15. I Wish I Had a Wookiee

I Wish I Had a Wookiee: And Other Poems For Our Galaxy. Ian Doescher. Illustrated by Tim Budgen. 2021 [September] 128 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "Long time ago," but when?
"Far, far away," but where?
Can we go back to then?
Can we please travel there?

Ian Doescher shares his love of all things Star Wars AND his love of poetry in this new poetry book. Poetry isn't always accessible and appealing. Poetry is perhaps even more subjective than prose. What one person connects with--engages--another person may find "blah" or "meh." For every poem--or nearly every poem--there is a person out there who will love it.

This collection has dozens (or scores?) of poems ALL Star Wars themed. These poems vary in length and narrative style. I think there's enough variety that EVERY reader will find a handful of poems to enjoy, poems that beg to be shared.

My personal favorite is "Ingrid is Chewbacca." I really love this one. The poem is about neighborhood friends gathering together on Saturday morning to play Star Wars. Everyone is assigned a role, but, Ingrid does NOT want to be Leia. Nope, Ingrid is determined that SHE will be Chewbacca. And she has just what it takes to succeed--the best Wookiee bray the gang has ever heard.

I also enjoyed "Old Mr. Jones and His Star Wars Collection." In that poem, a kid connects with a much older neighbor, Mr. Jones, over their shared love of Star Wars. 

I do think a love of Star Wars--or at least a certain familiarity with Star Wars--would help when reading this one. I don't think a love of poetry has to be there to begin with. The poems speak for themselves.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

95. Star Wars Unfolds

Star Wars: The Saga Unfolds: An Illustrated Timeline. 2020. Abrams. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]

  First sentence: "I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father." Luke Skywalker

Premise/plot: Star Wars Unfolds is an illustrated timeline--focusing on key quotes and key scenes--for the original trilogy of films. It isn't a thorough timeline; it doesn't capture everything. Not every relationship, not every scene is conveyed. It celebrates the original trilogy without focusing on telling a story that makes sense. Because let's be honest, the target audience probably already knows the original story backwards and forwards. If little ones have questions, then parents can fill in the answers.

As you turn the pages, one epic and seamlessly captivating illustration, printed on an accordion fold, moves forward with you—each section transitioning into the next to tell the story of a galaxy far, far away.

My thoughts: I do find it odd that it doesn't end with a celebration and clear victory. The end of the movie is joyous and satisfying. This book ends darkly and in the midst of conflict. It goes full circle in that it ends with Luke proclaiming, "I am a Jedi, like my Father before me." But for those that know WHO his father was (and that is one of the scenes of the book) that isn't all that comforting.

This one is for adult fans who have children of various ages. Though I imagine most parents won't be sharing this one with the very young because all it would take is a tear or two and it would be over.

Perhaps older readers could look closely at the storytelling and discuss why certain scenes were included and others left out?

© 2020 Becky Laney of Young Readers