tatooine.
This is rated as Young Readers level 1, so the prose is very basic. For example, even the classic opening line of every Star Wars movie ‘A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…’ becomes ‘Long ago and far, far away…’.
This pared down text allows children to recognise words easily. While my 3-year-old Star Wars fangirl is at the very beginning of her literacy journey, she can read many of the words in this simply written book – and the likes of R2-D2 and C-3P0 offer another opportunity to connect letters to their sounds.
This Star Wars children’s book also features some really cute art by Stephane Roux. I am especially fond of the illustrations featuring Princess Leia.
Like the other books, it offers a great way for my daughter to engage with Star Wars.
Use the Force!: A Star Wars Saga Reader (Young Readers Level 2)
Use the Force! is a reading level 2 book, so the prose is more advanced and flows better.
This book is a vignette from The Empire Strikes Back, about Luke’s time training to be Jedi with Yoda on Dagobah.
One of the things I really like about this story is that it features – in book form – some of the great lessons the saga has to offer. Yoda’s proclamations of “Size matters not” and “Do or do not. There is no try.” have been important messages I’ve already referenced with my daughter many times, and it’s great to have another format to reinforce them.
Luke’s training is a key part of the wider saga, and it works well as a standalone story. It’s an often requested favourite of my daughter’s.
The Star Wars Treasury: The Original Trilogy
One of the downsides of getting your kid into Star Wars is how often they want to watch the movies.
No really, this is a downside! While I love the fact that she loves the saga like I do, it also means that she wants to rewatch the movies all the time. While this is a) awesome, it would also be b) irresponsible for me to let her watch them as much as she’s like to.
The Star Wars Treasury: The Original Trilogy is a great way for her to engage with these stories that have captivated her. We all know reading to children is vitally important, and she happily sits there for the 1-2 hours it takes to read this 200+ page retelling of episodes IV-VI (believe me, we’ve done it).
Of course it’s easy to break this up into smaller reading sessions. While the stories of each film are here, the narrative has been pared down and has omitted some subplots. The text is more advanced again, but the still fairly simple and full of famous lines. I dare you to read the likes of “I am altering the deal. Pray I don’t alter it any further” without attempting your best Darth Vader voice.
The art is a curious hybrid of illustrated versions of iconic stills and/or publicity photos from the three movies – so the imagery is both familiar and fresh.
I’m hoping to take my then 4-year-old daughter to see The Force Awakens at the cinema (after I have vetted it of course). This Star Wars kid’s book is a great way to revisit the saga of episodes IV-VI in the lead up to the eagerly awaited episode VII.
Star Wars Starfighter Workshop
The final Star Wars books for kids in this collection is a different than the others, as it is actually a construction set masquerading as a book. The Star Wars Starfighter Workshop allows you to construct your very own card models of the iconic Star Wars vehicles the X-Wing and Tie Fighter.
This is a fun joint activity for a Star Wars loving dad & daughter. Construction projects like this are also great for many skills that we’re trying to encourage such as fine and gross motor skills, following printed instructions, understanding how things are put together, and simple patience.
This particular Star Wars books for kids really took me back to my childhood. I’m old enough to remember when the first movie coming out, and prior to seeing it Star Wars Weekly came out – the first two issues had free gifts of a cardboard X-Wing and Tie Fighter. The ones contained in this book are a vast improvement!
This book also has an activity section, with Star Wars themed puzzles, mazes, and the like, so it still has a lot to offer once the models have been made. The construction material is a fairly sturdy carded foam, and the finished models are solid enough to withstand play that isn’t too vigorous.
While aimed at ages 7+, it was a fine activity to share with my 3-year-old.
=====
4 Great Star Wars Books For Kids – the Star Wars kid’s opinion
While I can write about the best Star Wars books, it’s really the kid’s opinion that counts 😉
=====
All of these Star Wars books for kids are available from Amazon (as well as other retailers).
- Escape From Darth Vader: A Star Wars Saga Reader (Young Readers Level 1)
- Use the Force!: A Star Wars Saga Reader (Young Readers Level 2)
- The Star Wars Treasury: The Original Trilogy
- Star Wars Starfighter Workshop
=====
Or if you’re feeling lucky, why not enter our giveaway for your chance to win a copies of the Star Wars Starfighter Workshop and The Star Wars Treasury: The Original Trilogy!
=====
Star Wars books for kids
Which one of these 4 Egmont Star Wars books is your favourite and why?
====
This is a sponsored post.
Escape from Darth Vader – my son is just learning to read, and he loves Star Wars!
Escape From Darth Vader: A Star Wars Saga Reader (Young Readers Level 1) because it would be perfect for my son learning to read!
The Star Wars Starfighter Workshop – as I love to do arts and crafts with my kids and I think they would love to make Star Wars ships and things!
Star Fighters Workshop looks cool, being able to do some crafts alongside it as well is good.
Escape from Darth Vader -will hold his attention for the longest
Star fighters workshop looks like it would be a really fun activity for kids.
Star fighters workshop as we can do it all together
love them all for the kids and myself
I think my favorite would be the Starfighter workshop. My daughter loves doing crafts and seems like a great way to introduce more of the universe to her
The Star Wars Treasury, as have not read any of the books. If I win I think I will gift them to nephew.
the star was treasury it looks like in goes more in depth into star wars
starfighter workshop something we can do together
Escape from Darth Vader because my son is a bit of an escape artist so it would appeal xx
Star Wars Treasury – it would be very interesting to read up on the background details x
Star Wars treasurery looks fab
The Star Fighters Workshop because it is so interactive
Star Wars Treasury because it covers all the original films
The Star Wars Starfighter Workshop great activity for a rainy day
The Star Wars Starfighter Workshop as the arts and crafts would be great fun x
My son loves reading so he would like the Use the Force!: A Star Wars Saga Reader (Young Readers Level 2)
I like the look of the Treasury as is about the original films
These books look brilliant for both my 5 and 6 year old. The treasury looks brilliant.
The young readers books, perfect for those kids who don’t find reading the books from school interesting.
I love the sound of Escape from Darth Vader – the illustrations are gorgeous.
Star Wars star fighter looks fab for it creative
The X Wing Fighter book! Chester and I would have a blast building that together!
The Star Wars Starfighter Workshop looks more the kind of thing my daughter would enjoy. My son is particularly into Star Wars. he loves the LEGO.
The young readers ones would be a great starting block for my niece who is coming on leaps and bounds with her reading. She adores Star Wars.
Star fighters workshop, as we can do it all together as a family which allows for greater engagement
Star Wars Starfighter Workshop
Workshop Activity Book as its hands on fun for children
Star fighters workshop because we will all really enjoy that xx
As an original fan, so to speak, I was there in 1977, and having kids who were ‘brainwashed’ with the videos, then the ‘special additions’ re-release in the cinemas. It was all about the films. I don’t think or never saw books like you have here until now. On having a Grandaughter of ‘Star War Age’ (7). She has seen the films and we have talked about them, but have noticed that she does tend to like the written word a lot more than my children. I would go for the Starfighter Workshop as a favourite as she loves the ‘technology’ around ‘Star Wars’ at the moment, more than the story, is she an action junkie? Quite possibly? But I know anything you can put together would get her thumbs up.
The Star Wars Treasury sounds fab and interesting.
Star fighters workshop because my children can do it together
I think little man would like the fighter workshop one he likes constructing things
The workshop looks a great activity to do together!
Escape from Darth Vader – I like it how these books are fun to read and illustrated to help children to enjoy learning to read. (@PeanutHog)
Star fighters workshop looks fab!
Star fighters workshop because it is activity based and would be great for quality time for me to help the children with
Love the creative aspect of the Star Fighters Workshop
The Starwars Fighters workshop looks great fun
the star fighters workshop so we can do things together
The X Wing Fighter book loos fab – a real family affair!
The young readers books to get my nephew into Star Wars.
The Starfighter Workshop, this is something I know my son would really enjoy.
The Starwars Workshop would be go down very well here
Star Wars Starfighter Workshop because i think my nephew would love it – he would love all of them to be honest tho lol
Star Fighter Workshop definitely my favourite – great to have something hands-on!
I love the look of the Starfighter Workshop book!
Star Ears treasury as it would catch anyone up on any of the stories they’ve missed Dxx
Star Fighters Workshop so l can do artwork
The Star Wars Treasury: The Original Trilogy
The Star Wars Starfighter Workshop
Star fighters workshop looks great
the Star Wars Treasury looks good
definitely the Starfighter Workshop. I love that its more handson
The starfighter workshop 🙂 xx